Society of Visual Storytelling

    SVSLearn Forums

    • Register
    • Login
    • Search
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Groups
    • Search

    Buffalo run!

    Illustration
    19
    25
    9153
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • Lee White
      Lee White SVS Team SVS Instructor Pro SVS OG last edited by

      Very cool image and I really like the light/dark patterns you have going on here.

      One thing I might suggest is really looking at how your compostion relates to your pose. Typically the front view is very limiting in terms of creating imposing shapes. This is because everything is seen in a foreshortened view. If you compare These images of buffalo (or any animal) you will see how informative the side view is and how it trumps the front view in terms of giving a clear silhouette to your characters. Now, of course you don't want to draw everything from the side view, but knowing that the side view is the clearest view can influence how your composition works.

      With your composition here, using a good 3/4 view of the buffalo would be much better. Maybe have him coming around the corner or something. Then you can really get in there and draw those overlaps and big ol' shapes those creatures have.

      So basically if a creature is much clearer from the side vs. front, I try to give them an angle to be shown from so it gives you a clearer read and gives you more that you can draw. I did a slight turn on your buffalo here just to show how much difference even a slight turn can make.

      Hope that helps some. Can't wait to see this guy finished up! : )

      6333741925_5d96a90863_b.jpg bison_buffalo_running_grass_hd-wallpaper-62580.jpg 1451734422699-buffalo.jpg

      SVS Faculty Instructor
      www.leewhiteillustration.com

      natiwata 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
      • natiwata
        natiwata SVS OG @Lee White last edited by

        @Lee-White Thanks for the suggestion, I still wanted him coming at you full on, but I will try this for sure and see how it looks!

        Nat Iwata
        www.iwataillustration.com

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • mattramsey
          mattramsey @natiwata last edited by

          @natiwata Is this for the 3rd Thursday? I see that @will-terry was wondering also. I don't presume to know his reason (or if he didn't really have a "reason" and was just curious) but I am wondering because if it is for the upcoming January contest this seems to actually be an illustration of the NEXT scene. That is, after Stanley steps out and hears the noise, NOW he is on the run.

          Unless "Stanley" is that taller guy on the right (as we look at it) and he is stepping out of a doorway.

          This is such a great image so I just wanted to throw out a note of caution that something little like that could "hold it back" in terms of the contest.

          https://www.inprnt.com/gallery/mattramsey/
          https://mattramsey.artstation.com/
          https://twitter.com/mramseyART

          natiwata S 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • natiwata
            natiwata SVS OG @mattramsey last edited by

            @mattramsey @Will-Terry - No this isn't for 3rd Thursday, though I had thought about it but decided against it for the same reasons you point out Matt. This was just a midnight inspiration 🙂

            Nat Iwata
            www.iwataillustration.com

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • MOO
              MOO SVS OG last edited by

              I like it! I like that he's running out of the picture 🙂

              Marsha Ottum Owen

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • Peter Jarvis
                Peter Jarvis last edited by

                @natiwata Loving the drama of this piece. There's a real sense of panic. I love the suggestion by @Lee-White but it looks like it's bucking rather than charging. I'm looking forward to seeing the finished concept.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • Rob Smith
                  Rob Smith last edited by

                  @natiwata I like this image as well. I look forward to seeing it finished.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • S
                    seanwelty @mattramsey last edited by

                    @mattramsey I recall in one of the videos on SVS (not sure which course as they are starting to blur together) one of the instructors mentioned that literally illustrating what is written by the author is not the best approach and that some of the most successful picture books actually illustrate the events after what is written providing more information that the text alone originally provided. With that understanding I think we can be more flexible in our illustrations. I would be curious what @will-terry or @lee-white thinks.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • Joy Heyer
                      Joy Heyer last edited by

                      @seanwelty it was Lee White in his Visual Storytelling Techniques class who talked about illustrating the events after what the text indicates...and this certainly does exactly that. It is a wonderful sketch @natiwata!

                      Twitter: @Joy_Illustrated
                      Instagram: joy_illustrated
                      Website: joyheyer.com

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • Katrina Fowler
                        Katrina Fowler last edited by

                        Great idea and composition! Look forward to seeing it progress.

                        "Never give up! Never surrender!" ~Commander Peter Quincy Taggert

                        http://ziona4000.wixsite.com/katrinafowler

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • natiwata
                          natiwata SVS OG last edited by natiwata

                          Update! Got this far with rendering over a couple evenings, still going to add a hot dog cart where the gray box is on the right...

                          BisonRun.jpg

                          Nat Iwata
                          www.iwataillustration.com

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 6
                          • Dulcie
                            Dulcie SVS OG last edited by

                            It looks amazing! I loved the sketch, so it's great to see the coloured version - the sunlight and contrast with the shadows is really effective. Also the sky blue as focal point. Really nice!

                            www.dulciemascord.com
                            https://www.instagram.com/dulciemascord
                            https://twitter.com/dulciemascord
                            https://www.facebook.com/dulciemascord

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • bharris
                              bharris last edited by

                              I really like that you left the buffalo forward. Priceless action and reaction here!

                              www.brittanyharrisillustration.com/
                              www.instagram.com/britillustration/

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • Dan Tavis
                                Dan Tavis last edited by

                                Nice work! I love the subtle yet effective use of color, and the reaction is awesome xD

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • natiwata
                                  natiwata SVS OG last edited by

                                  Thanks @Dulcie @Dan-Travis ! @bharris I did alter the buffalo slightly so that his back leg was more visible and you could see his horn in silhouette based on Lee's suggestion and I think it helped. Thanks!

                                  Nat Iwata
                                  www.iwataillustration.com

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • First post
                                    Last post