Best posts made by Nancy Gormezano

I love the little feet and his costume. Beautiful piece. The only thing that feels slightly off to me is that the face seems rendered in a harder edge style than the rest of the piece, which feels lovely soft, fuzzy.

@Bobby-Aquitania said:

You can open Painter files in Photoshop, and I am hoping in a few years Painter will allow them to use their color picker for images that makes an instant palette, love that thing!

I have the full Painter X3 (2013?) and you can make a color set from any image. And they also have a mixing palette feature - where you can "dirty" your colors (mix and smush colors on the palette similar to oil paints, and use that instead of a color set).

I also find in Painter X3 version that not all layer types specific to painter transfer/look the same in photoshop (I have CS4). More recent versions of painter might do better?

Painter definitely has some features that you can't do in Photoshop (eg pen pattern brushes, image hoses), and an overwhelming set of all real media (oil, watercolor, ink, acrylic, pencil, pen, etc etc) brushes and their variants. And an infinitely configurable brush engine, to create brushes never before seen on any planet. Whereas I find Photoshop easier to use for certain things (especially big files), and definitely more stable - ie not likely to go into la-la land.

absolutely love the concept! really fun!

Perhaps, rather than showing the mother, it might be fun to show some/one of Haven's classmates/friends in the background, having a grand ol' time, examining the contents that Haven is passing out for inspection - eg, trying on mum's lipstick, tossing money in the air, looking at mum's cell phone, examining credit cards, trying on sun glasses, using keys for earrings, etc, etc?

great idea!

EDIT: just noticed that this month's type of image is a "spot illustration" so perhaps my suggestion might be too complicated.

The first image (more detaiIed)is the image that I submitted for this month's contest. The second image (simpler style) is where I started and then I switched directions.

I know I should have gotten feedback before forging ahead, or changing direction, as I find it hard to stop experimenting, and interrupt the momentum.

I'm now liking my original version better (simpler image), and wish that I had pursued this further.

I'm gathering that there is some resistance? distaste? to using 3D software for illustration, but I can't seem to stop myself. I keep hoping that I will be able to come up with a style that makes the 3D look more hand crafted.

Any feedback is welcome and is much appreciated. First image versus 2nd? texturing styles? I know there are probably problems with the 1st image, in terms of knowing which creature is Lucy, and what kind of creature she is, and perhaps also as to what all the creatures are? I think it's clearer in the 2nd image?

@Dulcie Thanks Dulcie - AND Congrats on this month's win...FABULOUS image! And, as usual, your lovely, endearing style with clarity of story shines brilliantly.

@jacs Thanks Jac. You are right about about trusting the techniques and process demonstrated on this forum...Very tough also for me to move thru feeling awkward with new process versus doing it my ol' comfortable and as you say, intuitive way of working.

Here's a render of some creatures that I did (in 3D) back in 2012: Lothario the Lion, Nummi the Hedgehog and Madame Ruzzlelini Raccoon

lovely feel - lovely colors!

Very gorgeous rendering, terrific character design, sweet composition !

Charming, endearing work - ALL of it...(not just the last image)

I love the new colors, and the idea of the kids sticking their tongues out. However, if you hadn't said that's what they are doing, I'm not sure I would have know. Maybe I would have? When I expand to a larger view I see it. Perhaps a slightly different angle on the kids heads might make it more readable? And perhaps the poses for the 2 kids could be less similar

But overall a Very very lovely, appealing and charming piece!

Wonderful! I vote for tree also

Nice, wonderful images and illustration. Sorry for your loss of your mother. May her memory be a blessing and comfort you in time

lovely update AND I just noticed the elfy slippers on hedgehog. FUN!

EXCELLENT! Thank you. Wonderful information, very helpful!

Here's my bias: I love, love, love the look of traditional, with all the imperfections and irregularity. And I have no experience with Publishers.

But imo, if one can develop the artwork digitally to look like it was done traditionally, I suspect the publishers (and artist) would come to appreciate the digital medium more. It might go without saying, but one has to ask: Which format would you rather be making changes?

The good thing is that digital is obviously easier to change. The bad thing is that digital is easier to change. The publishers know that.

@bharris said:

should the tree not touch the umbrella at all?

Your new update looks wonderful - but I think that perhaps the tree behind the girl is distracting - My eye goes right to it, and it competes with the girl as to subject. I don't think you need it, You have enough going on interest wise in the girl. Love her new red coat. Try blocking the tree out and see what you think, perhaps?

Wonderful colors, technique, characters, compositions!

@Marsha-Kay-Ottum-Owen said:

My figures are stiff and I seem to do work that is flat.....

Well has SVS got a course for you!

Take a look at "How to draw anything". "posing characters" "breathing life into your character designs" and "creative compositions"

That's just to start! Hopefully you have signed up for subscription service.

They are all excellent and chock full of great info, exercises. Minimally apply the concepts to your own images, and examine them in a new light. And for extra points: (don't do like I do) but actually do the exercises!

And in a quirky way tho, since I come from doing 3D modeling, animation world, I am finding that I want to flatten my imagery to look less CG!

So there is, and can be beauty in flat! Think folk art, and primitive art!

@Bobby-Aquitania

Couldn't resist, to add to your collection of rendering of apples in different apps. I took your photo and did an apple in Painter x3 - but I probably spent about 30-60 mins on it. One of my challenges was to not clean it up too much, as I wanted to leave the imperfections and happy accidents that happen with real watercolor

@Bobby-Aquitania said:

I wish I had a better command of watercolor in Painter. I can do that with traditional media, but I prefer to work mostly digital now.

Thanks Bobby!

Yes..it does take a concerted effort to wrap one's head around their watercolor terms, and to understand how to tweak their controls. I am fascinated by their "real watercolor" brushes and terms, along with their regular, and digital watercolor (and the differences between them).

The "real watercolor" brushes are the best for simulating the real stuff. I had to spend days (about a week ago) playing with the real watercolor. I thought I understood it, but alas, went away from it for awhile, and I again forget what all the controls do...