Illustrating Children's books assignments

[Thrace]

Sorry my "hatching" is so bad.

[DanetteDraws]

@Thrace-Shirley-Mears He's so cute! I like his big eyes and overall friendly vibe He's very happy about his nut!

Two things I'd suggest: his arms seem way too long and also I think it would help to show a bit of a jagged outer line here and there to imply fur instead of solid smooth curves the whole way around.

[DanetteDraws]

Hi all,

Here's my first two exercises... in both I started out following the assignment and once I felt I fulfilled the instructions in the first couple of sketches I couldn't help myself but move on to more stylized versions (even though it was beyond scope of the assignment). I just had too much fun!

Kindly offer any feedback you may have, thanks!

[Thrace]

Thanks for your kind words and advice! I love your drawings. I am going to do assignment #2 tomorrow, but I don't think I will tackle the fox. Nice work!!

[DanetteDraws]

Thanks @Thrace-Shirley-Mears! Good luck and have fun with assignment 2 today

[Fabienne]

Here are my first exercises.
Since I joined SVS I draw everyday. I'm so grateful for the inspiration, help and good vibes from this community. Thanks a lot to all of you!

[Thrace]

@Fabienne Wow!! These are amazing! Your characters have so much personality. You can certainly tell that you draw every day. I have just started drawing myself and I hope to reach your level someday.

[Steve Young]

wow Really good going.

[Karim Benyagoub]

Hola guys!
My first assignment! Squirrel got nuts, hehe

[K. W.]

@Steve-Young Ah you're so right! They do look like human hands. xD I looked at more squirrel feet reference, and did a bit of study on them. Thank you.

@DanetteDraws Your critique was really helpful, thanks! I defined his legs and knees a little more, and used slits for toes. I'm much happier with it!

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@Thrace-Shirley-Mears Welcome to the group! And adorable squirrel. I'm going to include some things for you in the below critique as well, with a draw over.

@DanetteDraws Nice experimentation with proportions! That little squirrel on the bottom right corner is so cute haha.

I think it might help you and @Thrace-Shirley-Mears to work on drawing "through" your organic shapes (using cross contour lines and ellipses), to give a better sense of form. Also, including a center line makes it easier to accurately place limbs and other symmetrical features.

Since you both are working traditionally with a pencil, you could try using a light pencil or coloured pencil crayon (I use blue usually), to do the 3D rough drawing, and then ink the final lines with a pen (ballpoint or felt tip, doesn't matter) or a darker pencil. Here's a quick draw over to show you what I mean:

I think the ear on your squirrel, Thrace, is actually pretty good. I thought you had it turned towards us, which it wouldn't be, but now that i look at your drawing again it is turned away I think. Oops. xD Just remember that the center line can be used to compare placement of these things.

Danette, in some of your fox drawings the paws were a little off in length/placement--a perspective issue. Most of them were pretty good though! I love the little outfit on the two-legged fox.

@Fabienne I enjoyed your use of expressions and body language on both assignments! Very entertaining. To my inexperienced eye, it looks like you're taking the right approach. Only nitpick I can see at the moment, is that the mouse with the skewer of veggies and cheese, might have his fist hand facing a bit more towards the viewer, since the skewer appears to be pointing our way.

@Karim-Benyagoub Pretty eye! And I like the way you did the legs and feet as well. My suggestion to you would basically be the same as to Danette and Thrace above--don't forget to put in a center line.

[Karim Benyagoub]

@K.-W. thank you steve ^^
You used some cutey eye too for the center line I don't remember if I used it this time or not, but too late since I deleted all reference lines hehe, but I reassure you, I use it in general ^^ thanks for the feedback and suggestions, I'll need to practice my critique skills too, yet it's scary because my own technique is quite rusty for now haha

[Leontine]

@Fabienne Hi Fabienne, I really like them all, especially the mice! Mouse nr 3 is the naugty one i love him! well done!

[Leontine]

Here are my first two assignments. Its so much fun working together with you all!

[Leontine]

@Thrace-Shirley-Mears The squirrel is really nice, Cant wait to see your fox!

[Fabienne]

@Thrace-Shirley-Mears Woah, thank you for the kind words. blush But my daily routine hasn't been like this ever since:
In the past years I have struggled many times with me and my path as an artist (Do I make fine art, children's books, are my skills too bad?). I had the feeling that I doesn't belong anywhere… After I quit my fine art studies and work as a seller to pay my bills I had no time to draw. No drawing - no fresh portfolio. No portfolio - no success as an artist. In the past months I realized I had to do something to get out of this vicious circle. So I became a self-employed illustrator, quit my job and work hard for commissions and my portfolio.
So don't let anyone or anything distract you from your way! Hard work always pays off.

[Fabienne]

@Leontine-Gaasenbeek These foxes are so adorable but my personal favourite is the left squirrel: I like his expression (He seems not happy with only ONE nut for dinner).
And thanks for your comment! I think everybody has a naughty side - but didn't show in public, hihi.

[Leontine]

@Fabienne XD

[Fabienne]

@K.-W. Thanks for the pointer! I will correct that mistake immediately.

[Thrace]

@K.-W. Thanks so much for the great advice! I hope you will critique my foxes I will post later today. I am glad you thought I drew the squirrel with a pencil but I drew it on my new cintiq that I am trying to like.

[Thrace]

@Fabienne Thank you for the words of inspiration, I can't tell you how good your timing was as I was really feeling down about my progress. I have had the exact same thoughts as you I too am trying to make a living at this but I have not had the confidence to look for work yet. I am giving myself time to take some more courses and get some better pieces on my website. How did you start getting jobs?