Here you go. This was a labor of love. Hope you enjoy it.

I hate to be first but I am really happy with this one. I start my classes next week so I made the time this week to finish. Enjoy!

Trying one more time... Here is my entry for the month.

Once again I am first. I wanted to combine my inking practice for Inktober with the September prompt. This was a trial run for how I plan on creating art for Inktober: a combination of ink (brush pen and micron) with grey alcohol markers and white gel pens. I know everyone else is going over the top with great ideas but it would still be a shock if you accidentally brought mice for lunch!

The photo is abysmal but I don't have time or the inclination to clean it up in PS. Enjoy!

Here we go:

Sometimes we get in our own little worlds and are so focused on our own work that we don’t really take the time to help others. But I want to publicly praise a few peeps who consistently give very good advice and are always helping others.

@NessIllustration you are so helpful, especially at giving professional advice. You are so generous with your help despite your thriving business. I love how you give back. Thank you!

@TessaW you always give the most thoughtful and insightful advice and critiques. You have a great eye and I am so appreciative when I get a critique from you. I have seen you be such a help to others when they are stuck. Thank you!

@Nyrryl-Cadiz You are such an encourager to others. You are always commenting on others’ work, giving bits of praise. I feel like you are our resident cheerleader. Thank you!

@burvantill and @Coreyartus I can always count on a like from you, no matter how bad my artwork is. That shows me that you take the time to look at everyone’s pics and give them a little encouragement. Also, Lisa puts out the sos monthly studio and that’s a great positive vibe. Corey gives such thoughtful responses that he should consider being an art professor if he isn’t one already.

I know there are others and I could go on and on, but I just wanted to take the time to give a shout out where one is due. I hope you keep it up! You are what make me keep coming back to the forums.

If you have words of praise for others feel free to post them here. Also, if you haven’t taken the time to give back, please consider their example and give back to others. Don’t just be a silent stalker! be a loud encourager!

I had this idea of a smiling alligator, because personally I was rooting for him.

Here is my Yeti home. I know it’s not 3/4 view but I decided I was proud of it anyway and wanted to share.

EDIT: I watched the critiques and realized I needed more character development in my house. I really wanted him to read like a Tibetan shaman kind of Yeti. I added a back door to make it wrap around the dome and hopefully get more of a 3/4 feel.

Also, he needed a pet. So I made him a snow leopard.

I just thought I would share. I had left a comment on a big name artist's IG. They saw my comment and checked out my page. They liked my recent stuff and asked for a small commission. This would be the first complete stranger requested commission I have ever gotten from social media.. I know to most of you that is small potatoes but I am thrilled. You may let the small scale rejoicing commence.

Not first but one of the first.
Ellie was hoping for a good shot but the ink fairy got one instead. Hehehe.

@Melissa-Bailey-0 you did a really great job! I love the expressions and the rendering!

@neschof welcome back Nicola! I love you illo. Poor kid.

@Braden-Hallett C looks like a giant hand is making a rude gesture.

A or B work fine but I think you could lighten your values on your characters and keep the rest dark. I am doing a bunch of covers for a client in the vein of old Hardy Boys book covers and after looking at all those covers, the main characters had light on them even in night scenes.

@Kevin-Longueil I am going to go hard core and suggest a major change. According to the definition given by @Lisa-F a spot has limited background. What if you lose the roof and crop it more like this:

Here is my reasoning:
It helps create a nice silhouette for your character, his action, and one of the central aspects: the wafting aroma.
Second, the ceiling competes for my attention with his hand and smoke because of the repetition of the curve and leads my eye off the page.
Lastly, it fits more with a spot illustration definition.

You lose nothing but gain impact.

Just my two cents.
Lovely job as ever, a winner for sure.

@hayleyannececil I understand the desire for no lines but also loving lines. What I sometimes do to compromise is I make a selection of my shape and on the clipping mask, just barely brush the edges with a dark analogous color to define the shape without an obvious line.

Welcome @Richard-Matthews this is a great place to hang out and network with artists of all stripes! I know I've grown a ton by being involved on the forums.

@Joe-Atalla upload picture is what I usually do.

More clouds practice. I got this really cool book full of photo references for artists. Such a great resource for guilt free reproduction.
Also newfound respect for those landscape artists who do a great job with sunsets. Clouds and lights are hard...grrr.

I added some cacti. Ooooooo. I like it.

Painting some clouds. Practicing my digital painting. I think I am getting pretty good, I must admit. Well, at least I am pleased with my progress.