@AnnaDaviscourt Thanks for taking the time to do such a lovely introduction. I enjoy your work-and starting checking it out after Lee's shout-out. I'm interested in your character class--I think it might be a good fit for me this summer. I'm pretty new to this, leaning more toward comics than children's illustration-do you think the class would be applicable beyond children's illustrations? Like you, I have dog-envy! My household isn't on board (yet!) and a person doesn't acquire a dog, the whole house does. We have 2 mature Bengal cats-which are a little like dogs but I would like some unconditional love on my timeline! Like @demotlj (and my cats)-I'm mature in years. Improving my drawing and figuring out what I WANT to draw are the passions I'm cultivating as I edge toward retirement. I'll check out your current class and what else you've got posted on the 'net.

I finished my first children's book! It was an interesting journey to say the least, but there is an immense feeling of accomplishment when you finish a book. I finished Cacti Octopi a few months ago, and after a little internal debate I decided to put it online for FREE. Here is the link to my new website: https://www.tylerjhallstrom.com/ I would greatly apprecaite any feedback, comments, shares, thoughts, or general encouragement as far as this project goes. Thanks for you time everyone! P.s. - I also have a webcomic that I update every Friday (aka today). There are 30+ pages also available now! I'll be making a separate post for this later. Tyler

 Hey, This is the drawing i made recently, !its messed up and i will make it better, but want to ask what you think so far? Be honest...

Dan Brown (Author of Da Vinci Code) Book Cover Contest. Dan Brown is having a book cover contest! The contest ends April 23rd. wierdly its only for ages 18+ right now The Description: In past novels, he has always explored the worlds of classical art—Botticelli, Da Vinci, Bernini, and beyond. In Origin, however, there's a twist...the art is modern. And so...using only Modern Art and the word "Origin" as your inspiration, let your creativity flow. We can't wait to see what you come up with. Visit the website to enter! www.origincovercontest.com NOTE: Again if anyone else here on SVS has any contests to post, please post it in this thread to help the entire SVS forum community.

Great illustration! I especially like how you have stacked the light and dark values so that what's important really sticks out (the bright green frog against the blackboard, for example)! The image reads great, which is not easy!

Thanks so much @Katherine! And best of luck to you with the golden ticket - ahhhhh I'm on pins and needles until the 30th!

I just added to my wish list - Creative illustration by Andrew Loomis. Just by flipping through it you can see that it gets so deep into composition like no other book I ever seen. Also, there is a free scan on the web, poor scan, but legal Also do you have some favourite reference books? For example I just bought "Racinet: Complete Costume History" for references on historical clothing. Since it was really hard to google some good 12th century clothing references and be sure it is somewhat accurate.

Thank you

Wow @Lee-White thank you!! You know how to make this creative smile with joy and you are so right about the compositions being too similiar, after you pointed it out I realized I had a pattern going...trees to the left, flowers to the right...trees to the left, flowers to the right...lol. I have an idea that may help, now let me see if I can break free of my comfort zone even more....thank you again, your feedback is greatly appreciated and so helpful.