Living Underwater - May prompt: let's share our WIPs and inspiration

[Joshua Chennault]

I've got an initial sketch of an idea kicking around. Figured I could do a double whammy, and get something for SVS and the MerMay art challenge.

Whenever a prompt comes up that I really like, I tend to jump into a lot of world building and story. Doing so gives me a lot of motivation to take a piece through full illustration. Been working on a whole document for this one, going so far as to work on the culture, society, and tool materials for these Merfolk. Might share bits in my own sketchbook eventually.

I like the idea sketch so far. Will dive into proper character design next, before taking the sketch further. Anyway, feel like I've rambled enough, but we'll see if I can pull this off. These interesting perspective shots I've been crafting recently are tough.

[skeletortoise]

Hi all! Looking forward to getting back into things for this month's prompt!

I have been into drawing books and bookstores recently and I was wondering how I might incorporate it into my illo for this month. First, I though "underwater bookstore?" Or maybe the ruins of a bookstore found under water?

Then I was drawing a boat and suddenly I thought "bookstore on a boat!" Mermaids could come to the surface to read since they can't really get books underwater where they live. I hope this still feels like it fits the prompt. In my mind, the mermaids live underwater so they need this resource for when they want to chill and read some books.

I also learned that there is a real boat bookstore in London and now I want to go!

https://secretldn.com/word-on-the-water-bookshop/

Here are some other images that I'm saving over on Pinterest:

[jenn]

@skeletortoise I like the 'bookstore on a boat for mermaids' idea. That sounds like it has potential!

[jenn]

@Joshua-Chennault I like the cropped-in view and the way you were able to express a moment of tension through details. The shapes and linework already show the flow of the water.

[jenn]

@R-Fey-Realme thanks for sharing your pins!

[Fey Realme]

@Joshua-Chennault and @skeletortoise thanks for sharing what you're working on! Its super inspiring to see. Im still struggling with the prompt and prompt burnout from last month lol… the ideas i came up with at the beginning of april feel like too much work….. and so im back to the drawing board looking for something simple to do.

So here are some of the most interesting water related stories i found on pinterest

Lee shared “THE 5 story motivations”on a pod a while ago (ive lost where i wrote them down and have been going crazy trying to find the ep) but the ones i remembered were

• To escape
• to rescue
• to win
• (to explore maybe?)
• (no clue what it might be)

It seems like escape and rescue are very common for these sea mythical creature stories.

Here are other interesting, less story driven pieces i found, that felt really unique

Ive been hyper focusing on the “underwater” part so i thought i would brainstorm some around the “living” part.

Living = eat, sleep, move, family/relationships
How do you get food underwater?
Where would you sleep underwater?
Why would you move?
How can i translate a moment in a relationship from my world into this other world?

This last question felt the least stressful and probably most promising of all theses, so i thought of some relationship and moments—maybe you can translate a moment from your recent life into the underwater prompt! There is still time for you and me to participate.

• parent—young child : kids running out the door to school, one has to rush back for his backpack
• young child—young child:
• young child—adolescent: adolescent watching over and helping young child play
• parent to parent: husband brings pregnant wife food
  *sisters, brothers, friends, student/teacher, youth/grandparents

I think there is real power in simple moments in relationships—while they aren't always complete stories they are very relatable and probably make good portfolio pieces

[Fey Realme]

Heres what ive been throwing together since the other day. How important would it be to render the inerior wall do you think?

It needs some more rendering all round, doesnt it

[Jason Crowley]

I came up for a few ideas for this prompt so I wanted to create this second piece for HTFYA:

It's a husband hermit crab who shows up with a dilapidated doll head as a shell to his disappointed/annoyed wife and amused child. I want to show both amusement with the surrounding fish but also a bit of sadness/concern from the whale who can see that while this looks funny, it's also sad as the doll's head is pollution from humans.

[Reb Erlik]

@R-Fey-Realme The mer-sisters idea is cute! Could use more story. Are they getting ready for a special event? What details in their environment could you add to show more about their personalities? Are they getting ready for school with those backpacks? What did they do for homework? Are they going to be late? Maybe there's a "sea bus" arriving that can be seen through their window.

[Fey Realme]

@reberlik thanks! They are best friends and this is after school, ill try to get some more supporting information in there—very helpful!

[Erin Hawkins]

Hi everyone. I've been thinking about this prompt for a few weeks and I am just now realizing that perhaps my train of thought might have veered too far from the intent of the prompt. I started thinking about living underwater like Jacques Cousteau and then the idea came to me to make a sea turtle version of Jacques Cousteau who wears a red hat and makes underwater films. I haven't started the final art but I've been gathering references and did some quick thumbnails.

Do you think my concept fits the prompt even though it's not depicting humans living underwater? I could always make the art anyway but pass on submitting it for HTFYA. Any opinions/feedback welcome Thank you!

[B-rex]

@Erin-Hawkins I don't think it matters what species it is as long as said species is depicted actually living underwater and as long as there is a story that is being told. At least that's what I gathered from the prompt. I like the idea of a sea turtle filmmaker!

[Erin Hawkins]

@B-rex thank you for your thoughts — I think I’ll move forward with this one and try to get it posted in time for HTFYA. I can’t help myself, I love sea turtles and Jacques Cousteau is so inspiring!

[Jason Crowley]

@Erin-Hawkins You don't need to have humans in the prompt, but it's worth thinking about whether you want this to be a portfolio piece, and if so, consider who you want to target. For me, I haven't focused on showing characters and kids enough in my recent portfolio pieces, so I'm going to try and think of ways to put kids/people in my future HTFYA submissions.

[Jason Crowley]

Here's my initial pencil layers and value study. On to the hardest part of any illustration next: colour

[Erin Hawkins]

@Jason-Crowley yes, good point. I am just starting to work on my portfolio (I'm very new here!) but I agree it's good to have a mix of animals and humans. I watched the SVS class on "How to Perfect Your Children's Book Portfolio" (it's just a video) -- it was a great overview of everything you need. I'm just sharing in case that's of interest to you or anyone else here. I'm very early in my journey but I appreciated learning this now, rather than making a ton of illustrations and realizing I'm still missing important things.

[Oana]

Hi! This month's prompt made me think about my old Inktober comic stories, in 2017 and 2018 I managed to follow Inktober and it was the most fun I ever had drawing... My characters got involved in some aquatic mishaps too, so I want to use this prompt and revisit that world. I never had a proper "underwater" city but one could fit nicely there. I also feel that I improved my drawing skills since.. I hope to start again on that kind of endeavour, without Inktober help, and try to put all toghether in a small comic book, at least or my family and friends who love my drawings!

This is a board of images from those stories. Yes, that's ..me surrounded by pig characters, including a pig-mermaid...

I also made a board of references, I don't want to totally change the style but some upgrade is needed, and also not wanting to miss the opportunity to learn something new. I love the flowy and whimsical style of these artists. (Maria Surducan, Ryan Andrews, Ullikummi, Alvaro Arteaga - First two I have in my bookcase, last two found on random pinterest browsing)

[Fey Realme]

@reberlik youll never believe what pinterest showed me just now!
A harpy and a mermaid could love each other — how would you add on and ask “but where would they live?”

[Reb Erlik]

@R-Fey-Realme Awesome! Thanks R. Fey! I might use that idea for a personal project later.
After listening to Jake and Will discussing this prompt in the last livestream, I think I actually misunderstood it. The idea is to show what it would be like to live underwater. So... take an everyday activity you do on land and show how it would look underwater. Will's example was a child running after a schoolbus. Then add details to tell the story. I have a new idea that I'll try to post some sketches of soon.

[Joshua Chennault]

Still like this idea and perspective. The cast shadow of the hammerhead might be a bit much, however, it could show through on the rendering a lot better than in this sketch. Assuming I keep it somewhat subtle.

I worked on the characters a bit. Even overdeveloped them I think, and brought them back down a little simpler. Also got a lot better expression on the mother. Added in a couple of other small details.

Anywho, let me know y'all's opinions if you have any.