WIP March book cover composition. Critiques welcome.

burvantill

I like this idea. Looking forward to see the progress.

ArtofAleksey

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ArtofAleksey

Ok here Are a few other compositions I like the ripples in the water more. What does everyone else think?

djly

@Aleksey - I think I like the third composition best in the newest thumbnail set. I agree, the ripples are nice!

JennyJones

Big yes to the ripples! I love the current take on the composition.

ArtofAleksey

@djly @JennyJones thanks
I think I can add a little more components if I push it up a little more.

Sas

@Aleksey Oh this is nice and so brilliant!!! I loved your foreground though. It gives your piece depth and a 3D lookish effect. The lines in the text is brilliant but makes it a bit difficult to read. Maybe you can make the whole text part of the water? It kind of looks like the text is submerging from underneath the surface. I don't know if that's the effect you were looking for though. I love your reflection of the prince in the water!

Can't wait to see your progress!

CobaB

@Aleksey Oh wow! Yes, the first one you've got there with the top down view and the ripples is lovely!!

ArtofAleksey

@CobaB @Sas ok so what I’ve gathered so far is:
Foreground elements are good but dont overcrowd the piece
Keep the ripples but make the text clearer.

I might do a thing where it says “Frog” on the surface of the water, and the O is a lilypad while the word “prince” is being reflected in the water much like the prince himself.

Sas

@Aleksey Great ideas!!!

CobaB

@Aleksey Yes that sounds brilliant! Yeah it doesn't feel like you are overcrowding it though. So far it looks like you're on the right track and there's enough breathing space. I guess it will come down to how you render and colour it. Very creative with the O, love it!

ArtofAleksey

@CobaB @Sas thanks. Im so excited to render this because ive been practicing with pen and ink more than brush pens lately. At the very least this will be a good portfolio piece.

CobaB

@Aleksey Cool! Will you also do the colour by hand? I'm not personally that brave! I like to rough out on paper and then colour digital and sometimes I will ink by hand with a brush pen or else those old fashioned dip in ink pens.

ArtofAleksey

@CobaB no i will color digitally. I will eventually learn how to paint better but because of time I’m only inking traditionally then coloring on my ipad

ArtofAleksey

So the last couple days I’ve been doing some research and asking people I know that understand art and art history better what it is they like about my art. Trying to hone in on when does my art “work” and some of the feedback I’ve been getting on my pieces is that it reminds them of older illustrations done in the 1900s but more cartoony so After doing some research and a few renditions I think I understand it a tiny bit better.
So here is my rough sketch, what iz thoughts?

Sas

@Aleksey This looks great! I cant wait to see you work on this further.

CobaB

@Aleksey looks good, but I hope the background won't distract from the main detail and title x

ArtofAleksey

@CobaB if i do this right it should draw your eye to the pond firsr. But even if it doesnt im having lots of fun with this piece

andersoncarman

@Aleksey I like this most recent thumbnail except for one thing. The title. I love this as an illustration if you take the title out. but when you add it in, it just becomes too bottom heavy. As an illustration, I like that it has that breathing room on the top third but it is so overcrowded down at the bottom now. I would suggest placing the title up in the top third. not just because that is where title normally goes, but your composition is made for it! you could even make the title out of the rocks and have the water flow around them into the pond! Also, don't forget the author "Brothers Grimm"

Love this! such a clever idea! can't wait to see it complete!

ArtofAleksey

@andersoncarman these are some good points. Thanks ill try that out. Leaving the bottom open makes it look a lot better.