WIP Worst fear

[Gary Wilkinson]

(Updated color study below)

Hey guys, first time giving this contest a go and played around with a few ideas, but not sure which is best to take forward.

1. The fear when you are walking down a corridor and something is behind you.
2. Kid in bed with his tablet whilst the monsters are looking over his shoulder.
3. Stuck in the middle of a collapsing rope bridge (I hate heights)
4. Old man looking through old photos on a sofa with an empty space.
5. Scuba diver escaping from something below. (I hate the unknowns of the sea when im swimming)

I think from a children book perspective I like 2, but it feels unoriginal. I like the concept of 4, but I dont know if it best conveys fear (it's more about the fear of been old and alone)

Any thoughts are appreciated

[artbytra]

@Gary-Wilkinson Personally digging number 5! It could definitely be geared toward an exciting children's book theme with the right colors chosen... all are good though in my opinion.

[RHirsch]

Great thumbnails! I'm personally drawn to the tension in #3 and #5, although I might make the boards crumbling right under the character's feet.

[TessaW]

1 and 5 are my favorites. 5 is scarier, probably because that is one of my fears, and 1 is fun because of how you can play up the character. 3 has potential, but I feel it's not very scary from that vantage point. 2 is really good, but like you said, it's not as original. I think 4 is really well done as well, I think that's a super valid fear, but it will have a sadder tone to it, so it kind of depends if you want to spend time with that emotion.

Haha, kind of feel like I'm not being very helpful, but wanted to stop in- you have very nice looking thumbnails!

[Leontine]

Hi Gary! actually... I like them all... XD. as it go's for story telling the bottom row (#3 #4, #5) look really awesome, #5 has the most tension...!

[bnewman]

I like #1 and #5.

[Jose Ramos]

Number 5!, I think is the best one.

[rcartwright]

I like the initial character design from 2 because you can see the expressions on the characters.

[Jason Bowen]

I really like #5

[Chip Valecek]

I like #1

[Kevin Longueil]

@gary-wilkinson Another vote for 5 - very striking

[Gary Wilkinson]

Thanks for all of your replies and feedback! I have tried some color studies with no.5 and a slightly different lighting on x, with the torches lighting up the tentacle. I'm leaning towards B, I like the 2 tone style of A, although I think the red is pushing towards a bit more of an adult theme

[Jose Ramos]

@gary-wilkinson said in WIP Worst fear:

bit more of an adult theme

I like upper half "B" and bottom half "C"

[Gary Wilkinson]

@jose-ramos thanks. I was thinking about those but i was a bit worried the focal point might be harder to see if they are both heavily lit

[NoWayMe]

Great work!

I agree that your focal point would be diluted if you have two strong lighting sources. If you choose to do that, I would suggest making sure one of them if a lot stronger than the other. I would also move your character a bit more to the right. He is not RIGHT in the middle, but almost. I think if he was a little lower as well it would increase the tension (now, he is so close to reaching the surface that it's almost certain he will make it.)
Hope it helps!
Love it!

[tombarrettillo]

I like how you lit the art in the "x" concept, where you used the torches to light some of the tentacle. Leave the bottom darker like you have in "A", and I think "A" has the best lighting coming from the surface. And the size of the hole works best to me. So much more tension and drama as the diver attempts to make it to the top. The others are so brightly lit—and you have the hole larger—that you lose a lot of that drama and urgency.

[Jose Ramos]

@gary-wilkinson Yes, you´re right about the focal point, but I think if you make one of them if a lot stronger than the other, it could be great, as NoWayMe said.

[Katrina Fowler]

I know you've chosen #5 and it's looking really good - but I had to give a shout out to #4. You could change the character to a kid instead of and adult. Being left alone and abandoned is a real fear for kids!

[Tyson Ranes]

@gary-wilkinson these are great I really like your work

[Gary Wilkinson]

Thanks for all the critiques everyone, it's a big help. There are some great pieces of work this month and hopefully I can finish it on time, I'm trying to finish my Conner Mcgregor caricature before the fight so finding time is a bit hard

@tombarrettillo I like the torches on x too, if I can work them in without the scene been too busy i'll try to. I always have a hard time deciding on which I personally like best. I agree about the added tension in A with the small hole, i'll try and work that style into the final piece

@NoWayMe great advice with the light sources, I didn't notice about the guy not been in the center, he looks more to the right than the left to me though. It must be my eyes

@Jose-Ramos thanks for the paintover, I think that style works pretty well. I'm gonna have to steal the sparkly rays of water idea

@Katrina-Fowler I like your idea for #4, it would take a bit of a rework, but it's a great idea that I might use for the future, maybe have a few empty microwave trays scattered about the floor

@Tyson-Ranes thanks I'm trying to try work up an illustration portfolio. I mainly painted portraits/caricatures, so being part of the SVS forum has really helped teach me a lot about illustration