Finishing Drills for a Chronic Dabbler.

animatosoor

@Susan-Marks Rounding up your best 3 pieces of work every month sounds like a great thing to do. All the best with your comics. I'm not sure if you have been posting those, but if you do, I'm sure the forum folks would be more than happy to help you along!

Thank you; I feel largely driven, with a few days (like today) where nothing seems to be moving forward. I just keep telling myself these "down moments" are part and parcel of my attempting to improve.

animatosoor

Picking up after feeling a bit down yesterday, with progress on my Sandman illustrated poem page.

I have not made such a page before, but have always wanted to. I'm wondering if anything looks problematic on this layout?

animatosoor

Progress shot. The footprints on the right side of the picture felt lazy to me, so I've removed them. I still worry that the page might be too crowded, hehe.

MichaelaH

@animatosoor It is better without the footprints, maybe putting the bottom picture little bit left and than the sandman right little bit down. It looks very nice.

NelsonYiap

@animatosoor Looks like you're making amazing progress. These look fantastic

animatosoor

Almost done! Please feel free to point out if anything looks very out of place.

@MichaelaH Your note on moving the sandman (sandmen, lol) around helped so much. Thanks for that.

@NelsonYiap Thanks, Nelson. That's very kind of you.

MichaelaH

@animatosoor I like this style of this book, it is really wonderful. Maybe I would move the right bottom sandman little bit down. so taht it isn't so near to the chair.

animatosoor

@MichaelaH Thanks once again! It's so helpful to hear notes on the arrangement, since after a certain point I feel like I can't really see what needs to be moved where anymore. I've moved it down to let it breathe a bit, and it does look better.:

sarahlawrence

@animatosoor I really love your use of colour and lighting. It’s great to see your process as well.

Keep going, you’re doing great

animatosoor

@sarahlawrence It means a lot to hear that, especially since colour/light has been scary for me to tackle. Thank you, Sarah.

Susan Marks

@animatosoor I love this! Do you work traditionally or digitally? The blue reads a little intense to me. If you work digitally, what might it look like knocked back just a bit? When I think of night and sleepy, I think a little more muted.

animatosoor

@Susan-Marks Thank you so much for your comment on the colour. It's weird, but it's like I threw those keywords (relaxing, dreamy, sleepy) completely out the window with the blue. XD

My painting is all done digitally. Your comment got me thinking, and I took your advice and knocked the blue back a bit to see what it looks like. I actually think I like the new versions better, particularly #3. What do you think?

APHOTICMOTH

Super cute. I love the shade of blue on version 3. Gives a night time feeling.

animatosoor

@CLCanadyArts Hehe thank you, Cassandra! I'm also getting more of a night-time feeling from that one than I was from the original!

APHOTICMOTH

@animatosoor I think it's easier on the eyes as well, could be just me, but the original was harsh enough blue that I didn't want to look, insta headache, in print would probably be a lot different without the blinding backlight on my computer.

It would be lovely to see a little collection of pieces like this in a book.

MichaelaH

I like the original strong bright color, but 3 goes also for me. I think the most ppl the original color is to strong, I found it very refreshing in the point, nobody else is doing it and I was drawn to it.

Heather Boyd

@animatosoor

I like 1 and 3. 3 is a bit softer but 1 original blue brighter for me portrays a more active sandman -because it is about him and his daily duties.

Susan Marks

@animatosoor I think the color changes you're exploring think it's helped make your piece more dreamy. I like them both, with a #3 winning by a bit.

Susan Marks

@Heather-Boyd interesting point--about keeping the active sandman brighter or more saturated than the sleeping man.

animatosoor

@CLCanadyArts Yikes, I didn't realise it might have been headache-inducing! Thank you for your input; I will be keeping it in mind as I choose colours in the future. Definitely learning with every new piece on this thread.

And yes, I am in the process of sketching new ideas for more poems I'd like illustrated, and eventually I'd want to compile them! It's nice to hear I won't be the only one interested in that outcome. :face_savouring_delicious_food: