Demetrius, thanks for your critique. I think these are all really great ideas, especially the uplighting and some kind of reflection on the glass. The cakes were a bit opaque, except for the chocolate one, which must be a kind of sacher. But that's not to say I can't change them.

Mostly, I was trying to decide about a style issue. I wanted a look almost like cut paper or printmaking, with as much rich, flat color as the situation would allow, and I was going for high contrast to draw attention to the boy, and mostly just the one cake. But now that I've finished this version, I can try others as well. In fact, I was already thinking of doing so. So I'll probably give this a try!

Here's a version that's more or less final. I moved the eyes so that it's clear what he's looking at, added more cake details, tweaked colors, finished the cap design, enlarged the mitten, added some shadows, and roughed up the signage a bit. I didn't enlarge the head size any more, because it's more or less right for a boy who is four or five.

After leaving it to sit for a while, I may do another version closer to the original with the boy facing away from us, because I want to include the mom. But the idea for now was to finish something so I can work on style.

Comments still welcome, of course Just trying to call something done within the next day or two Thanks for all your help!

For composition, I like the second one. It's more interesting spatially. Conceptually I don't know, except that I recognize the scenes as coming from each book. I'm just not Harry Potter savvy enough to speak to that. Is there an image that can really capture something unique about the concept of each book?

@demotlj Good point!

Here's an update on the window-licking piece. Still working, especially on making those cakes look appetizing, but I'm wondering, is it starting to lose its freshness? Also, any tips on the face-pressed-on-glass aspect would be especially welcome. Aleksey, I did use your photo reference--thank you!

And now that I see it enlarged, I'm not too happy with that signage and will probably draw over it or modify it in some way. It's just too obviously font type.

Thank you for your input!

@AnnaDaviscourt Thanks for your reply. Wow, I didn't know that was a thing! I'm working on producing enough pieces to get style consistency for now, and when I feel ready to show them, I would love to try that!

Hi Anna, and welcome! I have been watching your Twitch channel (or whatever you call it) ever since Lee mentioned your Adobe residency and the Harry Potter covers. I love your work and especially how it has become so extremely fresh since you started your residency. Love the rework with all the picture frames that you posted above! And the color!

Funny, I could have sworn there was some amount of Southern in your voice and mannerisms, but maybe I've just been away too long. I love Portland and tried to move there but it didn't work out. Oh well! It's still a great place, and if you come to Italy to go to the Bologna Book Fair, I'll be happy to play tour guide!

Congratulations to everyone! And thanks for adding such detailed feedback, Lee, because all of us learn something from it.

@peteolczyk I loved this from the moment I saw it--especially the color and light, which also includes its unity. The work on this form just gets better and better, and I'm so lucky to have this group to look to for inspiration! ️

This podcast was just the kick in the pants I needed. I listened to it twice while working yesterday and I do think helped me to up my ability to self-evaluate. Thank you!

@AnnaDaviscourt I love your covers!!! Thanks for linking them, because I was so curious to see them after listening to the podcast. And I really appreciate your point about more ideation and less drawing.

Yeah, where does one get a mentor?!

@Aleksey. I am lucky enough to have some financial support, but it feels tenuous, I work in isolation, and I get no emotional/aesthetic support unless I take classes. Basically everyone thinks I'm living in a dangerous fantasy world because I'm in my 50s and not producing portfolio pieces yet. What keeps me going is: knowing that I love drawing, looking at the difference between what I did two years ago and what I do now, looking at how beautiful illustration can be, and having a group like SVS for feedback. Illustration is an uphill battle, but hopefully it will have been worth it!

@Braden-Hallett I'm impressed with your volume even knowing that you "just draw all day." As a person with a perfection paralysis/volume problem, I'm totally inspired to follow in your footsteps! This week's podcast also helped.