Sketch for Portfolio

[ArtistErin]

Oh so slow in getting this posted! Thinking I'll keep the background like vague sketches, what do you think?

[PenAndrew]

@ArtistErin It is coming along well-yes you could just have one colour and value for the background. It would throw the rest forward- Or just try a spot like the previous one. I really like that child and dog.

[PenAndrew]

@ArtistErin Better with the wagging tail.

[Meekipink]

@ArtistErin This is absolutely gorgeous!! It's perfect with the wagging tail, and I love the body proportions of the child (especially the oversized head).

[HeatherB]

I like the wagging tail best too. This reminds me of a tote bag I had once that said “bloom where you are planted”, this would be a cute tote!
I love the birthday party best but I might be biased because that looks just like my dog, Fozzie. I think you need to either finish the background or take it out though, it keeps it stuck in a wip zone appearance like that. Even cleaning up the lines would help

[Asyas_illos]

@ArtistErin this is looking good, I think the head could be bigger on the dark skinned girl though. Generally in kidlit the smaller the child the bigger the head. But your style is a little more realistic so maybe it works? I would still try and see what it does or you illustration, if you increase the size a tiny bit.

[ArtistErin]

@Asyas_illos Yeah, that's much better.. Tell me if it needs to be bigger? More like the other little boy and his puppy? I'm thinking to stay consistent piece to piece the kids should somewhat seem like they're coming from the same artist?

Oh and do the two types of illustration work well together?

I'm going to do some more shadow/ value on the kids so those two illustration styles seem like it makes more sense.

Ok gotta go start dinner

Thanks so much!!!!

[ArtistErin]

OK I kept noticing my perspective was off on my facial expressions. I am playing with how to create cute kids, with expression, without being too "realistic" yet relatable. Overthinking? Maybe!! lol
Are the kids cute without looking weird? I need feedback!! Starting to want to move on to the next piece and wonder if I'm getting any closer to tying this up. I don't like the static look of the birthday girl's feet, I suppose I feel like she should be showing more movement to match her excitement for getting a puppy for her birthday.

[Kim Rosenlof]

@ArtistErin This illustration is very cute. The characters look good and I like the colors. I also love the background being subtle. Very nice!. I like the new expressions of the birthday girl, but I am wondering why is she not looking at the puppy if that is what she is excited about? It looks like she is looking upward to something, but I am not sure what. Personally, I feel like the boys eyes are drawing a lot of attention, and would tone them down a bit or make them not as big. There is just more contrast with the boy's eyes than the middle character who I think is supposed to be more of the focus. Great job.

[ArtistErin]

@Kim-Rosenlof Thank you Kim!!! I will make some changes! I loved your submission to the "Storm" challenge, BTW!!! I'm watching your posts and you definitely inspire me so just wanted to thank you for being in this forum:)

[kirsten-mcg]

I love your handling of the characters and background in this! The background has a lot of detail, but doesn't overwhelm the characters because of it's lack of color. The kids are cute and stylized. Not weird. Awesome job with that! I agree with Kim about the Birthday Girl's eyes looking at the puppy. Also, you mentioned her feet. Little girls tend to bounce on their tip toes when they're excited...at least mine do! Changing her feet to look almost like she's dancing might make her pose a little more interesting.

[PenAndrew]

@Kim-Rosenlof I wanted to congratulate you , for many successes this year. Excellent work, and thanks as you encourage me to go more in a direction that is closer to my heart.

[Russ Van Dine]

I love the images of the kids. The backgournd could either be more blurry or have some color. It is well drawn but it seems to argue with the style of the kids. the style of the kids is very nice, I might try to do the same with the background.

[Kim Rosenlof]

@PenAndrew Thank you very much!

[Kim Rosenlof]

@ArtistErin Thank you! That is kind of you.

[ArtistErin]

@Russ-Van-Dine I'm loving how this is coming along!!! Thank you guys for your insights....

[Eliana Bastidas]

@ArtistErin Really cute! But I liked your previous version more than this last one, I think the eyes on the dog made it lose it cutenest, also, the girl looks like shes floating in the air. If you wanted her to appear jumping around, maybe you could capture the time when shes "falling down", when the clothes go slightly up because of the force.

Also, the mouth of the one taking the picture is too big, the way you drew it goes way over the eyebrow line.

[ArtistErin]

@Eliana-Bastidas yeah I see that looking at them side by side. I should sketch out some gestures and see how those look. I am trying to show a relationship between the skeptical new puppy looking pensively at the exuberant girl. I’m still trying to find a consistent drawing style that makes sense, might go to watercolor/ colored pencil and see what comes of that… anyway thank you for your feedback, it’s helpful!

[Eliana Bastidas]

@ArtistErin If you are trying to get a "style" I would recommend to not force yourself to figure out on your own. A lot of people had done the work for you already, so instead of trying to draw things that may or may not work which I think will take years to do, you should take a moment to look at artwork that you really like. Then you can ask yourself, what it is that really make me like this? It's the way the gesture it's drawn, the storytelling, their choice of colors or their lineart? Maybe what you find appealing is the way they drew the "eyes", so try to imite them while you ask yourself what it is that make you like it. I think the way you question yourself it is the most important thing on this because it will help you reproduce that more efficiently.

Then you repeat the process, with several artist and you will get a completly new style because you wont be reproducing a specific artist, but multiple artist with "different" categories in mind.

If it would be me, I would go to the https://characterdesignreferences.com/visual-library, I would check for drawings about dogs that have eyes, get some references that I think may work, ask myself why I think it worked, then try to reproduce it.

Hope this help!

[ArtistErin]

@Eliana-Bastidas Thank you!!! I've practiced this approach to some degree, I just sometimes get stuck on old paradigms and processes and so have to get back to basics and then I feel more confident. My mom found some old illustrations I did for her years ago and although I have made significant progress, I do see a relatively similar "look" that remains consistent which is so assuring. I see that same thread in others' approach/progress. Anyway, my piece, adjusted as I kept looking and tweaking until I feel it's finished state...
Onward and UPward...