Personal Project WIP: Critiques Appreciated!
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Hello,
After Inktober, I've decided to do a small personal project with the bonus goal that I would hang these in a local coffee shop. It's less important for me to sell them than it is to simply finish the project.
Anyway, I was hoping for some feedback from fellow artists! I really really like constructive criticism, so please tell me what you think doesn't work / looks bad / I need to fix.
Goal: make 5-10 pieces for Animals Drinking Coffee set by end of the month. Frame originals (about 5"x8" ink and watercolor) and present to local coffee shops, scans can be used for prints/greeting cards.
The idea: Grown-up version of nursery art. The animals are are supposed to have a cute, plush feel to them, but they're engaged in the "grown-up" activity of drinking coffee. (Or tea / hot chocolate / whatever haha)
Currently, I'm fiddling with the design.
Example of a final (quickly colored in photoshop w/ no skill in digital painting, lol)
For instance, lion could have arms up, or down...
I'd like to add winter clothing, since it would allow me to add a bit more color and interest, but I think that might "limit" them to a season, (so no one will want them) any thoughts?
Examples of winter gear vs none: (I know it's hard to see the difference without color)
Some other designs I'm fiddling with...
vvv I'm going to re-do these three for sure, but I'm posing them just for the heck of it, haha
Sorry if the images are really big! I tried to keep them small.
Well, this was a long post (sorry) but any feedback / suggestions are greatly appreciated! I'll post updates here and probably on twitter as I go along.
Thank you!
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These are super cute! Two of my favorite things--animals and coffee! I would love to see some different poses or maybe more than one animal in a piece--two animals having coffee at a table, an animal dipping or munching a biscotti, etc. More coffee shop "action poses"--ha! Nice work so far!
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I like the ideas and I also think the winter ones are stronger I would say that some of your line work seems to lack confidence in some areas, not sure how you plan to finish them but maybe instead of digital consider watercolor prints or pen and wash. I really like the giraffe and the bear
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@eli Thank you! Great suggestion for the "action poses"
I wanted to keep them reeaally simple, the idea is "grown-up version of nursery art." (You know... those cute images of animals holding balloons or flowers lol) but with coffee. My first shot did include some tables, so I'll try those again.
I'm going to do some more sketches and try out your suggestions!
@rcartwright Thank you!
Yeah, I agree the winter ones are stronger... I'll keep tweaking the designs. Could you point out specific lines that are not confident? I don't want that! While these are just the pencil sketches/concepts, I want to be sure my art is clear. Then when I go to ink it, I'll be sure to keep your feedback in mind!
And NOOOO I am NOT finishing these digitally hahaha! I only have a mouse, that would be a disaster.
Ink and watercolor finals. -
Just wanted to update here that I'm still working on this! And thanks again for feedback!
My goal is to make 5-10 finished small illustrations that look like nursery art + coffee. I was aiming to finish by the end of November, but I think I'll give myself an extension with all that's going on.
Here's a sketch of a more "action shot" as recommended:
Color practice for the fox. It looks really bright on my computer (I tried to adjust the scan) but the original is a bit less saturated.
I need to change the shape of the scarf, and I will be taking the boots OUT for the final version. And a really quick sketch
Gotta fix that left foot!Ok, that's the update!
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@carey-bowden These look great!! LOVE the action shot and more variety of poses/apparel! These will look awesome all hanging up together!
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@eli Thank you! I'm trying to get all the images designed before I paint the final versions, so hopefully I'll get a breakthrough and make two more in the next couple days
