Slowvember - Prepare for Winter
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Hi @Chip-Valecek!
Love this concept, squirrels are so cute when they prepare for winter. :3
I have just a couple of things that might help with your piece.
The first thing that stood out to me was the bird. I felt it was out of place, however, I think it might have just been due to his line of vision. It's taking the viewer eyes away from the piece when we follow it.
Hope you don't mind I did a quick draw over to demonstrate what I mean.
I felt if you changed its line of vision to maybe be looking at what they're gathering, then it will engage the bird into the piece.
Another thing I noticed was that the squirrel parent seemed to be admiring the "food, gathering materials" for itself. Almost like Gollum from Lord of the Rings "My Precious" Haha. I felt that if the parent squirrel turned towards the babies as if it's offering it to them then it would look more like a family preparing for winter.
This combined with all the critters line of vision, allows the viewer to understand better what is occurring within the piece.
Awesome job, can't wait to see as this piece progresses through Slowvember!
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@jajajulie awesome feedback! Thank you so much for taking the time to do that. I agree with all you said.
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Here it is with the changes. What do you all think?
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@chip-valecek big improvement, looks cool:)
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Looks great!
@chip-valecek -
Great thanks! Onto the next stage.
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Here is my local values on separate layers. Helps when it comes to painting i can create clipping layers to added shadows and lights.
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nice characters, i think if i was going to make some changes it would about the hole in the tree, with the peanuts in it.
For the whole, i think where it touches the top of the squirrells ear. I think if you brought the whole down so it wouldnt look like it is flowing in to the ear, and the peanuts on the inside, the kinda match with the one he is holding, maybe if you twisted the one in his hand or the pile then the textures wouldnt line up so much. but shadding them different would help also.....hope this helpedgood work!
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Next step complete and always the most time consuming for me. Next up color.
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@chip-valecek looking good
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After my values I use a color layer and slap on my colors.
From here I clean up the edges and define the forms a little more. Add in some light and additional shadows and call it done.
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FYI my kids didn't like the big ear on the bird so at the last minute I scraped it. My kids are my biggest critics LOL.
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@chip-valecek mine too! Iam always scared to show them anything cause they don't put words in a warm blanket if they don't like smth;)
