MAY WIP: critique appreciated for Akins

chrisaakins

One last edit before I let it marinate. The lighting was too hot on the soccer ball and his shirt.

TessaW

I think you are really onto something with the style, and I am liking your color choices! I think your characters are appealing here as well. A good balance between realism/stylization.

I would say for future pieces, beware of tangents. End of the couch, corner of the coffee table, foot of the boy with the soccer ball are all uncomfortably touching the edges of the format. I kind of also looks like you are purposely avoiding showing the feet. I think it would have been less distracting if you showed at least one foot from one of the big bros. Maybe a foot propped up on the coffee table or something. This also might be a nitpicky thing- but are welcome mats ever put on the inside of the doorway? I know a matt might be put there, but one that says "welcome" I only really see on the outside of a door. It could be something that varies by region. It was a little distracting, so I thought I'd point it out.

Anyway, really like the concept and overall execution! I'm interested to see your evolution in terms of style. It's looking good.

chrisaakins

@TessaW thanks so much!!! I always appreciate your thoughtful critiques. I am glad you like this style. I get insecure about it. It's not very similar to anyone else's in the forum.
I will fix the mat. Its a fair point. As far as feet...I didn't even think about it. I actually drew the whole foot for the side slouched and his brother just happened to be in front of him. Its a point to think about.
Tangents: ahhhh!! I kept running into them. I literally placed the doorknob higher than I should have to avoid it hitting his head. Most of them would have been solved had I gone with my gut and went full on landscape.

SFCruz

I'm going to "steal" one of Jake's ideas from critique session today. I'm wondering what it would look if you flipped it vertically? So the kid on floor is to the left of picture? The first couple of posts I noticed my eyes were drawn more at the two kids on the couch so took me a second to see the kid sitting on the floor. But that's my Western bias when viewing things I've now learned - ha!

Other than that, I like the colors and style very much. Feels like I'm in the living room, hanging out.

chrisaakins

@Sarah-F-Cruz Wow! You were right!!! It somehow even makes my wonky perspective at the door look better.

SFCruz

Nice! Kudos go to Jake! Love those critique sessions, I learn so much.

Oh, I guess the numbers on kid's shirt need to be fixed now, lol.

chrisaakins

@Sarah-F-Cruz except his 20 is backwards! Hahaha! I was able to fix it. I resized the door, too. I think I am going to have to be done at least for now.