New Kid Bookcover idea- successful or no?
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@Larue Thanks so much! Transferring watercolor into digital was tricky for me too. I finally found a system that I liked that is based on Adilson Faria's work here: https://www.youtube.com/@adilsonfarias He has a class you can take on hotmart that teaches you some great tricks. Also using watercolor texture overlays is very helpful, as is using the Kyle Watercolor brush pack from adobe. It isn't quite the same as true watercolor, but with a lot of fussing you can get a decent result.
But I agree, it is nice to be able to switch and have some variety in styles so I don't get bored. I just find it hard to pitch to illustration clients because I feel like my work is all over the heckin place. I keep reading about people who "find" their styles but for me it has always felt like I need to make a concrete decision- nothing feels like the holy grail and it is leaving me a little confused and frustrated. I'm reluctant to make tons of new work in case it isn't the thing Art Directors want to see. My dream would be to find something totally unique to me, but I've been doing this for over a decade now and nothing feels original in that way. It is a head scratcher, for sure!
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Hi @Jeanne-M-Bowman , both are very nice; however, I must admit I like your watercolor piece slightly more.
To the untrained artist, they wouldn’t be able to tell the two apart, which is why you probably received an equal 50/50 for your survey results.
I heard on a podcast recently that traditional art (e.g., watercolor., etc.) is having a resurgence, which you might be able to leverage based on your style.
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Hey, just wanted to say I do like your watercolor style a bit more but I don't the difference is huge.
I don't think you necessarily have to choose one or another. I know that a lot of illustrators do both, digital and traditional.
From a practical perspective, the advantage of having traditional work is that you can sell the originals. However, digital often tends to be faster. I think you have to weigh out what takes more time, what you enjoy more, and what is more financially viable.
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@Jeanne-M-Bowman from what I remember there is a form you can fill in on the svs website. If you click on the Podcast section, then onto any episode, there should be a button called "ask a question". It may take a few weeks for it to make it onto the podcast.
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@Jeremy-Ross Thanks so much, Jeremy! I agree that traditional art is probably going to have a bit of a renaissance, since we have AI images now to contend with. That is partly why I am swinging back towards incorporating paper cut- to make it clear that this was made by hand. I love the handmade look and I want it to be evident, but I also need to to be unique to me. That is the bit I am struggling with. I can't see my own style. How did you get into the style you are using now?
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@MarcRobinson Thank you Marc! I really appreciate the direction! I am going to look into this!
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@Jeanne-M-Bowman This cover rocks! Great concept and colors. I would have picked this up if i saw it in the library as a kid. Good contender for a portfolio piece.
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@reberlik Thanks so much! I am glad to know it is working!
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@Jeanne-M-Bowman Ahh, I love this monster design!!! It's like a Maurice Sendak wild thing. What's the folklore/story here?
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@reberlik Thank you! I love Maurice Sendak! This is just a random troll I designed. A couple of years ago I wanted to challenge myself so I did 30 troll drawings in rural settings. My plan was to then color 25 of them. I only got three finished, unfortunately, but if I ever get some free time I want to go back and finish them up. You can find them on my instagram if you are interested in looking at the other ones. This one is loosely based on Krampus (and inspired by Inosuke's eyes from Demon Slayer).
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@Jeanne-M-Bowman you can even use the photograph as the cover image. I can tell you for sure this calls attention in any bookstand. Years ago I found a comic in a store just because of this. From all the comics in there this one looked like a toy and I didnt knew why but something about it was so different and when I grabbed it I realized is just a comic
Stroogle.xyz (webcomic)
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@Nxndraw Thanks so much! Can you pinpoint why you like the watercolor style more? I agree that having the original is a big boost, especially now that AI images are happening. It is a tough decision to make that I have been struggling with for years!
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@makekong Thanks! I'm glad to know it stands out!
