I had no idea you did this kind of stuff Rich... incredible and very inspiring! You've inspired me to do something like that. Art can heal and inspire so many things. Drop me an email and let me know how you got into this kind of thing. You're an amazing person, Rich.
Ace
Such a wonderful idea and project - this is truly heartwarming! I'm sure it will give the girl and her family something positive in these trying times ♡
Silly question Rich, but what size are you working at? What DPI? I always work at about 300, but for printing something 40 inches, I would probably go as high as 600 dpi. Just to play it safe, your file size will be a beast, but if you're computer can handle it, you should be okay to add more detail, no matter how much you zoom. I think I've sold posters at 24x30 at 300 dpi, that is had clients print that high up from files I've done.
I wish you all the luck in the world with this, being a cancer patient, I know what she's going through, and I hope you can bring her even a small moment to forget. You're a prince among men Rich...
@Bobby-Aquitania - originally when all of these illustrations began they were intended (and still are) to be part of a book that will include a mix of photos of all of these wonderful kids composited over places/landmarks in Chicago that make them look whimsical or fantastical in some way. The photographer uses an instructor of mine from a class I took at School of the Art Institute Chicago to do that compositing and photowork. When he was looking for someone who could illustrate these fairy tale scenes to add another take on all of this into the book, my instructor knew of my children's book work and recommended me. And that is who I became fortunate enough to become involved in this project.
This book (which will be his second project like this - the first featured all wild animals in settings around Chicago) is created with the sole purpose of being a fundraiser for groups such as Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually impaired. 100% of the proceeds are donated to them. The kids from the lighhouse group are the subject of many of the illustrations. But as word of this project has started to spread among other child health advocacy type groups around Chicago - this hobbyist/philanthropist photographer has been getting photos with all of these different amazing kids. And in doing so one of the children's hospitals is talking about turning these into a permanent exhibit - where they would require large prints between 30-40 inches I am told. Working with his printing company they have been able to create some 30 inch prints a few months back for an event and I heard they turned out amazing - I have not seen them in person yet.
I did not adjust my dpi beyond the print 300dpi I had been doing. File size as you mention can be challenging but also brushes and textures and everything else I use right now become even more of a challenge at larger than 300dpi. So trying to make sure the work is improving but also consistent for the entirety of this project I have no changed the dpi or some other details. The size of the images are also odd compared to a standard book but this is really going into a more photo/coffee table style book so it does not face the same industry standards as the traditional children's book might I suppose.
The photographer is really the most wonderful man - his generousity and compassion for these kids, the families, the charities is unlike any other I have seen. I sometimes tear up a little when I am done with a piece as I know I gave it my very best and I want nothing more than to make the kids feel really special. Sometimes I get emails forwarded onto me with the replies from the families. Hearing that I made Cinderella's mother cry tears of joy that someone cared enough to make her girl feel like a princess is one of those moments I will never forget.
I was told on this piece that Ally (Dorothy) who had been sleeping as the recent treatments are really wearing her out - woke up and was just beaming when they showed this too her. The photographer had 50 copies made up for her to autograph and hand out as I mentioned. To show a kindness to those helping her on her journey and also to just make her feel special over and over again when she shares the image with them and it turns the conversation into how wonderful she looks as Dorothy etc. Seriously - good stuff.
Thank you to @Camomilla and @Ace-Connell for the kinds words as well. I love that this project is having such a great impact well beyond those featured in the images!
This is just wonderful! I love the expressions and movement in your characters. Great job with your shadows. I always struggle with placing realistic shadows behind figures. I can tell you put your heart in this!
this put a smile on my face
Reading about this and seeing you artwork has made my day! It must be an amazing feeling for you knowing that your artwork can bring so much joy! I struggle with all of the same things you mentioned. I worry that I am so dependent on reference that I have dulled the part of my brain that creates.
@Rich-Green Seriously awesome.
What an awesome project. As far as background environment items, it is something I am working on as well. I don't have enough reference in my mental filing cabinet, so one of the things I am doing is Googling landscape photos, copying them into Photoshop, lowering the opacity and tracing over them, then playing with the value. It helps me deconstruct the environment. Hope that helps.
@Carrie - thank you so much for picking up on the expressions and the movement in the characters, I really appreciate you noticing them!
@Naroth-Kean - and your comment put a smile on my face. Thank you my friend!
@stacilyn - comments like the one you left have made my day, so thank you for that! And yes I feel like if I can look at something in person or via photo I can usually draw its likeness fairly well. But when it is from my pure imagination I freeze up for some reason. So in projects outside of this one where I have to create recognizable references to pop culture characters, I am really trying to push myself to be influences by references without taking them literally. I am definitely a work in progress on that one!
@shinjifujioka - that is very high praise coming from someone whose work I admire so much - thank you!
@Rebecca-Hirsch Thank you! And yes I go between real photo references and then other illustrators/digital painters work to see how they intemperate similar landscapes and what it is about their variations that appeal to me. Then I try and figure out how to recreate that but it has been slow going in some areas that's for sure! 
Seriously everyone, thank you all so much for all the kind words/comments/upvotes on this one - really feels good!
Great work and a great cause!
Hey guys, just a fyi on resolution. There is no benefit to going any higher than 300 ppi, even when working at large scale (provided your file is built at 100% of the printed size). The reason for this is that all images print through a line screen when printing on paper. That line screen will limit resolution on the printing end of things. The line screen is typically 300 dots per inch. Anything over 300 pixels per inch in your file will not show up once it goes through the line screen. Occasionally a coffee table photo book might go up to 450 lines per inch where you would need the higher resolution file, but it's not common. So don't make your files bigger than necessary by going with big resolution sizes.
Hope that makes sense. : )
SVS Faculty Instructor
www.leewhiteillustration.com
Wow Rich, these just keep getting better and better!! The characters have so much life, but none take away from Dorothy! she has such a beautiful smile! I like how you added all of their awards hehe. The only things i noticed is the wizard gets a bit lost. his suit is clost to the same color as the grass, and Toto needs a bit of shadow under him. Oddly he looks like he was "photoshopped" into the picture.
Keep up the amazing work, and all of the good you do!! You rock!!
@Lee-White Thank you Lee, for the kind words. Also thanks for the recommendations on resolution as well.
@Lynn-Larson - You know it was tricky because the wizard is green, the field is green, the emerald city is green - not ideal. I had him a bit bolder but then he jumped to far forward in the scene. So I put some of the hazy blue from the sky in him to tone him down a bit and pull your focus back to the foreground. Its one of those things where I should have designed something behind him to contrast him I suppose. Hmmm
@Rich-Green I know you don't want him to stand out, he's not the main focus. It is just my opinion
Reading about this and seeing you artwork has made my day! It must be an amazing feeling for you knowing that your artwork can bring so much joy! I struggle with all of the same things you mentioned. I worry that I am so dependent on reference that I have dulled the part of my brain that creates.
