My Glowing WIP (wow, that sounds vein, but GLOW is the topic, so cut me some slack, please)
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@KevinTreaccar that’s why we’re here, always good to see what others see and to know what they’d do differently even if it’s not in your wheelhouse, at the least it’s broadened our perspectives.
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New color scheme. Now with more glow.
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@KevinTreaccar I like the glow reflecting on the grass. It makes the ghost itself seems more glowing.
The glow around the ghost seems a bit stained, not sure if you want an effect like that or not, but maybe you could have it fading out more gradual? Is the ghost the only source of lighting in this piece? The shadows of the kids and on the boys sweater doesn't seem to be matching the ghost as light source.
Suddenly looking at the picture I was wondering that the kids are dressed like daytime, while the colours, ghost and light suggest it is surely passed their bed time? That's probably my mommy perspective kicking in -
@Chantal-Goetheer If it makes you feel better, I had to find that balance for this with a ghost and kids playing outside. It’s evening on a cloudy day so the mom has warned them it’s almost time to go home.
And the almost-setting sun is the primary light source that’s throwing you off with the kids.
I’ll take opinions on what I see as a flash as the ghost appears. The yellow ghost is what would be the sustained light, so I treat that with a little more fade. But if the outer glow/flash is throwing people, I can definitely tweak.
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Hi Kevin, i know you are already far with your picture, here is few ideas from my point of view to the discussion though:
on Storytelling: the story is clear, but may be stronger if putting more elements of 'playground' to the design of environment. The running pose of the boy might still be a bit more adjusted/pushed. The crying girl is setting the mood away from what you might have intended.
Some technical ideas: the composition seems a bit squeezed. There are few 'almost tangents' between the characters. The head of the boy is dissapearing in the same value of the tree behind him. The light scheme you have decided for is not easy, but since working digitally, you can build it up from local colors in a diffuse light setting (that might be even enough) and/or adding more light (blue tone by dawn, additional direct light, etc.) on top. It should help you to keep your light sources more organised, your colors more viable and the ghost more glowing.
Here is two sketches over your picture to see what i mean: -
@marek-halko Thank you. That’s a lot of helpful information. The drawovers are helpful, too.
It actually sparked a few more tweaks in my head – the soccer jersey-wearing ghost sad watching the kids run away for
onetwo, so I’m going to try to bring at least some of these suggestions to life with a start over. Of course, that’s time-permitting with work, CB Pro and dad duties, but I like all the tweaks more as I look at the illustration in my head. Thank you! -
Going to see if I can get this finished by... [gulp]... Wednesday.
(We have until Monday, but I'm traveling)
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@KevinTreaccar I like the ghost's expression, so appologetic. Hope you'll be able to finish it.
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@KevinTreaccar it's now clear that they are scared of the ghost from their expressions and the soccer field sets a good backdrop.
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Think I've done all I have time for. Going to sit on it for the rest of the day and then enter.