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    Final day to work--serious critique requested

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    • LauraA
      LauraA SVS OG last edited by

      So...yellow starlight or white?

      Some questions: Does it read as a nativity play? Do I need to add something like tinsel haloes for it to work? Does the amount and location of saturated color work? The general color scheme? Can you read Baby Jesus' expression well enough? Anything else you see that I need to redraw or paint today?

      I just now had the idea to change the magus's pants and tunic to olive green...I think analysis paralysis is setting in!

      Thank you!

      Nativity scene with magus color trial 4a.jpg Nativity scene with magus color trial 2.jpg

      Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraintorino/
      http://lauraaldersonart.com/

      Lucelfo Laurel Aylesworth 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 3
      • Lucelfo
        Lucelfo @LauraA last edited by

        @LauraA Hi Laura, there is only one thing that comes to my mind, and feel free to discard it as silly.
        Maybe the lady is the baby 's mum? in which case maybe you would like to darken a bit the skin tone..
        but for the rest...wonderful idea and compostion! I love it!

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
        • LauraA
          LauraA SVS OG last edited by LauraA

          Well, she's his mum only in the sense that it's a Nativity play and she's playing Mary to his Jesus. But in reality she's supposed to be about 12. The fact that two people have now thought she's actually his mom makes me realize that the story isn't clear enough! But now I have run out of time, so for now it will have to be like this, and maybe later I can make it more obvious. It's good to get an objective opinion on how it reads, though! And thanks for your comments!

          Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraintorino/
          http://lauraaldersonart.com/

          peteolczyk 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
          • peteolczyk
            peteolczyk @LauraA last edited by

            @LauraA it’s really beautifully well drawn Laura.

            www.peteolczykillustrations.com

            www.instagram.com/pete_illustrations

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • Laurel Aylesworth
              Laurel Aylesworth @LauraA last edited by

              @LauraA I like the warmth of the yellow start light. As for it reading as a play, maybe have a suggestion of the audience in the background since the start light is acting as kind of a spot light on the actors. Add some suggestion of floor boards in the foreground or small flood lights on the stage? The baby is just stinkin' cute!

              www.laurelaylesworth.com
              instagram.com/laurelaylesworth
              twitter.com/layleswo

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
              • TessaW
                TessaW last edited by

                Both version look good to me. Visually I like the first maybe slightly better- but if you are going for a stage play, the yellow star seems to convey that better. Maybe that's just me.

                As for the age of the girl- I always read her as a young teenager- but it does seem like a couple of people are reading it differently. Interesting! I wonder if adding the tinsel halos will help sell the idea that's it's a play and these are younger characters?

                Website: www.tessawrathall.com

                Instagram: www.instagram.com/tessawrathall_art/

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • LauraA
                  LauraA SVS OG last edited by

                  Thanks for your comments! @Laurel-Aylesworth I kept the light warm, and though I didn't have time to draw in an audience (also because I keep imagining the star coming from behind somehow) I did create a version that suggests a floor. I haven't decided which I like best yet.

                  @TessaW I went with the haloes. In fact, I saw your comments right before I went to sleep last night and dreamed about cutting, pasting, selecting, adding layers before waking up early this morning drawing in the haloes. Anyone else every do that?!

                  I may have to choose a version and post today before anyone else can comment, because I have to pack! But thank you all so much for your input. It's so valuable to have a community for feedback!

                  And, happy holidays everyone!

                  Nativity scene with magus final 3.jpg Nativity scene with magus final 2.jpg

                  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraintorino/
                  http://lauraaldersonart.com/

                  Nyrryl  Cadiz NicolaSchofield 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 4
                  • Nyrryl  Cadiz
                    Nyrryl Cadiz SVS OG @LauraA last edited by

                    @LauraA lovely! I love the 2nd one.

                    Portfolio: nyrrylcadiz.com
                    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nyrryl_cadiz/

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • NicolaSchofield
                      NicolaSchofield @LauraA last edited by

                      @LauraA the tinsel halos are perfect! I’m liking the second colour version best.

                      Nicola Schofield

                      Twitter: twitter.com/NSchofieldArt
                      Instagram: instagram.com/NicolaSchofieldArt/

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                      • LauraA
                        LauraA SVS OG last edited by

                        Thank you! Posting the final version in December studio 🙂

                        Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraintorino/
                        http://lauraaldersonart.com/

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • Coreyartus
                          Coreyartus Moderator last edited by

                          Laura, your paper texture is delightful. It really breathes a sense of depth to the whole piece. Do you mind if I ask you a technical question? Are you sandwiching your drawing/painting layers between two texture layers as I suspect? Because the effect is gorgeous. It really adds a level of richness to the whole, which contrasts delightfully with the clarity and cleanliness of the areas of color and shadow. I can't stop looking at it! LOL!

                          Children's Illustration Portfolio: https://www.coreyartusillustration.com
                          Art Portfolio: https://www.coreyartusimagery.com

                          LauraA 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                          • LauraA
                            LauraA SVS OG @Coreyartus last edited by

                            @Coreyartus I confess I bought the whole thing from Grutbrushes. It's a paper surfaces pack, and yes, you sandwich your artwork between texture layers. Then depending on how it looks and how you want it to look, you can adjust the effects. I don't always use textured paper, and I have made my own as well, but in this case I really wanted something that looked like watercolor paper because I wanted to limit the paint to a few simple layers. As you insightfully pointed out, a simple drawing with large areas of flat color often begs for a little textural warmth!

                            Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauraintorino/
                            http://lauraaldersonart.com/

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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