July art contest WIP feedback always welcome :)

braden H

As is tradition, showing my process helps me out a lot

I wanted to try and avoid some of the more standard things that can go wrong during summer vacation (essentially everything that happens in the National Lampoon Vacation movies is out). So I made a list of opposites (summer is: warm, fun, bright, happy, friends, celebration; summer is NOT: cold, dark, lonely, boring, etc) and came up with a few ideas. Most of the things I came up with involved rain, or broken legs and such.

HOWEVER, then I remembered how my own summer vacation has been ruined every year for, like five friggin' years. Every year the province lights on fire and if we're unlucky there are evacuations and if we're lucky there's just thick impenetrable smoke EVERYWHERE.

So I went with a bunch of kids wanting to go swimming but finding the pool drained, or a family bailing on their fishing cabin as a fire approaches.

First round of thumbs. Did not like (not shown here, about 30 more thumbnails).

Second round of thumbs I ditched the pool idea. and focused on the fire.

I think I'm partial to the bottom value study. I'll pick one tomorrow.

chrisaakins

@Braden-Hallett OoOooo I really like the bottom one. That will be a different take on your style I think. It reminds me of a Chris Van Alsburg illustration. I think I am going to love seeing the process.

braden H

@chrisaakins said in July art contest WIP feedback always welcome :

It reminds me of a Chris Van Alsburg illustration

It does kinda, doesn't it? Maybe I'll do a version that keeps that black and white graphite look.

I'm thinkin' I may try a few different styles/mediums this time around.

Jon Anderson

This is going to be an awesome image but I have to admit I really liked the pool idea, too. One suggestion might be to factor in elements that support the summer vacation vibe (luggage on the car, etc.) as opposed to just a standard home, if you want. It's such a strong theme that as a stand alone image it doesn't need those things potentially weighing it down but at the same time for the contest it might not actually read as a summer vacation? Regardless, I'm really looking forward to how this one turns out!

braden H

@Jon-Anderson said in July art contest WIP feedback always welcome :

One suggestion might be to factor in elements that support the summer vacation vibe (luggage on the car, etc.)

I absolutely agree I'm thinkin a couple of people decked out in fishing gear or some swimmers running back toward the car

I really love the bottom one too, even the rough texture of your brushstrokes!
Looking forward to seeing how you develop it

braden H

@hannahmccaffery Thanks! I'm hoping it works out colour-wise with all the crazy orange fire and nasty brown smoke.

braden H

I really like how it was going, but I need some more time to let the whole concept sit and distill a while.

So I restarted

Somethin' super simple that I can rattle off by the deadline. Minimal backgrounds, almost all character.

braden H

MichaelaH

I like the second one, the gips is better to see and his trying to pick it up

braden H

@MichaelaH That's the one I like, too The first one's neat but I've been doing WAY too many exaggerated perspective drawings.

rotub

I like the first ones composition but I didn't notice the broken arms. I saw the broken arms immediately in the second and then went back and saw them in the first.

chrisaakins

@Braden-Hallett yeah, what the others said. Maybe even having him walking away from the ball for more heartwrenching drama. Poor kid.

ArtofAleksey

Your art is awful you should quit art and give me all your art supplies.

braden H

@Aleksey You got a cintiq now, man! You've got all the supplies I have :smiling_face_with_open_mouth_closed_eyes:

braden H

@chrisaakins That would've been an awesome idea! Head hung and shoulders drooping.

braden H

@rotub Second one it is!

braden H

Not as many WIP shots, sorry

From here on it's paint over the linework.

![alt text]( image url)

chrisaakins

@Braden-Hallett man you are so good. Even in the simplicity of it it looks like a pro page out of a children's book.

braden H

@chrisaakins Thanks that's some pretty high praise I'm glad it works with just the characters and not much else.