WIP pixie with snail *final*

[Laurel Aylesworth]

@stringfellowart This is so sweet. Beautiful texture. I'm wondering about adding musical notes floating out of the flute (something subtle, like a breeze)? Can't wait to see the finished piece!

[WithLinesOfInk]

If she's like the pied piper, maybe show a gaggle of smallc reatures following her as if lead by the music? Small snails, slugs, beetles, ants?

[stringfellowart]

@withlinesofink Well that's a brilliant idea. Why didn't you give me this idea before I got so far along?
It really does go to show you have to figure all this out at the beginning with the sketch etc. I told myself, hey lets just do a quick painting to get practice with texture etc. So I didn't spend enough time thinking through the concept. Bad illustrator, bad.

[WithLinesOfInk]

@stringfellowart Ahaha oh no! Well, if it's digital you could always extend it to one side and.. add in? The joys of digital. And at least you're not stuck with a dimensions guideline... unless you are.

[stringfellowart]

Okay, added some buggies and flipped the layout. now can work on the details.

[WithLinesOfInk]

@stringfellowart Don't hate me.. but I liked the original direction. II feel like her going uphill against all those opposing verticals creates a real tensions. The buggies are so super cute tho!

[stringfellowart]

So which one is better? I think the second is not as dynamic as the first, but more pleasant to look at.

[Christine Garner]

@stringfellowart I think the second looks more balanced.

[Kasey Snow]

Yeah, the second one with the character facing into the center of the image directs the eye better. The one with her facing outward/uphill makes me want to look off the page to see where she's going and I spend less time admiring the details of the rest of the image.

[Kat]

With her facing the center, and the little bugs facing her, it looks like she's attracted them and is giving a little concert. Very sweet, and I like it a lot!

[WithLinesOfInk]

I agree with the crowd, the second one has a more balanced composition and still works with the narrative you wanted to plug. I think this is a great option. Just in case you want to try one last option, this is sort of what I had in mind.

Either way, though, make sure the lighting matches the environment, and I would suggest having her hair trail behind her a bit IF she's going to be in motion (even though it's just a snail >.<), but if she's going to be sitting still maybe she should use both hands to play the pipe?

[stringfellowart]

Okay, I think I'm done messing with it. I'll let it sit for a day and see if I still am happy with it.

[Kat]

@stringfellowart this is lovely, we'll done!

[bnewman]

@stringfellowart This is beautiful. I love the colors and textures.

[TessaW]

Beautiful. It was fun seeing it come together.