October Contest: GLOW!

[LauraA]

@Kim-Rosenlof Yeah, it may not be a good Critique Arena entry, as it's based on a middle grade novel and requires some context. I'm working on building up a middle grade/YA portfolio. But I stuck it in anyway since it had some glow and I finished it on the 31st.

Question, because I just wonder if anyone else can see it or knows the context: Can you tell what the little girl is doing, and any idea why?

The basic story, without spoilers: The illustration is from Ophie's Ghosts by Justina Ireland. It is set in the early 1920s with allusions to the past. The young girl, Ophie, can see ghosts and thus gets wrapped up in a mystery in the house where she works. This is part of the final scene. The author weaves themes of racism in with the mystery/ghost story part, using the latter as a vehicle to illuminate the former. Can't say more without giving it away, but it's done really well.

BTW, I think your concept is genius! Kudos for being able to knock out a great piece even during a busy month!

[LauraA]

@mzameckaart Love it! There is a mini civilization in a terrarium. The cat sees everything, of course, but the owner is clueless. What really cracks me up is the "cave paintings" of the cat paw, fly, and cell phone.

I'm not entirely sure, however, what's going on with the owner and the glass of water. Is it meant to show that she is just passing through at night and missing everything, and if so, why is the water sloshing out? If she sees the scene and is surprised, why is the looking away? Alternatively, I wonder if there's something in the water that has to do with the mini civilization, but I don't see anything.

Wait, do I see a tiny skeleton on the bottom left corner outside the bowl? I don't know if people will be able to see the whole story in the Critique Arena format, but I think you should keep developing it!

Nice draftsmanship, too!

P.S. Just saw your explanation!

[mzameckaart]

@LauraA Wow, you caught on every little hidden detail! Good eye The water in the glass is spilling because the girl stopped suddenly while noticing the glow

[mzameckaart]

@LauraA I am also aiming at middle-grade
The girl in your illustration is holding something, some kind of gemstone? She is also hiding another object behind her back, but i can't see what it is. Has she perhaps summoned this ghost somehow?

[Chantal Goetheer]

@mzameckaart I was thinking maybe the mini people in the terrarium are worshiping the 'gods' they see in the sky, hence the murals they are making. They seem to be having a ceremony around the fire.

[Chantal Goetheer]

@Kim-Rosenlof I love the change of roles here! Where the kid doesn't even notice because he's so absorbed in his phone it seems.

[Chantal Goetheer]

@LauraA the girl is holding something. i was thinking maybe holy water to scare away the ghost bit she seems to be doubting if she should help the lady in the bed or not. Given your explanation of the book my guess is she's mistreated by her mistress.

[ArtistErin]

@mzameckaart Oh WOW ok! I see where this is now that I can get into studying it knowing the story! What a really cool novel idea! I'm inspired by your approach in your angles and perspective...

I had a similar idea I was trying to flesh out but shelved it a few months ago with a dollhouse and a little girl wishing she could "disappear" away from her actual life and go into living with her dollhouse family, and she makes a secret wish one day and suddenly she wakes up in her dollhouse friend's bed, playing, moving furniture, etc. until she misses her mom and wants back in her human world again...

Thank you for helping me breathe life into this again! I shelved cultivating this because I felt so frustrated with my sketches not coming out the way I intend and knew I needed more work in perspective and character design. Anyway, just wanted to thank you a ton...

[mzameckaart]

@ArtistErin What a great idea, and potentially sad or even scary Eg if the girl realizes living in a dollhouse is not so great after all (especially if you have to always do what the big kid-'owner' wants), and wants to come back to her old life, but can't.. Then the story can go in multiple directions from there!
I love this kind of stories, a bit dark!

Mine was actually an idea I had as a child (5-6yo) - how cool would it be to have a terrarium with tiny ppl living in it? I remember clearly drawing that back then. A few years later 'The Sims' game emerged - and in a way I could play that out

[Kim Rosenlof]

@mzameckaart Okay, that makes sense. I did see the cave painting and that there were some that some of them were hunting as well as some around the fire. I figured that it was group of people living in "prehistoric" times, but didn't realize that they had just discovered fire. I really like the idea of it and think it would make a fun story.

[Kim Rosenlof]

@LauraA Thank you.
I see the girl holding a bottle in one hand and the other hand is holding the lid? I am not sure what she is going to do with it though. I am sure if I read the story I would understand what she is going to do with it. It is a really lovely piece. Now I want to read the book.

[LauraA]

@Kim-Rosenlof Do read the book! MG novels have been one of my obsessions ever since I realized I could get a US library card and download digital books.

It's a salt shaker, BTW. Works against ghosts.

[LauraA]

@Chantal-Goetheer Holy water is a good guess! Actually it's salt, which has a similar function in ghost lore. And yes, she's a little conflicted, for various reasons, and the action is moving really fast here, so a whole lot of stuff is about to happen!

[Martha Johnston]

@Martha-Johnston said in October Contest: GLOW!:

Did a variation my dream farm entree. Its too late to enter the variation but what do you think? do you like this one better?
.Its based on a baby deer my son in law rescued out of a river on maui. They bottle fed her and she lived with them like one of their dogs.

The tubes I drew are based on the aquaponic systems . https://www.instagram.com/p/CcYP1MgJ9mB/
Sweet rescued deer is here. https://www.instagram.com/p/CMKnooXA7Lk/



[Martha Johnston]

@Martha-Johnston opps I have no idea how I added this post again as a reply. getting used to the forum

[Martha Johnston]

@Kim-Rosenlof Good for you. I think it looks great. love the textures

[Martha Johnston]

@BNyhof fantastic. love the colors

[Martha Johnston]

@stephanie cute characters. I like how the glow figure is smiling and the others not.

[ArtistErin]

Re-visiting these character poses. I am getting closer... trying to retain the innocent face, yet there's too much " older face " still. Children have a softness I am still seeking.

[Jeremy Ross]

Thanks @Kim-Rosenlof!

I like your piece, too! What an interesting twist. I’ve been MIA most of this year due to work, but starting re-entering again past 3 months.