Together wip. The marriage-mobile.

Matthew Oberdier

@Coley #1 seems to have the strongest focal point

NessIllustration

@Matthew-Oberdier Perhaps but that's not the only sign of a good illustration. There are so many variables! I think #1 has a bit too much dark area vs. light area. Plus it's not just the couple that's an important focal point, the marriage mobile itself is important to understand the concept, and understand how they relate to the background they're on. The piece is called the Marriage-Mobile! So I personally wouldn't pick the version where that marriage-mobile is darkened, hidden as much as possible and fading into the background. But it is a personal choice, it depend on what Nicole wants out of the image.

Matthew Oberdier

@NessIllustration sorry I think I replied to your comment when I meant to reply to the OP.

NessIllustration

@Matthew-Oberdier Oh yeah, that makes more sense haha! Sorry about that!

Coley

@NessIllustration and @Matthew-Oberdier , thanks for the feedback! I definitely see what you mean though Matthew about the focal point, it is more on the faces for sure in the first image . Maybe that’s a lot of what I liked about that version, I couldn’t put my finger on what it was I liked about it. But I though black wasn’t right for a romantic occasion, especially because black vehicles tied to things like funerals, but this makes me think about other ways to bring focus to the faces, like cooler colors or other options, etc...,thanks!
And @NessIllustration thanks so much . I’m attempting a spread for my portfolio as advised by yourself . I wanted to add racial diversity too but I decided to make this image of my husband and I so I still have those gaps to fill in on future portfolio additions! I was having trouble coming up with a concept but once I sort of looked inside my own heart (sounds cheesy), this came to mind. really happy to hear the white one looks good on the dark, I didn’t know if the white was too boring and the background too dark. Thanks again

NessIllustration

@Coley No I think the white looks very fancy and romantic! It looks like a Cinderella carriage

chrisaakins

@NessIllustration @Coley I agree!

Coley

@chrisaakins thank you you have a beautiful piece this month!

chrisaakins

@Coley Aww thanks! I think yours is going to be great! I look forward to hopefully being in the final two with you!

Coley

@chrisaakins #goals!

Neha Rawat

@Coley I personally like the 4th one (red on blue). I like the pop of the red and it feels more romantic. Also the lights would show a nicer glow effect on the red carriage.
I'd probably change the clothes to a white or lighter color so that it pops against the carriage and background.
This is such a sweet illustration ^_^

Coley

@Neha-Rawat that's another good idea. So hard to pick! Color always confuses me 🥴 it's fun to explore though, hopefully I'll eventually get better at making choices!

Rachel Horne

@Coley Lovely idea!! I prefer the white/grey carriage - it separates it from the red of the hearts although I'm thinking maybe a tiny bit more contrast in the background could be nice. I'm loving the overall design

Coley

@Rachel-Horne thanks will toy with the background contrast as I go

LauraA

I'm really fond of that last one too! I find the white background one intriguing as well.

Heather Boyd

@Coley If your keeping to the night scene I like the last one. You may want to alter the colours in the winter coats of your characters that get lost in the background colours. And maybe also because your carriage is white lower the value a bit more I find it competes with the lights a bit. The first one with the black is nice also but maybe have the lights bring light to the inside of the carriage to vary the solid black where you loose some definition.

Coley

@Heather-Boyd awesome tips thank you . I'll work some of that in going forward for sure. Their clothes definitely need something, I may add some rim light or have lighter values. We'll see. Lots of work left to do!

Coley

Some progress. Tons left to do. Will get little bits done at a time I think as I have pet portait commissions to prioritize. Playing with fancifying the marriage-mobile with embossing details and curly wurly bits

Coley

@LauraA thanks are you doing something for this month’s contest?

LauraA

@Coley Thanks for asking! Right now I am working hard on a Slowvember project with a Narnia theme (it has its own thread). I am intrigued by Folktale Week, and also the second installment of Childhood week, and I usually do a Christmas image in late November, so I don't think I can squeeze in another whole piece. But...I was looking at some past pieces that I did that seem to fit the theme and I may just enter one of those. It can't hurt!