Dec. 3rd thursday sketch
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@DanetteDraws Thanks for your comments :). Yes, children's books are one of my goals. It's funny that Pixar does such highly rendered things and they are so popular... but when it comes to kids books the styles are so different. I wonder why that is. lol. but yes. I will definitely work on making things cuter :). Thank you.
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@Kris-Knight Hmmmm...I wonder if it's the "electronic vs. print" notion. When we view things on screen we expect them to have a highly rendered digital look, whereas in children's books, the trend is more a traditionally rendered feel since its in the tactile world.
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@DanetteDraws
could be.
I wonder if parents usually pick books for their kids more so than kids picking books, but when it comes to movies the kids usually make that choice because they watch tv all the time. lol. I have no idea, I know that kids seem to be in front of tv a lot more than inside of bookstores. lol... unfortunately. -
It's weird, when I grew up in the 70s, I did not pick books to read based on the art emulating Disney. And yet yesterday in a bookstore, I bought my wife a beautifully painted version of the 12 Days of Xmas, and a plasticine (sp) clay version of The Night Before Xmas. I picked them based on the art being good, and as she's an adult and an artist as well, a child like book would be boring to her.
I think kids enjoy whatever hits them, and the industry pushes the style of traditional medium. I heard Will Terry say in another course that most editors in Children's Book publishing are female. So perhaps their choices are made based on what they think kids would like, where as men might tend to pick what's the coolest looking thing out there, in this case something more Pixar like. Not that women don't pick cool things, but we are different in tastes some times, especially decorative, this is just an extension of those choices no?
I would make a sexist comment that boys like comic books, and girls like " pretty things ", but that's not so anymore, there are A LOT of female readers in the comic book industry, the lines are blurring thankfully. There is also an influx of female writers and artists in the previously male dominated comic book industry, award winning women who are making a change for the better!
Personally I love that amazing look of traditional art that Children's Books still endorse. If it was done digitally, it wouldn't bother me as long as the final look had the same kind of quality. I'm not looking for realism, I'm looking for joy technically speaking.
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Oh and btw @Kris Knight, I'm a big fan of whichever style you're using... you're very talented.
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Very true. So much is being mixed today. I think the only books I picked for myself as a kid was Dr. Suess and Shel Silverstein. lol. I love poetry so I can't say I picked them for the images per say but I did love Dr. Suess's world.
Thank you so much Bobby. I really appreciate that :). I'm sure I'm like other people and sometimes feel I'm hitting my head against a wall lol, so it is nice to hear someone is enjoying my work. Thank you.
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@Bobby-Aquitania well said!
You know guys, I don't remember picking any of my own books as a kid. Although my parents knew that I liked the Berenstain bears, Mr Men/Little Miss, and Little Critters series so I did have quite the collection of those. The only book I vividly recall losing my mind over the artwork was The True Story of the Three Little Pigs (illustrated by Lane Smith). That book had just come out I think and my grade 1 teacher read it to us. I loved books as a kid, but I don't recall "noticing" the artwork in all but that Lane Smith one. It was just part of the enjoyment of the story to me.
You know what I just thought of though @Kris-Knight that might give you hope with your highly rendered style? As a kid, I freakin' went bananas for Lisa Frank stuff. She had all kinds of stickers, school supplies, etc. and she was huge. She had a very highly rendered style I'd say (with pretty much a colour explosion assault on the eyeballs haha)! So obviously kids do like various "styles" - I guess it is all in whether you can sell it for a certain market or not though.
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Twitter @DanetteDraws
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WOW!!! just looked up Lisa Frank. HOLY MOLY lol. That is absolutely an assault on my eyeballs haha. you are right about that. lol I don't think my eyes could handle even attempting to replicate those colors like that haha.Maybe there is hope for me yet. haha
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Reminds me of Leroy Neiman... yes sometimes I looked at the art in Playboy, not just the umm articles.
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@Kris-Knight said:
It's funny that Pixar does such highly rendered things and they are so popular... but when it comes to kids books the styles are so different. I wonder why that is.
In my opinion the reason why Pixar is so popular is nothing to do with the rendering...but the fact that they work so hard on the storytelling (8 times out of 10, anyway, they're not perfect...)...there are lots of beautifully rendered films out there but the ones we really remember are the ones with great stories and great characters.
I love the traditional look too, because by default it adds personality....but one thing that is so good with digital rendering is how you can more easily create a really believable world that takes you away from reality into fantasy. The style you choose should be based on what makes you excited to draw and what makes you want to create those other worlds. If you're excited about it, it will be better and then it's more likely that other people will want to read/be involved in/commission you to make these stories/worlds. So I think generally you should mostly follow what inspires you most, while still trying out lots of techniques to broaden your ability...
PS Googled Lisa Frank too. Oh my eyes!!
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I go back and forth. I absolutely love the high rendered stuff but I very much am in love with the loose painterly style. There is just something magical about it to me. I think I need to find me a teacher. lol.
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WIP
Hi guys.
So I went back to my original style but I tried to make the image more loose and not so "smooth" and blended. I changed the chicken to a goose, redesigned the cow a little, the elf and a redesign on the pig. I decided to put Santa more into the background because I figure it is less about him and more about the characters pulling the sleigh. I changed the rhyme as well to work with the changes.
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@Kris-Knight I love that you are really pushing and experimenting to find a way of painting that suits you...this is looking great. I like the expression on the cow, the way the reins stretch forward in a natural line, and the way you painted the feathers on the bird.
Things I personally like better about your original highly rendered piece that you could work in...the moonlit feel with the blues and pale light on the hills was really nice. At the moment your latest piece is looking quite dark all over. The text says that the gerbil's lights lit up the night, so maybe it would be nice to really make those fairy lights shine bright! I know that means two light sources at opposite ends of the piece, so maybe given the text the gerbil's lights should be the brightest. (could have clouds covering part of the moon to explain why it's a bit darker back there...) ...Anyway great work
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@Dulcie
Thanks Dulcie.
I'll definitely play with the background a bit. I darkened this one to try to push the characters to be easily viewed. Perhaps I did it too much :). Yeah, I had dimmed the lights down a bit in this one. I give it a "glow-over" and see if I can get a good look without pushing too far. Good points. Thank you. -
@Kris-Knight I agree with @Dulcie that this got a little too dark, but looks like you're on that! I seriously love these characters and your rhyme is just too funny! Great job, keep posting!
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Hey guys, So here is my final I'll be turning in.
Changes I made - Made a custom texture brush and used it to help brighten the background as well as go over various parts. Stars added. Magic Sparkles added. A few other here and there things and thats it.
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I think you've found a nice balance now between having the background dark but still very much moonlit and magical - love the added sparkles and the fairy lights look great!
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@Dulcie Thanks Dulcie
