Critique on my new piece WIP: Lotus seed harvest

xin li

Hi, everyone.
Here is my "amlost final" version for this piece.
Does the color gets a bit muddy?
Any critiques on the characters? I always struggle with the character painting.

TessaW

I don't think it looks muddy at all. The color is really beautiful and the characters look great. Maybe the mom would only have one longer paddle or pushing pole? I think the rowing style for two paddles, the mom would be facing the other way in order to propel the boat forward? Maybe it doesn't matter though- I know everything doesn't have to be accurate to make a good illustration.

Nyrryl Cadiz

@xin-li I like your colors. The skin colors compliment nicely with the green surroundings.

Julia

@xin-li I love it! Good luck!

xin li

@TessaW thank you so much for pointing out about the paddle. I think it is really important to get that detail right, to paint a believable world. I knew nothing about rowing a boat :-), looking at youtube video now. I remmber once an art mentor pointing a mouse character I drew and asked me "hmmm, he has a huge head, how would he be able to put on a t-shirt. I suggest you give him a shirt with buttons instead." I was enlightened that day :-).

xin li

@Nyrryl-Cadiz @Julia thank you so much.

xin li

I changed to one long paddle for mamma. Thank you so much @TessaW

I still got some days before the deadline for submission. I will let the piece sit for a day or two now. Let me know if you have any more thoughts, comments :-).

marek.halko

The colors are beautiful! Not mudy at all. Nice value and color contrasts! Very cool image!

xin li

@marek-halko thank you so much

TessaW

@xin-li I was just typing a reply, when you responded with the update! I got on a kick looking at boats and paddles Looks like they do have a rowing forward style boat with two paddles: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ4Fujsr274&t=66s They just cross them and have a stick at each side to hold them in place.

I do really like the latest change though, I feel it gives it more movement leading into the piece.

Coley

It's very, very beautiful ️

Heather Boyd

@xin-li I like how you have change the colour intensity and value of the dragonfly on the right to cut down on it as a distraction. This clearly must only be me but I find it still a tad distracting because of it's size. Anyways I have no other issues with it. I think it's lovely and a wonderful glimmer glimpse of someone else's upbringing.

xin li

@Heather-Boyd thank you for your feedback. I will play around with the size of the dragonfly and see how I feel about it :-).
@Coley thank you so much.

idid

that looks wonderful !

Mara Price

@xin-li It's beautiful!

xin li

I got in the runner-up list with this piece on the contest (https://www.picturehooks.org.uk/event/picture-hooks-competition/).

Thank you so much for helping out. Always so nice to discuss my WIPs on the forum here.

Julia

@xin-li congratulations! You did a good job, it is well deserved

jsnzart

@xin-li CONGRATS!!! So cute!

Coreyartus

Congratulations! I saw the post on Instagram!! Woohooo!

Coley

@xin-li oooo so wonderful, congratulations!