Vignetti Yeti - looking for feedback in progress

Valerie Light · 12 Feb 2021, 21:38

Hello all! I'd love to hear some reactions on this rough sketch for the Yeti Cooking prompt. Is it readable? Is the yeti likeable, and can we tell that she's really enjoying herself?
And most importantly, should I ditch this '3 moments floating in clouds of aroma' idea? The main feedback I got from Jake and Will in last night's Critique Arena is that I had way too much going on. I sort of think I can pull this together so it doesn't look crazy busy, but generally I do have a tendency to think more is more.

braden H · 13 Feb 2021, 15:49

@Valerie-Light I think if you pick one of those moments (my fav's the third one) it will read more as a spot illustration, especially if you have the yeti's silhouette breaking away from the background.

Valerie Light · 13 Feb 2021, 17:34

@Braden-Hallett Thanks for the advice! I'll sketch a bit on that idea.

Niels · 13 Feb 2021, 18:17

I do think you have too much going on with the three pictures. Initially I looked at the picture and thought you fleshed out three ‘rough’ versions to see which worked the best. The aroma-floating idea was lost on me (which might say more about me though).

If I haveto pick one I’d go with the first. In all three the Yeti is clearly having fun, but I like the touch of the dog looking up and the picture of the cutting of veg evokes all kinds of smell sensations for me.

Valerie Light · 13 Feb 2021, 22:28

@Niels Thanks! I took another look at trying to get all the feeling I wanted into one picture, instead of 3. I think and Braden are right that it's too much going on.

I really want to emphasize Cooking with Flair in mine, and i feel like that wants a sense of motion and pizazz in the yeti's pose. I did 6 more thumbs to work out some of that. I have my favorite one, but I wonder what you all think?

Niels · 14 Feb 2021, 11:31

B. Definitely B! The angle gives it a feeling of energy combined with the waves of scent.

lizardillo · 14 Feb 2021, 11:52

@Valerie-Light I really like B too. I like the movement it has.

Nyrryl Cadiz · 14 Feb 2021, 12:37

@Valerie-Light A, B, or C. I can’t decide.

KayPotter · 14 Feb 2021, 14:30

I think B! I think part of the reason I feel it’s successful for this prompt is because it doesn’t have background information, so the edges of the illustration are really interesting with the white negative spaces coming in.
Either way, these are all so good .

shereen said · 14 Feb 2021, 14:32

I like B!

Valerie Light · 14 Feb 2021, 17:02

Yay, thanks for weighing in, everyone! I am also voting for B, maybe adding in some elements from C. Thanks for the validation! Onward!

Valerie Light · 14 Feb 2021, 22:42

I'm narrowing down a composition! Here's another page of roughs. I think that A is the clearest one, but if can use value to control the focus in D, I think it would be great to show as much as I can about who the yeti is and what her world is like. What do you vote?

(side note: this past week or two is the first time I've used a forum like this to share advice on a WIP. I am LOVING all the constructive feedback and advice from this group. Thank you all for being so welcoming ).

Kevin Longueil · 14 Feb 2021, 23:07

@Valerie-Light I think they would all work well - I do like B the most for some reason...maybe the cleaner silhouette? - if you are going to have the puppy i think i like the position in A and B best

Lindsey Pittenger · 15 Feb 2021, 03:37

@Valerie-Light I really like both C and D. I gravitate towards D because the puppy is so happy. I also really like the pots and herbs hanging in the background

Nyrryl Cadiz · 15 Feb 2021, 11:23

@Valerie-Light my vote is on A. I love how simple and bare the background is. The Yeti’s silhouette is very clear and just pops right off the page.

Jeremiahbrown · 15 Feb 2021, 12:43

I vote A. It feels more like a typical spot illustration and keeps the focus on the characters.

KaraDaniel · 15 Feb 2021, 14:14

I vote A

Jacy13 · 15 Feb 2021, 18:33

@Valerie-Light I vote A as well

Niels · 15 Feb 2021, 18:48

I like D the most because of the different values in the picture. However I like how the chimney of the stove makes a natural border in image C. Maybe a mix of C and D would be an option? A stove-border like in C would probably mean that composition wise you’d have to ditch the stool with veg om the lower left though. The moving of the dog towards the right lower corner works quite well and makes more of a connection with the yeti this way.

KayPotter · 15 Feb 2021, 23:05

I’m sticking with A because I think it’s the most ‘spot illustration-y’ :).