I think this is very cute!
Super fun concept! I'm looking forward to seeing more as this idea develops.
More work on the sketch stage. Wasn't happy with ostrich head so focused on just that part a bit:
Then the sketch:
Then the value study:
The last two months of 3rd Thursdays I've felt really defeated, but sucked it up and took LOTS of notes. Also just completed Lee's most recent class, which REALLY helped me! I'm working really hard... lots of late nights... and feel like this time maybe I've applied what I've learned? This is what I love about SVS, the courses offered, and the community of fellow artists here that offer great encouragement to make us all better at our craft:) So here is my finished October 3rd Thursday.... OSTRICH.
Looks wonderful! Good luck 
Very nice! good luck tomorrow Traci. I just checked out your website - there is some very good stuff there - have you ever heard of Wayne Thiebaud? The boy at the beach painting is great - it reminds me of Thiebauds work - thick paint - i love thick paint - the skateboarder stood out for me too.
@tallison7 well done, it quite fun! I really like the baby he's so cuteeee!
Leontine
"A picture is worth a thousand words."
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I love how you really captured that light fluffy feeling of the ostrich feathers - well done all over all!
@Kevin-Longueil Thank you so much! I had a blast working on this! Unfortunately didn't make the top half (again!) in tonight's critique. I hate feeling defeated. But this piece is going in my portfolio and I'm taking it to my first SCBWI event this weekend. Registered for an informal critique so it'll be interesting to hear what they have to say.
@Rich-Green Thank you!
@Leontine Thank you so much! This was hard, but lots of fun and I learned so much from the notes I took last month.
@tallison7 Good luck with your SCWI critique! I feel your pain about the top half - when i did not make the top half last month it took the wind out of my sails (didn't participate this month) - i think not knowing where to improve to get there is the most difficult part and also not being in a situation where we could just ask - so the voice of doubt gets to drag us into the deep end - even if i made it to the top half though i would feel bad for the folks that did not because i would know that they worked so hard too - next month i'll tune out before the top half bottom half part of the show so i can imagine that i juuuust missed being picked 
@tallison7 Good Luck!
@Kevin-Longueil you do know that if you "tune out before the top half/bottom half part of the show" that will in fact be the month you are mentioned in the top half, right? At least that would be my luck.
All kidding aside I think you have submitted some amazing pieces and have a style that is so detailed and uniquely your own in a very good way. So please don't let this get you down and prevent you from making more! You are just too good for that to happen!
No one should feel bad about not getting picked for top half (even though it's natural to feel the pain..), there are so many good pieces and interesting ideas throughout. @Kevin-Longueil I agree with @Rich-Green that your work is really good, it’s so detailed and imaginative. When I first found this site and the forum your Charly/tree image was one of the first I saw, thought it was amazing. Keep going!
I went to a children’s book illustration week-long course where all the published illustrators (who were teaching) said they had all been rejected, and that being rejected and getting over it was part of the job. I’m telling myself that the people who make it, are the ones who dust themselves off and keep going regardless because they love what they do too much to stop
@Kevin-Longueil and @tallison7: both of you are amazing illustrators! Just because there is a "top half" doesn't make the other half the "bottom." It just wasn't in the half that caught the fancy of those choosing, for whatever reason. My personal "top half" is often different from the ones picked. Just keep drawing! (Yes, this is a pep-talk I give myself daily!)
@Rich-Green Thanks Rich! @Dulcie Thank you Dulcie! @Joy-Heyer Thank you too Joy - I hope i did not sound too pathetic! - really i have been quite busy that is why i sat this month out though i tried to stay active in the forum - i built a UV exposure box and have been experimenting with creating etchings of the Charly drawing - my friend is a printmaker and has an etching press - the plates we are using are called Solarplates - they have a photo sensitive layer that hardens when exposes to UV light - i think we just figured out the exposure time for the transparency...after 3 plates - i have three more coming - when we get a good print pulled i can post the process if there is any interest in making etchings from digital work -... Thank you again for your kind words!!
Very nice! good luck tomorrow Traci. I just checked out your website - there is some very good stuff there - have you ever heard of Wayne Thiebaud? The boy at the beach painting is great - it reminds me of Thiebauds work - thick paint - i love thick paint - the skateboarder stood out for me too.
