Here's my effort for "Together". Loved seeing everyone's amazing work. I've added a random red hat and scarf to this picture as it was too boring and beige ! I'm not delighted with the end result but at least I got something in! Wonderful entries this month everyone!

@Chip-Valecek - Here's my effort for this month. I used the template as am clueless about digital art but huge apologies if I don't quite fit the size specifications, I tried to resize it accordingly but not sure if it's right. I will now have time to comment on all the fantastic entries for this month, so many amazing images! Well done everyone.

Here's my effort for this month. What a challenge this was! I'm looking forward to going through all the entries now and enjoying them - there were so many great ideas and so many beautiful images. Well done everyone!

Here's my effort for this month. Loving all your entries and I will now enjoy taking time to look through them all properly now - amazing work. Happy New Year and here's to an easier 2021 for everyone!

What fantastic entries there are this month. Here's my effort! I hope I'm not too late either. As usual I was having trouble reducing my file size from Procreate without losing image quality. I need to master this for next month! I now notice there are a few other space themed entries, apologies, but I am far too slow a worker to change my image at the last moment! I am not speedy!

I'm uploading a second version of my picture because I finally managed to reduce it's file size! The one I posted previously was terrible quality as I had to resort to taking a photo of it on my ipad! Loving the fantastic entries this month, I'll now have a chance to enjoy looking at them all.

Welcome! I’m new to this too and haven’t introduced myself yet so well done for being more brave to give your back story. Love your fine pencil work on Instagram on your mystical creatures. Hoping you’ll enjoy this forum, it’s a really supportive group of people with lots of talented artists who give really constructive and accurate advice.

I don't have any feedback other than that I think these sketches are great and it's awesome seeing you working through the examples and also looking at the draw overs and comments of @Norman-Morana. I just wanted to say I love your sketches and you have kick started me into tackling the gesture class!

@Coley - thank you so much. That would be awesome

Thank you @Braden-Hallett - I’m really looking forward to watching your recording. I feel similarly “clueless about digital art” @Coley so it’ll be great to get some pointers. However, your digital art looks amazing to me!

@Braden-Hallett - oooooo I just read this thread and was so excited. I would LOVE to be able to chat with other SVS folk. I’ve started to take the idea of writing and illustrating kids books seriously in the last two years, having worked in psychology for 15 years. I managed to find a local peer group for writing but not for illustration.

I’ve been a member of SVS for over a year but have struggled to be super active on the forum due to continual home schooling and COVID lockdowns but I’d love the opportunity to join a chat group of fellow illustrators, not that I know what discord is! To be honest I’m still a bit intimidated by posting my work on the SVS forum but I know I need to bite that bullet! But with so many pro level artists on there it’s quite intimidating!

My question is.. does it matter that I’m a newby and a novice as regards my illustration skills? I never even went to art college so am going through the SVS foundations curriculum and learning heaps. I’m right at the beginning of my illustration journey so have a steep learning curve to climb and years of improving to go but SVS has been my lifeline in the last couple of years. I’ve been such an admirer of your awesome art from all I’ve seen on the forum and I know from critique arena that you are pro level, so I wondered if this discord group is for more advanced level illustrators or would a novice with lots to learn be able to join? I know from my writing peer group that some groups prefer to set a certain level as criteria for joining, which i totally understand.

I’ve attached my website and Instagram so you can assess just what a noviceI am! Totally understand if this group if for more illustrators at a more advanced level. Thanks for your guidance. Just got excited at the idea of being able to link up with fellow illustrators on this amazing journey! Sorry for the long message, as you may have gathered being concise is not my strongest point .

@ajillustrates - #best scene ever - Donald Sutherland’s scream at the end of Invasion of the Bodysnatchers! Gave chills the first time I watched it!

lornashawart.crevado.com
https://www.Instagram.com/lorna_shaw_art

This wee crow is great! He's got a very endearing face, great, unusual idea to have a bird protagonist. I also love his super cute short dungarees and the wormy snack!

I wondered if you could perhaps just lower the backpack so the scythe is able to ride over the top of it? At present the scythe looks a bit awkward as it appears to be sitting at an awkward angle between the crows head and the rucksack.

Great sketch - love it!

@xin-li - I'm afraid I don't have a specific book recommendation but just wanted to say I love the concept of a fantasy story for older middle grade readers which straddles the gap between picture book and graphic novel but also isn't quite a comic book either. My daughter absolutely loves fantasy books but also enjoys looking at illustrations, so she has missed beautiful coloured spreads she used to enjoy seeing in picture books when she was little (she's 8 years old.) She loves Harry Potter but also enjoys the Phoebe and her Unicorn series as it's humorous.

I think lots of kids would absolutely love an "illustrated novella" especially if it was fantasy with a gripping story, as more of the illustrated books my daughter found are of a comic/humorous or graphic novel style. Sorry for the rambling reply, but I'm just trying to say I think that's an awesome concept for which there could be a gap in the market (however I might just be ignorant of some amazing books out there, also very possible . My daughter would definitely line up to buy a copy of your book!

Congratulations @xin-li , for a well deserved win. Your work is always eye catching and beautifully created. It was SO exciting to hear your name read out! I was whooping in my bedroom! Well done! Just awesome work.

@Coley - I'd love to join your chat group please. I'm attending as much as I can in the next two days. I had a poorly daughter today so missed loads (sod's law with the timing ), but I'd love to join your chat group! My Instagram is www.instagram.com/lornashawart. It's been so inspiring to hear from great writers and see beautiful artwork! @Nyrryl-Cadiz - I hope you got someone to speak to about your portfolio, that's so frustrating

@Neha-Rawat -awesome character design and beautifully rendered!

@jdubz - absolutely love this character. He has a wonderful Dr Seuss feeling and the pairing of a yeti with the office world is epic! Amazing skills as always from you!

@Naters-Calderone - @Naters-Calderone - this wee guy is one of my absolute favourites! I loved seeing you develop him in your WIP thread. Your character designs are awesome. You were right, reducing the size of his horns made him much more yeti-ish! He’s a triumph! I’m in awe of your skills

@RioSim1 - I read your post on your separate thread about feeling out of your comfort zone doing these illustrations as you’re usual style is more realistic, so I just wanted to say well done for submitting these especially as it’s your first submission! Double credit also for using traditional media as so unforgiving of mistakes with no delete option! I’m always super intimidated posting each month as so many of the submissions are epic with super talented creators, but it’s a lovely supportive group and helps you to learn helps. Roy is awesome and a butterfly yeti is totally unique!

@carlianne - love this little guy! He’s so appealing and beautifully sketched. Amazing!