Feb Contest WIP - A Few Questions

sarahlash

Hello Everyone,
This will be m second contest submission and I'm definitely putting more work into fleshing out my idea for this one. I was wondering if anyone could answer a couple of questions for me?

Is the story in this illustration immediately clear? Of do you have to slowly piece it together?
Does the perspective work? Or does it look off to you?
Any thoughts on the composition or lighting would be greatly appreciated. I'm still so new to illustration - currently finishing up the level 1 classes at SVS. I'd love any feedback you guys have to offer!
Thanks!

TessaW

Hey Sarah. Overall, this looks really lovely!

It looks like it's a play on the word "Honeymoon". When I think of that word I think of love, weddings, vacations, sex, new marriages. I'm not quite sure what you're trying to say about honeymoons and this character. Is she day dreaming about her honeymoon? She has a backpack of honeymoon supplies? If so- this character looks a bit young for that context? Am I missing something?
The perspective does look "off", the ladder has a twisting quality, but I think it can work for this style.
I'm not the best with composition, but I do really like what you have going on currently. It's dynamic and interesting.

sarahlash

@TessaW Ack!! That’s not the direction I was going at all! The illustration is really what my actual concept of a honeymoon was when I was a child. Climbing a ladder to the moon and eating bread and honey . . . but I’m definitely going to adjust it. Not going for any adult themes today .

I’ll play with it and keep trying. Thanks so much for your feedback. Fresh eyes are so helpful.

TessaW

@sarahlash Ahh, I see. Whoops. Well that's cute. It's funny hearing how kids interpret different words. I can see it working as a series of illustrations or a book premise, where it has a bunch of words as interpreted by kids. In that context, the connotation for the words "honeymoon" wouldn't be as loaded. I'm just one person, so it might not be an issue for other people.

Jeremy Ross

Hi @sarahlash, we totally had the same idea in mind! I submitted mine yesterday night, ladder and all!

Look forward to seeing your finished piece!

sarahlash

@Jeremy-Ross I saw that! Yours looks great! I will probably finish mine up and submit it in the next week or so