A little late for Fall!

bharris · 29 Nov 2015, 16:15

Thanks Rob, your suggestions are really helpful!

Nancy Gormezano · 29 Nov 2015, 17:47

should the tree not touch the umbrella at all?

Your new update looks wonderful - but I think that perhaps the tree behind the girl is distracting - My eye goes right to it, and it competes with the girl as to subject. I don't think you need it, You have enough going on interest wise in the girl. Love her new red coat. Try blocking the tree out and see what you think, perhaps?

Leontine · 29 Nov 2015, 19:30

Yep, I think you can skip the tree too. Its a real nice illustration! maybe add some more leafs?

Lydia M · 29 Nov 2015, 20:03

I hope you don't mind me doing this! I really liked this piece! I was reading through the comments and saw these suggestions so I thought I'd try them out.

That big tree on the left felt like it was blocking the wind and it was really bright so it caught a lot of attention. I made it smaller and moved it over so the wind could get through. I also desaturated the orange to push it back.

I darkened the foreground and added big pumpkins for size variation and to push the girl into the middle. I painted out the middle tree. That middle tree was all up in her business.

The mountains in the background were pretty purple but they didn't feel far away because they were so bright and defined. The mountains weren't that important to the story, the wind and the girl are the main players, so the mountains can be pushed back with less color or blurring.

Bobby Aquitania · 29 Nov 2015, 20:55

I think my problem with the concept is any wind strong enough to bend a tree, would probably make a human fly... which could be a much more fun pose to think about. I also prefer the saturated colors you used in your original, as I think it plays well with your almost tv cartoon style. You're really good at showing the action in this piece, I think that's its strongest point.

bharris · 29 Nov 2015, 20:17

@gimmehummus I don't mind at all, it helps to get reference. I really liked the up close pumpkins, the clouds and taking out the tree and moving the other one, I think that will be my next move. The reason the colors are this way was because I was challenging myself to work from a pre-made color pallet I found and inspired me. I like the darkness though if I was going that way.

@Bobby-Aquitania I think she is just about to fly Thank you!

Lydia M · 29 Nov 2015, 20:39

Definitely keep it bright like you have around the girl. It's a lively color palette. My husband looked over and really liked the bold colors. Lightening and darkening that palette, to add a sense of depth and pull out your character, wouldn't be going against your challenge.

Lee White · 30 Nov 2015, 15:06

What a lovely image. This has a great animated quality and I love the color palette.

Here's a couple of suggestions. I love the "dragged" quality you have with both heels still on the ground. But with how active the wind is, I wondered if maybe changing her leg position would help add some energy. So I gave it a whirl here to see if it worked. Feel free to adjust as needed of course.

I think you could simplify some areas too. I darkened the trees a bit and lost some of the highlighting around the image. The wind marks you have by using a single weight line seem like they need some help. I added two marks that show more of a "thick to thin" type mark which can add some design element there. I'd change all of them to have some sort of weight variation.

Really cool image! : )

bharris · 30 Nov 2015, 15:45

@Lee-White Thank you Lee! I like the look of that a lot and I'll give it a shot!

smoke · 30 Nov 2015, 18:40

lovely color palet! i realy like it, very cute paintingstyle also!! great illustration!! keep it up!!