Slowvember progress.

theprairiefox

@Braden-Hallett Have reviewed the tutorial by @Lee-White on using textures? I wonder if you could actually take a picture of a chalky surface you like and really just use that to provide the texture you want? Just a thought.

braden H

@theprairiefox I will check that out There's a certain luminescence? I guess? That I'm going for that I think is more rooted in my technique and brush choices. But I will absolutely check that out, thanks!

theprairiefox

@Braden-Hallett here is the link to the one I was thinking about...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7DedDc7aU0

braden H

@theprairiefox said in Slowvember progress.:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7DedDc7aU0

Thanks! I've been meaning to take a look at that one Will do so sooner rather than later now.

LauraA

I like how you used the questionnaire and are getting really intentional about troubleshooting your style. I hope this brings a lot of fruit--or corn! I'm going to try to learn from your example.

braden H

@LauraA it definitely opened my eyes to a few things

braden H

I started my first master study. It's terrible

I will not be sharing it, but I certainly see the need to do more of them. I learned a LOT.

Chip Valecek

@Braden-Hallett can't be any worse then mine LOL but lee made a good point and focus and little sections rather then the whole thing.

braden H

@Chip-Valecek said in Slowvember progress.:

can't be any worse then mine

oh, you have NO idea :smiling_face_with_open_mouth_closed_eyes: It's baaaaaaaaaaad. But it's fuel to try again

ArtofAleksey

@Braden-Hallett i wish i was as organized aa you

braden H

SO! I've been spending my daily time just kinda exploring concepts from a ranch with reverse sized animals. Big things are small (or gone) and small things are big.

This has given me kind of a pool of concepts which I think are fun. Biggest reaction was to the hawk rider. So that's the concept I'm gonna rethumbnail and go slowly from scratch.

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I've also fiddled with brushes and stuff on one picture to kinda compare. I haven't included the ones that were really rough. I'm still gonna print it out and try literal watercolour for giggles, too.

The BIG thing that doing master studies and playing with recolouring and going to an illustrator's meeting did was prompt me to literally mix colours instead of picking and choosing. For the local colour and value absolutely. This means that it's much more likely (so far always) harmonious, and I never get to go all the way black (it's really hard to).

So this panel is now always open when I'm colouring:

I'm sure I'll get a less messy palette at some point

I'm optimistic moving forward! The worst thing this exercise will do is force me to redo my whole portfolio

SFischer

Hey @Braden-Hallett I just want to say your artwork grind is really inspiring. I've been learning a lot from just looking at your art under a magnifying glass lol

braden H

@SFischer lol Thank you 'Grind' is definitely the right word for it

braden H

Exploring and playin' around with characters as well as, of course, hats.

braden H

Okeedokee! So I essentially had the concept and an image already, but i went back and re-thumbnailed since the first concept was very much off the cuff.

I tried some different points of view (from the ground, from above, from the mouse, from the hawk, etc). I settled on one close to what I had before (since I really liked it) but I get a much better sense of the keywords (and there are now massive bunnies and it's obviously a ranch).

Super rough sketch is done, so from here I'm gonna do some value studies, and then some colour studies.

braden H

Whenever I try to change tools and processes, I often change things, like the change, move on, and then forget how I got there.

So I spent some time experimenting, labelled all my layers with their type/purpose, and made some notes along the way.

The two left faces are using the new(ish) process. It involves a lot more throwing around of paint with an airbrush.

The BIGGEST thing that has changed and that I am INCREDIBLY happy with is getting my colours from mixing a fairly limited palette. Hooray for colour harmony

KaraDaniel

Just wanted to say your digital art making skills are on point! I wouldn't even know where to begin lol. I love the idea of the large animals with characters (could see that as a whole series of stories) I was especially drawn to the guy on the owl (looks like a cool villain) and the kids with the bat.

braden H

@KaraDaniel Thanks ! I rather liked the owl rider, too, but the hawk and the massive bunny seemed to have the most draw online. My fav was the bat, too

ArtofJoseGalue

Yes, your linework is great! and I was under the impression that your color palettes were always careful picked.
I've been wondering a lot about SCBWI, I visit the site regularly and it's definitely a shorter drive for me, would you recommend it to a friend?

braden H

@josegalue25 Thanks! As for the SCBWI are you talking about locak illustrator groups, or the organization itself?