My little cotton picker (WIP)

[Gary Wilkinson]

Been so busy with other things recently, but it's good to be back. I want to increase my portfolio with some creature design pieces and I started with 2 random creatures (in this case it was a chipmunk and a sheep) and merged them together to creatre something that could be placed in an interesting scene. In this case it's a cotton eating wooly creature (name needs improvement) that uses it's fur to camouflage itself . Still need to fully sketch in the background, although most of that will be quite out of focus anyhow, but I would appreciate any critques on the design or other aspects of the painting. Thanks

[umutdulger]

@gary-wilkinson I like the idea and I would like to see final image. Congratulations

[Jason Kilthau]

I can't really give any critique because it is looking really good so far! Keep it up! Can't wait to see it finished.

[Cory Shaw]

Looks great! I like the concept that the creature blends into its environment! Feels genuine.

[evilrobot]

It's looking great so far. Very cute.

[Eli]

um...I want one for a pet! Cool concept

[Kevin Longueil]

@gary-wilkinson This is great! Would love to possibly see the critter much closer to the camera - maybe just a tighter crop in a landscape format? Anyways ...look forward to seeing where you go with it

[Gary Wilkinson]

Thanks for the comments everyone, I have an updated version to post when i'm back on my computer.

@Kevin-Longueil I do feel that he is slightly too far away so i've pushed him a little closer to the camera and added some foreground elements to give it depth.

[Gary Wilkinson]

I felt that I may have rushed too far ahead and gone into the value painting before I had a good sketch of the whole scene. The sketch lines wont be visible when it has been painted, but Will Terry seems to get the scene right before painting, so what is good for him is good for me.

[Gary Wilkinson]

Slowly working on it, tried out few color schemes and I think a simple orange sunlight and blue ambient light would work well. Building up a good value painting first before I push on into full color though

[Andyg]

@gary-wilkinson ok, looked at this an thought ‘awwww! That is so cute! Little character tucked up in bed of a cotton plant’. Then I read your description. I can see what you’re aiming at now. Still awesome. Unfortunately I have no suggestions what so ever for how to separate the ‘wool’ of the creature from the cotton of the plant. Don’t take this as a criticism though, it’s still a beautiful piece and gorgeously rendered.

Edit: looking more closely I think the way it made me misread it is the arms maybe look like a pillow?

[Gary Wilkinson]

@andyg I see what you mean about the pillow, but hopefully that will be translated well when I color it up (I'll keep a sharp eye on it though). Thanks for the comments Andy

[Gary Wilkinson]

Slowly building up the color. trying to go for a warm cool feel and there is still quite a bit to go, but it seems to be working so far. Any advice on going forward would be great!

[Andyg]

@gary-wilkinson a little more blue on that right arm as we look at it tokeep the creature separate from the plant perhaps?

[Gary Wilkinson]

It's not completely done I feel, but almost there with some final touches required. I want to give it a little more depth and touch up the light a little more, but any advice in this final stage would be appreciated, thanks

[JamesH]

This is really cute! Really like the warmth of colour you’ve used!

[Jason Kilthau]

@gary-wilkinson This is looking superb! If I had to make any kind of suggestion it would just be to make the main creatures outline a little be sharper to better distinguish the body from the cotton it is on, especially that arm on the left (right arm). But that is just me, and I haven't done enough studies and painting on my own to know if that is even a smart move!

[evilrobot]

Really beautiful work. Love this one.

[Gary Wilkinson]

@jason-kilthau thanks. You're right about making the arm separate from the cotton, @Andyg also mentioned it and although I have tried to work on it a bit, perhaps it's not there yet. Thanks

[Jason Kilthau]

@gary-wilkinson I would just pull some of the shadow that is right on the side, maybe just a little bit lighter.