Critique request: girl and horseshoe crab

[jenn]

@kayleenartlover thank you very much for the feedback. I agree with the reasoning. I think that I can achieve some contrast on the first pose if I can make the right lighting choices.

[jenn]

Here's a revision of the scene with the girl, eliminating the twisted pose, thanks to very helpful feedback from @tom-barrett.

[tom.barrett]

@jenn the new pose is much better, but I think you could push it even further. Since she is reaching out in front to pick up the heavy crab, her legs would be a little offset to help balance the weight of her forward leaning body. Also, with you having her use her right arm in this pose to grab the animal, it cuts through some of her body, creating an odd silhouette. Below is a very rough sketch of a pose that would work better in this instance.

[jenn]

@tom-barrett thank you for taking time to do this sketch, I can see what you are saying and I am in agreement. And I am also noticing that I am being too precious with my drawing, which is why I thought I could get away with avoiding too much change to the pose. First step is admitting I have a problem, right? I will push ahead, in the pursuit of stronger art!

[Nyrryl Cadiz]

@jenn Hi Jenn! Yes, I do think the composition is working. I like the poses too. I prefer the second one. I'm excited to see how this piece will turn out.

[jenn]

@Nyrryl-Cadiz thank you! I'm glad that you think the composition works, and thanks for expressing your preference.

[jenn]

Thank you @tom-barrett for the push to improve the pose. I think it is getting there now. Now that it is on paper, I can see how the angle is more natural-looking and the pose is clearer.

[kayleenartlover]

@jenn this latest sketch is looking much better what are you planning on doing for the final? Watercolor or gouache for example?

[jenn]

@kayleenartlover thank you so much. I am planning to do watercolor first and see how it goes.

[jenn]

I've scanned it to try some color ideas. This is the first one. I'm thinking the composition is going to change. My original sketch was longer horizontally with more crabs and birds to the left, but I might crop it in closer, and enlarge the whole thing. The green color is sort of a placeholder because they are not that brightly colored. I plan to make time to try another version later this weekend. Feedback is welcome, especially because I am pretty sure I have a color vision deficiency.

[kayleenartlover]

@jenn when deciding on colors for everything, sometimes I like to make them all into little blobs of colors next to each other to see what looks good together harmoniously and then use whatever colors stand out the most for coloring the focal point. The more saturated and the more warm it will come forward. Also sometimes I get inspired by other paintings of the same subject and use similar colors. Hope that helps!

[jenn]

@kayleenartlover Thank you for the tip

[jenn]

Slow progress...
Color study for today was motivated by being quoted by @Nyrryl-Cadiz and by feedback from @kayleenartlover, so thank you

For this attempt, I sampled the colors from similar morning beach scenes and also used local color with multiply and dodge layers.

[tom.barrett]

@jenn this is looking really good Jenn! Looking forward to seeing the final!

[jenn]

@tom-barrett thank you

[jenn]

I worked on the painting today. I plan to add colored pencil details after it dries.

[jenn]

I am close to finished now. Thank you to rabbits @kayleenartlover @Dima-Eichhorn @H-Moon @Nyrryl-Cadiz @Tash @tom-barrett for being my audience and cheerleaders. Your feedback and encouragement truly kept me going back to the drawing board to work toward my goal of completion of a piece that I could submit to a local exhibit. And by the way, if you see a horseshoe crab upside down on a beach, do them a favor and "just flip 'em" so they can return to the ocean. They are beneficial creatures that need our help.

[Nyrryl Cadiz]

@jenn I love that you did it in watercolor. I love the color and texture ️

[Tash]

@jenn it turned out beautiful! The watercolor adds so much to the illustration!

[jenn]

@Tash @Nyrryl-Cadiz thank you so much, I was nervous about it because it would take longer than digital (and potential for mistakes) but I agree it was worth the trouble and the mistakes were mostly recoverable. I could always edit if needed, with the original brushwork as a foundation.