So I just saw that this is supposed to be a spot illustration which I think will be fun! I will probably just include the whole rug that the girl is sitting on and the kids and teacher in the background.

My thought was that she is a little nature lover girl with a bit of a dark side... little twisted, but fun! Might add a small cage below the mouse... It's not the focal point, but i'll bring in contrast to have your eye come to the mouse. Hopefully I get this one submitted, it's farther than January's sketch.

So good!

Pretty image!

Hello everybody,

I'm a current subscriber to SVS and have been listening to classes in the background as I've worked on jobs or personal work. I haven't interacted with anyone on SVS really, but have a desire to do so now. I'm seeking a way to remain accountable with my personal work, because I know I need to do that to grow as an artist and bring my portfolio where I want it.

What are the best ways you all have found to interact on SVS and get feedback? 3rd Thursday prompts seem cool.
Are live critiques for everyone? or extra $?
What keeps you motivated to work on personal work?

I would love any interaction here, feel free to introduce yourselves a bit and let me know what you like best about SVS - this is my main source of artistic learning right now and I want to make sure I'm taking advantage of it all!

Thanks! Cali Ward

@joyce_carmo @mattramsey @Chip-Valecek @Bobby-Aquitania @Kasey-Snow @Dulcie Thank you for all of your feedback!!!! This is going to be a serious challenge for me - especially the sketchbook part of things - I tend to keep things to myself until I've labored over them meticulously and get defensive because I've invested so much time into them. I think I've heard Will talk about that... baby steps. - I know I need to be better and need a community to help me at times - I've been out of the college scene for a while and don't have strong relationships with art friends to bounce things off of. I'm already getting excited and hope I can be a regular contributor and provide good feedback for others as well.

I've watched quite a few of the Illustrating Children's Books courses @mattramsey , not sure how they work really - would love to be an active participant in one of those if they ever do them again - is that a thing they do regularly?

Thanks again guys - good luck with 3rd Thursday. I'll probably participate in January's

Best idea ever!!!

LOL! Substantial breasts! @natiwata I'm so glad when I can share my work because others see what you don't... that wouldnt be something I wanted to have come across... I was trying to suggest gesture... body possition of an arched back and pronounced lower ribs. I'll reconsider that large arch for sure! My thoughts on the glasses and face creases... I want her to look a little sinister, also a little like the crazy cat lady of her young generation... but yes I'm going to have to be careful about those creases...

So if anybody has color suggestions i'm still open to comments, I'll keep saturation on the girl and snake, I think I like the colors chosen... hopefully I can pull off a funky print of some sort. @nowayme Thanks for the added suggestion, it was good for me to look at the feet again - kneeling is a hard position to hit... especially if I want to keep this girl in a dress. I adjusted the foot down a bit and did my own little draw over to double check things. better? @natiwata i knocked down the chest and made her head just a little bigger... faded out those lines too... hopefully I can pull this one off Thanks ya'll

So, I feel like I was waiting for someone to tell me to reconsider the snake's face... I didn't like it, but I didn't want to redo it... I don't usually draw mean looking animals, or "cool" stuff... ha! My stuff might be described as cute... not cool. But I did redraw it and think it will bring a cool factor.

And... I think the flat legs are a perspective issue... I'm probably not nailing it, but they flatten out because of the higher perspective... I like the movement of the snake, so call me stubborn, but thank you so much for the input @nowayme

Ooooo @Rich Green, that helps alot, thank you!

So good!

Pretty image!

Hey guys, I have a goal to go to the summer conference in LA this year. I haven't started travel planning yet, but I'm willing to drive or fly. If I'm going alone, I will most likely fly, but driving would be an option if there were people to pick up along the way, share gas costs, and potentially hotel costs (I'd share a hotel room with another woman if there was someone interested).

So... anybody thinking about going? July 29-Aug 1 I think - Registration is in April, so I am getting word out early that I'm interested in having a travel buddy.

Going but not in Idaho/Utah? It would still be fun to "know" someone there

no, @chip valecek, it is a valid comment for sure, thanks! in all, it still helped the image improve, and someone else would say the same thing. Its good for me to get over my stubborn defensiveness and take some criticism

Snake hybrid... fixed legs and snake body... I think I'll still add some sort of pattern.

Ooooo @Rich Green, that helps alot, thank you!

Give me a consensus ya'll... inaccurate python with pattern and fangs or some sort of green snake hybrid..? I like the fangs. So stubborn.

So, I feel like I was waiting for someone to tell me to reconsider the snake's face... I didn't like it, but I didn't want to redo it... I don't usually draw mean looking animals, or "cool" stuff... ha! My stuff might be described as cute... not cool. But I did redraw it and think it will bring a cool factor.

And... I think the flat legs are a perspective issue... I'm probably not nailing it, but they flatten out because of the higher perspective... I like the movement of the snake, so call me stubborn, but thank you so much for the input @nowayme

So if anybody has color suggestions i'm still open to comments, I'll keep saturation on the girl and snake, I think I like the colors chosen... hopefully I can pull off a funky print of some sort. @nowayme Thanks for the added suggestion, it was good for me to look at the feet again - kneeling is a hard position to hit... especially if I want to keep this girl in a dress. I adjusted the foot down a bit and did my own little draw over to double check things. better? @natiwata i knocked down the chest and made her head just a little bigger... faded out those lines too... hopefully I can pull this one off Thanks ya'll

LOL! Substantial breasts! @natiwata I'm so glad when I can share my work because others see what you don't... that wouldnt be something I wanted to have come across... I was trying to suggest gesture... body possition of an arched back and pronounced lower ribs. I'll reconsider that large arch for sure! My thoughts on the glasses and face creases... I want her to look a little sinister, also a little like the crazy cat lady of her young generation... but yes I'm going to have to be careful about those creases...