The stickers turned out in time and they look very nice and glossy! 😻
72B5EF18-099A-46AC-972B-3BC9F39441B6.jpeg

This is lovely Mag! Congratulations! 👏🏼

@lpetiti Thanks for the comment, I will wait out and see.

@Griffin-McPherson What's it look like with the color on the 2nd option? I think having both to compare will help you make your final decision.

@Griffin-McPherson absolutely! You're so welcome. It's best to start cover design with the text, as that is often an element that can be moved around but can't change.

There are elements here that could make a great cover, but you're right: it would be best to redesign an entirely new cover illustration.

@ArtMelC I’m also looking at small thumbnails on my phone, so I’m likely missing some of the details you can see in your head. The pictures might work.

And it might just be that going wordless with such an abstract adventure might be the biggest part of the challenge.

Was listening to a podcast interviewing Dan Santat earlier today and he talked about how he (and he+Migh Le) create a wordless dummy first, but then add the necessary words after. Helps keep words minimal and focused. That might be an option here, too.

I also have a very literal brain, so I might have just missed the details needed to pick up on the adventure in the clouds.

@Asyas_illos you're right! Thanks! Fresh eyes are invaluable. 😊

I’m also still working on developing my style. Though there are practices you can do to land a specific style more quickly (Lee’s dream portfolio is worth a look btw) I think the mindset to take on here is that you haven’t arrived at the point on your artistic journey where your style is clearly defined and that’s totally okay. Many professional artists say that they feel they didn’t have a "style" until years into their career. Think less on marketability and more on connecting with your creative roots. Which of your styles do you like? What resonates with you the most. Focus on that and that is where your best artwork will come from, and your style with it.

@stayhomejoe one thing I noticed with all the heads, remember that skulls stick out a bit in the back to make room for the brain. So make sure that your heads are the same way. Using a reference can help.
"Sam Does Art" is a super helpful youtube channel and he often does critiques and mentions using his skull prop, calling it "the skull of his enemies" haha

@Miriam ok thanks for letting me know

And the original superhero, my muse Eva:
IMG-20220825-WA0057.jpg
IMG-20220825-WA0040~2.jpg

@Asyas_illos Yeah, I like that one too, but it's the second red riding hood piece I'd have along with the one of her as a little girl running with wolves. And it's got blood and a dead wolf in it, haha. Not too gruesome for a Middle Grade focus?

@kayleenartlover That's a good idea, I'll toss some rim lighting on there, thanks! Rim lighting is becoming a theme in this portfolio, haha.

Completed 2-page spread from "Shan Shan and Ms. Water Monitor" I did as part of my dummy sample.

2022-07-17-shan-shan-and-ms-water-monitor-excerpt-1.png

@KevinTreaccar These are awesome ideas! Thanks so much for taking the time to think on this and give me your ideas. They are super helpful.

@Eliana-Bastidas Thank you! It is a slow gradual improvement. For sure I'll be keeping your valuable advice in mind for my next work 🙂

@jenn Thank you for your kind words 🙂 and yes I love textures haha

@jenn thanks hope to win someday lol. Also the color palette looks great to me.

@Griffin I really like the boy running after the robot! Maybe to make it even stronger you could try playing with the value a little more? Maybe try lightening the sky and the hills bit to help the background really separate from the foreground? But really a great piece overall even if you just left it!

@KevinTreaccar Lovely! You had a strong concept in the first place and push that forward with your willingness to seek improvement. Well done 👏

@Griffin This is looking so great! If feels like a complete and believable environment and I feel the urgency in the character's faces.

One thing that stuck out at me is how in your quick sketch the body pose of the kid in the back of the bronco is more dynamic and reaching. In your line art, the pose has stiffened up, and makes it seem like the vehicle is parked rather than moving. (And I'm unsure now which it is supposed to be).

Another little thing, is that I felt like the running kid's path would make more sense closer to the road path. You could move this kid more into the road, or curve the road, if you thought they should be in the path.

Sorry if these are late comments! I'm looking forward to seeing the color!

Screen Shot 2022-08-07 at 5.46.12 PM.png