Critiques Please! • Nativity Triptych • WIP

[Sarah VanDam]

@Miriam Wow, this is cool! I’m curious, though, how will you make the different layers of value? Maybe different paper thicknesses? Will you simplify everything to black silhouettes?

[Miriam]

@Sarah-VanDam Thanks! We will be printing the images onto vellum paper.

(In case you aren’t familiar with it, vellum is a semi-transparent paper with a very soft diffused look. It looks similar to tracing paper, except vellum is much thicker & sturdier. You may have seen it used in graduation or wedding announcements. I think it’s traditionally / originally made from goat skin, but I’m sure most isn’t anymore.)

I was planning to have it in a silhouette, but I was worried that the shape of the shepherds would be difficult with their head coverings. But now I’m concerned that the images won’t match as much.

[Miriam]

I'm working on the composition for the wisemen illustration & also on how the three images line up, so they will have a nice transition around the centerpiece.

[Chantal Goetheer]

@Miriam it's looking great lined up like that. Want to see a picture of the finished centered piece when it's all done.

[Miriam]

This post is deleted!

[Miriam]

Thanks, @Chantal-Goetheer! Yes, I’ll have to take some pictures when they are completed.

[Miriam]

Here are my concerns at the moment — aside from the fact that I want to finish by tomorrow (Tuesday) afternoon! (The centerpieces are for a party on Saturday & we need to assemble about 30 of them.):

• Does the arch look ok on the Nativity / Holy family?
It’s meant to suggest the stable / cave they stayed in.

• Is it working to have the shepherds’ head coverings & crook a lighter value when the other two images are full silhouettes (other than the background layer)?
I thought the shapes would be hard to distinguish in full black.
(I think having the lighter values of the background & sky help. Plus, I plan to add a lot of texture to all the layers.)

• I was also wondering about the sky for the wisemen.
If it was a stand alone image, I would draw the star. But I didn't really like the idea of having a large star in all three images.

Should I just see if the textures & some regular stars can take care of it? Or should I try adding a moon?

(I also need to finish cleaning up the wisemen & camels.)

• Please let me know if you have any other critiques or suggestions!

@ArtMelC, @kirsten-mcg, @Frogpunzel, @Sarah-VanDam , & @Chantal-Goetheer Thanks for all the compliments, comments & encouragement!

[Chantal Goetheer]

@Miriam
For the arch it looks fine. Maybe on the sheep side you could have a slight hint of the wall as well.

I get that you dont want another star, wouldn't quite fit. The other one works because it's the angel coming. But maybe the star of the nativity scène could spread some light to the side of the wisemen? As it does downward to the nativity?

The silhouette I think should also read fine when it is just all black like the others. Could you try to see how it looks? It looks seperate enough to clearly see a shepherd silhouette to me. It will maybe work best with the light when all silhouettes are the same colour/value wise?

Good luck finishing it!

[kirsten-mcg]

@Miriam I love the look of the uneven arch over the Nativity.

I think the shepherds should be silhouettes like all the other figures. They look like they would read just fine without the lighter color for their head covering. If I squint my eyes it all blends together, and I still see a shepherd.

I agree with @Chantal-Goetheer that making a little light from the star over the nativity bleed over into the wiseman image would work well. That way you can still suggest that they're following a star, but not need to repeat it.

Good luck! And show us the finished pieces!

[Frogpunzel]

@Miriam I would have to agree with what has been said. I think spilling a little of the stars light onto the wise men's side is a great idea. For me I didn't realize the arch was to represent the stable/cave, but I thought it was more of a designed border. I do think it looks fine, I just didn't quite get the whole idea. This is a really neat project, I have wanted to attempt a nativity scene for some time but not quite sure how I would want to do it.

[Miriam]

@Chantal-Goetheer @kirsten-mcg & @Frogpunzel

Thanks for the advice!

Adding the bit of wall on the manger scene really helps. I also lowered the arch a little.

I tried adding a glow like it’s coming from the star, but it didn’t look right because there’s a gap of sky in between. I’d have to move the star over for it to work, but I like having the star right above the manger.

So I tried adding a moon for the wisemen, plus a little glow on the town & I like it.

You guys were right, it is better for the shepherds to be fully silhouette to match the other frames. I also added glow on the town to match the wisemen image.

Now I just need to lighten up the layers with a textured mask & try to keep the same glow effects.

@Frogpunzel It would be great to see your version of a Nativity.

[kirsten-mcg]

@Miriam This turned out beautiful! I like that all three images have something glowing in the sky. And the shepherds look great as silhouettes.

[Chantal Goetheer]

@Miriam it will be awesome Saturday!!

[ArtistErin]

@Miriam Very nice Meant to chime in earlier... love seeing how things unfolded for you

[Miriam]

@kirsten-mcg @Chantal-Goetheer @ArtistErin @ArtMelC @Sarah-VanDam @Frogpunzel

So, it turns out that it looked VERY different printed out & was much too dark overall, and the glow pretty much erased the star / angel.

Fortunately, I had everything on separate layers, & was able to recolor each one & adjust a few things.

[Miriam]

I layers.
Ha, ha I should make a shirt.

[Frogpunzel]

@Miriam Love it!

[kirsten-mcg]

@Miriam The joys of printing. 🥴

[Miriam]

Thanks for all the help & support on this project. Here's how it turned out:

(We put one on each table, but I combined the photos to show the different sides.)

[ArtMelC]

@Miriam beautiful! Merry Christmas to you ️