Picturehooks competition entry

geekinm

Hi everyone

This was my entry for the Picturehooks competition on the theme of kindness. It had to be a narrative illustration for children on this theme. I would be really grateful for any thoughts or comments on my piece good or bad! I was really trying to tell a story in the picture which I hope I have managed to do.

There is also another picturehooks competition in December which I am hoping to enter with another picture I am working on.

Did anyone else enter the last competition in the end?

Thanks very much

Anna

Chantal Goetheer

@geekinm I really like the tail of the squirrel and bushes extending beyond the frame. It's very clear that the guy bumped his head into the low hanging branch and the forest animals are taking care of him and his horse. So good job on getting your story across. Was thinking it might have been interesting including a gun, suggesting he is a hunter while the animals still took care of him because they are so kind, that just popped into my head. You might want to turn your illustration to gray scale, then you see that some of the animals get a bit lost in terms of value in the trees. It seems to me you work traditional like me. I now always take pictures of my work in between and put a black and white filter over it to see how the values and contrasts are working. I am just finishing my critique arena stuff so didn't have enough time for this one.

geekinm

@Chantal-Goetheer Thanks for your reply - the greyscale tip is very helpful and I will try it next time. I did some draft pieces in my sketchbook and the values seemed ok but the trees got a bit darker than I had planned in the final painting. I thought I could just about get away with it and I didn't have time to start over anyway!

I have done this on paper using a biro to draw and derwent inktense paint to colour. I find digital so difficult because you can undo things and zoom in too far. The colour choices are overwhleming and when you print it never looks like you think it should. I have to upload a colour chart from promarkers and choose colours from that like I would if drawing on paper!

I don't think that you have to work digitally in the UK.

There is another competition open until 14 Dec.

Chantal Goetheer

@geekinm so recognizable that time runs out to start another version . I have no clue where to start digitally, but sometimes it seems so nice to just be able to try something, change colours and positions. Instead of trying a new version.