Current projects:
Finish 3rd Thursday
Paint at least 20 images that are children orientated before the 23rd of Jan. there is a critique locally here for SCBWI
Get actionable poses and expressions down
Finish up all of the courses currently offered here
Create leave behind sheet/postcard and business cards for illustration vs my design ones now

Milestones:
Created a separate space from my design portfolio to house a blog of my illustrations in progress or complete
Finished 8 courses here
Created a drawing or painting daily for weeks, the first time in 20 years

@Katrina-Fowler Great advice, Katrina! I really appreciate it!

@Rob-Smith Thanks, i just want to make the wolf second read,, but it needs stil lots of rendering!! 😉

@Marsha-Kay-Ottum-Owen the way I understand it, it also reflects on your reputation. The total number of up votes on the top right of your post.

Screen Shot 2015-12-10 at 11.26.22 AM.png

You should be very proud of this piece @kazgirl because it is terrific. Your final additions really pulled it all together. Its a winner!

Thanks to all of you for the nice feedback 🙂

@Bobby-Aquitania Yes you're right, there should be a light on the front. I did think about that before, but it didn't suit the composition with the other light sources I wanted so I left it out. At one point when I was thinking of adding the fairy lights, they were going to be wrapped round the funnel thing at the top, and I thought they could light the way... I also wondered, maybe there could be a third elf sat up there at the front, arms wrapped round, holding a light & looking delighted...but again would that be too much to include.. But fair points, thanks for pointing them out 🙂

@Bobby-Aquitania That solved it! I actually was talking about the eyedropper tool (I guess I think of it like a color picker but you are right, it is different than the color wheel).

I read your response and then quickly deleted my 3 frustrated tweets to @SketchableApp. I guess I'm just not familiar enough with Win 8.1. I never use the "fly out" charm menu.

I was so annoyed but you nailed it! Thank you so much!

Sweet! Always looking for good, free audio books to listen to while working. Thanks!

@mattramsey Thanks for the update. I was thinking about suggesting testing on a copy. 1. test the space, since that area is giving you problems and not the sand area what happens if you delete and paint from scratch. 2. Copy and paste just that square of space into a new file and see what happens there. 3. Play with the type of files you are saving it as. Good luck troubleshooting.

@Joy-Heyer Oh, wow! Thanks. It's nice to have a visual. I see what you mean. The other one I did had Peter and Santa really big and some of the feedback then was that it was too much so.....maybe though, Peter Pan was the star and Santa was in the background then. Thank you for taking the time to do this. I still might be able to enlarge them a little as I haven't started inking my new one yet. We'll see how much time I have. Thanks again!

Marsha

@Dama-Chan Very cute. Can't wait to see more!

@amberwingart Okay this time I did...

A Gradient pass on Screen of a bright orange from bottom to half way. This is to simulate the light coming from the bottom and fading out above him. A Gradient pass on Multiply in a dark blue from top to half way. I erased the edges from the outer oval where it had become blue to match the warm bottom of the oval background I did some bright circular gradients in a light blue on the bluebird. And finally I selected the inner back ground and turned the contrast down to match the top darkness to give the illusion of going back.
I think the last part was the most effective. You could do this with a dark glaze in your painting. I would test it on some canvas paper first though. I could make the foliage under his arm more green, but you get the gist...

4.jpg

What a great class... thank you Dulcie!!!

You'll find it under " Art " at the top, after Home. Click that, then you'll see a link for it... Just make your own. I've been debating to do the same.

Thanks, Rob. That makes me feel encouraged 🙂

@carlenevick said:

Great feedback guys, I just learned so much in two minutes!

Bobby - I'm going to try recreating those steps you just mentioned, see how much I can take away from them and apply to my next project.

I did decide to restart the 3rd thursday prompt, figured it would be a great chance to explore some other ideas I had, but I will keep playing with this concept to push myself further.

I'll be sure to share the newer WIP too - thanks guys.

I will take screenshots of the layers and post them for you.

@Chip-Valecek I have been doing that exact same thing - its really a great trick! Glad you shared it as others will really benefit from it too!