Butterfly race WIP

[djly]

@demotlj - could one of the spectators be holding binoculars and you can then see the butterfly? Just a thought :-).

[demotlj]

I did some more research on characters of vastly different size and for those who are interested, here are the strategies often used:

1. Both characters in the frame but the larger one is detailed and the smaller one is too small for detail (Gulliver's Travels)

Here, the emphasis of the illustration is either on the action of the larger figure or to show the size differential

2. The smaller character is detailed and the larger character is seen only in part (Gulliver's Travels)

In these, the emphasis in on the smaller creature's actions and the larger creature is implied through the partial view

3. The smaller creature is the focal point while the larger creature is seen at a distance (Beatrix Potter)

This allows the smaller creature to be the primary focus of the piece while the larger creatures act as back drop to the scene.

Since the focus in my story is on the smaller creature not the larger one, and the story isn't about the size differential directly but about the race, I think #3 is the best strategy which my thumbnails have done more or less. I don't know if this changes anything for me but it was interesting research!

[andersoncarman]

@demotlj I really like the thumbnail in red, I think it is getting there. I think you need to keep pushing this composition. I love the reference you brought up of the mouse because we get a sense of scale from the fact that the mouse overlaps the horizon that the cows are on. I think you can use this same principle in your drawing by having the butterfly directly covering up some of the horses. right now it's covering some of their feet and I think that is because you dont want to cover the horses, but remember, Skippy is your focal point (That's my assumption) and if he covers horses thats ok!

[demotlj]

@andersoncarman Good point about Skippy covering the horses. I tried developing the other scene but am not liking the way it is going and keep coming back to the thumbnail in red (the horses thundering down the track). I think I'll switch to playing with that one some more now and see where it goes.

This morning before work, I was so tired of trying to figure this out that I drew this:

I'll get serious again about it tonight though. Thanks for your encouragement.

[demotlj]

After lots of failed sketches, here is the design I am going with. On to clean up and inking.

[demotlj]

Sketch 2.0. Nest, tracing it onto watercolor paper to ink. (The butterfly is gray just so I could move him around on a separate layer and he would cover the horses.)

[demotlj]

This post is deleted!

[demotlj]

I did a quick line and wash of part of the detail of my final drawing to see how it would look. I’m using a dip pen which is new to me, and I can see some things in the drawing and inking that I need to change but in general, I like the look.

[Whitney Simms]

Looks great! I like the feel of the racers. Can’t wait to see it!

[demotlj]

First inking pass. (Why is it you only see all of the tangents after you've posted something?!)

[demotlj]

First watercolor wash. I’ll darken the values and add details in the next pass. I’m trying to do this all traditionally but I already see some things I’ll have to correct in Procreate. Sigh.

[demotlj]

Here is my final (?) piece but I'm trying to decide on cropping. The first is the full thung and the second is cropped. Any thoughts?