Anyone want to share there current projects?
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After my ongoing dummy book project was sent back to the planning stage, I struggle to find the motivation to start another big project. So I doodle characters, I started writing a lot more and more systematically (that is where my book projects stumble, so I need to face a mountain of practice to learn to write for children), and I do stuff for my social media channels. This was done for today - happy Saint Patrick's day to everyone!
I very much like how it turned out, especially the rainbow (done in Rebelle)
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@smceccarelli Awesome leprechaun! You create so much detail and it never looks overworked.
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Most of my time has been spent on client work I can't share yet... BUT I have been trying to do more sketching lately. I think I really want to get more black and white/middle grade stuff in my portfolio, so its good practice to just have the page, pencil, and pen. I was playing with tha Faber-castel soft chisel pen here, its different from the brushpen I'm used to but I'm getting to like it.
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@Gila no, please do not get me interested in something new. I can't handle it
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@Eric-Castleman - yes, I am sorry... I know... total art hoarder myself. hides the gouache and other unused analog paints
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@Gila lol I have a bunch gouache just sitting in my cabinet
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@Dulcie I saw these on twitter and they are fantastic! So polished you should be so happy, congratulations!
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@Dulcie Also I am sorry to hear about the broken leg
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@smceccarelli the rainbow is amazing!
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@Sarah-LuAnn very nice!
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@smceccarelli Wow sorry everyone for going off topic on this thread, but could I bother to ask why your book dummy went back to the planning stage? Any learning gems you could share?
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@Perrij Three months after signing the contract with my agent I am starting to grasp some consequences of this fact that I did not anticipate. To make a long story short, she will not take any book dummy to her circle of editors until she thinks it has a chance of selling. And she does not believe that the book dummy I proposed to her (a "children-mess-the-kitchen" with a sci-fi theme) is ready for prime time. Don't take me wrong, she takes the time to make thoughtful comments and suggestions, and I am very grateful for that - and sure in my heart's heart that I will profit a lot from this direct contact with an industry expert (I already am). But I am also starting to truly understand the concept of "gatekeeper". Basically, to make your way into traditional publishing you will have to meet the taste of a series of people - from the agent on to the marketing people - who have their own view of what they like and what sells or not.
But yes, that is what I have committed to and I will hold on. Currently working on draft 8 of another book project that my agent thinks holds promise (which does not stop her from sending back each draft for re-working....). -
@lmrush Thanks so much! I'm really trying to get a higher level of 'polish' on my pieces at the moment, so to hear you say that means a lot...glad some of the effort is paying off!
@smceccarelli Thanks for sharing your - as ever - interesting and insightful thoughts. I'm sure that perseverance on your part will pay dividends eventually!
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@Dulcie Wow Dulcie - these are really nice!
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Working on a polar bear book dummy, i was just going to post some pics of it. Love horses so interested to see how your project pans out too.
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@smceccarelli Whew..that's rough. But good to know, maybe I'll be more prepared if I ever see that day. Hope that this draft is the winner!!
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@MirkaH Your images are so charming and endearing!
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@lmrush thanks so much. I love working on them.
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@Dulcie I am loving the textures. You definitely know your style. Everything always seems so consistent.
@smceccarelli I have also been wondering how your life has changed since signing with an agency. It is good to hear some of what you have experienced. I am sure you will get the gist of it after awhile and know their likes and dislikes overtime. Your Leprechaun is amazing. I am wondering' do you know of any way in Procreate to get that sort of paint spot look you get in that image? I see that used all of the time, and feel as though photoshop just provides so much more when it comes to brushes.
@MirkaH looka fantastic! However, do book dummies require full colored pieces? I hope not
@SarahLuAnn love the concept. Very secret of Kells, which I love!
@kassadoodle great piece. The character design is something along the lines of how I wish to design my characters as well. Really works well with water color.
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@Eric-Castleman Yes, I just need to be more patient with myself and the world...much more than it is comfortable for me. It helped to hear many stories from established authors and illustrators in NY, and knowing that even for the super-pros it sometimes took many many years before they had their break. The illustrator Bryan Collins (who gave the keynote opening lecture) said it took him 7 years to get his first picture book in print...No quick successes in this business! And looking at how much time it takes to polish a manuscript, I am not surprised....
What do you mean with "paint spot look"?
This image was painted in Photoshop with my favorite brush ("oil canvas flat" from Kyle Webster's sets). The rainbow was painted in Rebelle (a watercolor simulator - very hard to control, but makes cool watercolor effects). The spatter was added in Photoshop using some of Kyle Webster's watercolor spatter brushes.
Despite always thinking of doing some traditional mixed media, I always end up sticking with digital....
