SCBWI portfolio showcase opinions please!
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I know this one wasn’t well received during critique arena but I’m running out of time and need a fail safe. I feel like it represents my style well , maybe I can spruce it up a bit? Any ideas, thoughts?
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How many sparkles is too much? Lol did I over do it?
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I think the sparkles are great! The blurry ones are a bit confusing because they seem like they should be really close to the viewer, but they also happen to overlap the back of the broom- so I wonder if they meant to be coming out of the back of the broom. You could remove them, move them, OR, add MORE of them- which gave me the idea that perhaps the bottom stream of sparkles could come closer to the viewer? Like we're in the stream, looking in?
And thinking about the sparkles- I think this is an opportunity for really dramatic lighting! The sparkles could be providing really intense and random light, giving you the opportunity to add small but bright highlights all over. I'd take inspiration from your Red Riding Hood or Redwoods piece, that have intensely bright/dark lighting.
Have you played with tilting the composition at all? The perfect horizontal feels very stable and 'at rest', but with the action in the scene, I think it would benefit from a more dynamic diagonal to give it energy.
The light purple behind them reads as very opaque, but I get the sense that this should be a very airy scene. I'm not sure what to suggest as a solution, but just wanted to call attention to it.
Oh! And I just noticed the frog just now. Oh what a cute little frog! Hmm, can you make the frog more prominent somehow? Like nestled in the boy's scarf and holding onto his hair? Or the boy's arm is outstretched and it's holding onto his cuff? I get why story-wise you might have the frog tucked in more, but composition-wise I'm missing the frog. You could also just brighten its green, or change the girl's green sweater so that it's not green and the frog is the only green, and then pops more. The comedian in me thinks it would be funny if the frog was at the very front of the broomstick, arms holding on, legs flying back, haha- but story-wise, maybe you want to show the boy being protective.
It's cool to see you revisiting this one! I think it has a lot of great elements.
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@Rebecca-Jensen thank for all that positive feedback! I meant to reply sooner but I’ve been on the road allll day.
I didn’t do too much added some sparkles took some away, repeated. Played with the color a tiny bit and adjusted some lighting. Since I knew I’d be driving all day. I went ahead and used it as a submission. I don’t think I could’ve completed a new one in a day. Thanks for all the encouraging feedback everybody! -
You have SO many strong pieces!! But that pufferfish image with the running bunnies is magical, and (in my opinion), is by far your most eye-catching and interesting piece
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@Meekipink thank you
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@Asyas_illos I would go for the second or third, maybe as the second is in a grave yard, the third would be my ultimate choice as it is so uplifting and fun.
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@PenAndrew thank you! It’s definitely on the roster!
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@Asyas_illos good luck with things, you are a great example to us all, next month I will buy an I-Pad pro and start my journey on Procreate! I have already designed my apple pencil!
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@PenAndrew aww, thanks
the iPad Pro and procreate is amazing for where I’m at now, but I’m sure I’ll have to upgrade eventually, especially if I actually ever make it as professional illustrator! -
Good luck @Asyas_illos !!
studiojcd.com
she/her/hers
Insta/Twitter: @chengdesautels -
@jenn thanks
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Haha, I also posted a Hansel and Gretel piece and my rabbit road race submission to SCBWI. Hope they don’t find the similar themes weird… I still have so much to add to my portfolio, and yeah, I also feel like I didn’t have time to make something completely new.
https://sarahvandam.art/
Instagram: @sarahvandam.art and @artistsandbox.etsy -
@Sarah-VanDam yes! I wasn’t paying attention I’m completely new to SCBWI if Valerie hadn’t had posted something about I would’ve missed it entirely! I would’ve started sooner on some new pieces! I didn’t use the Hansel and Gretel one though.
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@Asyas_illos @Sarah-VanDam I also posted a Hansel and Gretel, as well as a Storm and a Riley. My whole portfolio is SVS right now, and I'm pretty ok with that for the moment.
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@Valerie-Light @Asyas_illos Yeah. We’ve got this! Rooting for both of you!!
