I think it’s fine to do more current books. Just depends on your intentions. If it’s a study or to add to your portfolio it’s fair game. Now trying to sell it is where it gets sticky. There is a great episode on 3 point perspective podcast about doing fan art and the whole copyright line.

Hope this helps.

Hey guys I’m Eddy. New to SVS and brand new to the forums. I am on the ground level of a new painting I want to do. Before I move to the good paper I wanted y’alls input on composition and balance.

These are draft sketches of a whimsical observatory/lab built atop a floating island. The painting itself will have a different perspective I’m just trying to get the the essence right of a make shift house built from an eccentric inventor. The style is steam punk and there will be a floating airship docked as well.

Any feedback is welcome. I want to pack this with fun details. Iron work on the large green house, the mechanics getting power from the hydroelectric wheel etc.

Thanks!

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Here is an updated quick sketch of a painting I’ll be doing. Wanting some input on composition. As it stands I will already be changing the floating ship to a 3/4 angle with the nose facing left.

I am currently not very happy with the glass work on the green house or the windmill.

I am going for a steam punk element with the whole structure having been built from salvaged parts and stuff. For reference on who built the home I included a character sketch of the inventor. I’m excited to dive into the details and mechanics.

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@Jonas-Zavacky thanks for the input! So the character is a hermit, he expands on the house as he pleases using scrap pieces he steals from the pirate mining operation on another larger floating island.

Missing shingles is great, a burst pipe with steam coming out I never thought about but LOVE! To me the glass green house seems too clean. I think that’s the last area of the house that needs to be more run down? But yes this painting is part of a book my wife and I are developing so I will have more Easter eggs that are part of the story.

@nyrrylcadiz I agree. I guess eccentric isn’t the right word so much as make shift? He’s more worried with function over form. There are more details I am listing out to pepper in as it pertains to the story, but I’m wondering what composition elements should take place with the bulk of the structure. Should I add more towers? More mechanical elements? I’m finishing another painting once that’s done I’ll upload a revised version of this and a more 3D perspective approach. Thanks for the input.

@andersoncarman wow so much great insight here! Although whimsical I do want some real world practicalities behind the home. Since the home takes up the majority of the floating island there would not be a large body of water To power the wheel. The windmill will serve as a redundancy when rain is slow. I’ll play around with linking the two mechanically. I’ll have thumb nails up ASAP with the two point perspective. I look forward to sharing with this community the evolution of these initial concept sketches!

Here is the updated quick sketch with the right composition. As it stands the ship that was quickly drawn will have a more 3/4 look with the nose pointing to the left.

Still not satisfied with the glass green house (I have some glass patters in mind but the overall shape seems stale) and the windmill.

I will be cranking up the detail in the final design with all the mechanics just want to make sure before moving to that point the design as it stands seems balanced. Also for reference on who built this place I’ve provided a previous painting.

Thoughts?

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What a great interpretation of the book. One thing I notice is what I assume is Harry hiding the stone behind his back, feels a little unnatural as well just the back of Harry’s head isn’t as exciting as another pose.

Also the hands of Voldemort appear flat. Maybe having some of the fingers bent or angled towards the viewer could give a more menacing look.

Just some thoughts. But fun idea.

I’m digging the second cover. Very dramatic and great color scheme. That being said the body postures of the characters seem either unnatural or are lacking something to do. Maybe have Ron in a more shocked pose, Hermione doing something clever, maybe a book in hand, and Harry being the brave one. Really play up their personalities as shown in the book.

While I like the drama of the darks, maybe some highlights of either red or green on some pillars or something to show the structure that they’re in.

I think a combo between 2 and 4. Definitely prefer the solid stripe across the eyes, shows a sense of drama and hate by whoever did the cross out. And the eyes I think are something so personal, to look someone in the eyes can be a deep connection. To cut that out entirely I think simbolizes it’s personal.

I like the contrast with that of other portraits that are normal, untouched. You could add a lot of fun details with the teams and other portraits and then make the lighting and colors more bold on that center painting to really draw the eyes to that.

It might help if I put the website down haha

https://www.sagetribeart.com/

Hey guys Eddy here,

My wife and I have gone through multiple revisions of our website and feel we finally got to a solid point. After many tweaks we finally feel like our brand is cohesive and easy to navigate.

We listened to a YouTube video from Will Terry about the benefit of collecting customer info so implementing an animal quiz has been great.

Im wanting a critique primarily on how user friendly the website is, and on the animal quiz, if there are any questions that should be edited, added or changed.

Thanks SVS Family!

Just took a quick look at the site. The font and structure is very clean and appealing. I would put an “about me” page. It helps put a face behind the art and makes you more approachable and I believe helps makes more loyal fans.

One area that stands out immediately is your contact me page seems to have an unfinished almost sad illustration. This is where you need the viewer to be excited to reach out to you and artwork on that page should reflect that. I’d sub it out for a drawing you hand in illustration or make a new one entirely of an image that invokes pure joy. That in turn will reflect on the viewer and associate that with them wanting to contact you.

I think that change will knock your website out of the park!

Ps your artwork is beautiful.

I use moleskine 90lb watercolor paper sketchbooks. Hard cover so I can sketch in my lap if needs be, thick enough paper to do a wash or two, decent price you can easily get off amazon and a bunch of different sizes.

I’m digging the second cover. Very dramatic and great color scheme. That being said the body postures of the characters seem either unnatural or are lacking something to do. Maybe have Ron in a more shocked pose, Hermione doing something clever, maybe a book in hand, and Harry being the brave one. Really play up their personalities as shown in the book.

While I like the drama of the darks, maybe some highlights of either red or green on some pillars or something to show the structure that they’re in.

I think it’s fine to do more current books. Just depends on your intentions. If it’s a study or to add to your portfolio it’s fair game. Now trying to sell it is where it gets sticky. There is a great episode on 3 point perspective podcast about doing fan art and the whole copyright line.

Hope this helps.

Here is an updated quick sketch of a painting I’ll be doing. Wanting some input on composition. As it stands I will already be changing the floating ship to a 3/4 angle with the nose facing left.

I am currently not very happy with the glass work on the green house or the windmill.

I am going for a steam punk element with the whole structure having been built from salvaged parts and stuff. For reference on who built the home I included a character sketch of the inventor. I’m excited to dive into the details and mechanics.

FullSizeRender.jpg


IMG_5996.JPG

What a great interpretation of the book. One thing I notice is what I assume is Harry hiding the stone behind his back, feels a little unnatural as well just the back of Harry’s head isn’t as exciting as another pose.

Also the hands of Voldemort appear flat. Maybe having some of the fingers bent or angled towards the viewer could give a more menacing look.

Just some thoughts. But fun idea.

I agree with the previous comment. Not seeing much difference between 1 and 3 (I think 1 is the stronger of the two) but image 2 seems flat.