Hello, everybody! My name is Roxana and have taken some classes here on SVS, which I found very useful in giving me a better understanding on color, light situations and character designs.

I took my time with this piece, particularly because I wanted to do more character explorations (I'm trying to upgrade my illustration style to better fit children's books industry) and because I wanted to understand and practice digital drawing, and expressing color values according to the light situation.

I am very much interested in getting to know some honest opinions on this illustration, because I want to understand what I could do better next time.

This illustration is Lucy and Aslan, from The Cronicles of Narnia, showing Lucy happilly hugging Aslan after finding out he is alive. I've started this project with character design, thumbnails for finding the pose I liked, color values and then coloring process.

Thanks for your feedback. Appreciated.

@demotlj Thank you for the feedback! I've changed Lucy's face, not only in terms of shadows and cheeks, but also the eyes, which I've decided would look better if they were closed. I think it's a lot better like this now.

Thank you all for the feedback! It helped me understand some notions about shadows, focus of the illustration and illustrating the faces better

@Nyrryl-Cadiz Thank you for your help!

@Amber-Lynn-Benton Hi, Amber. I really like the first two concepts.

In the first one I like the composition, it looks more symmetrical and gives you the possibility to play a bit more with the details, I think. I like that you made the mermaids interact with the title and the subtitle of the book.

In the second one, the shape reminds me of the Ouroboros (the snake eating itself) used on Michael Ende's The Neverending Story, which I loved. I may be biased on this, but I think it's a bit of a more bold design this one. Maybe if you make it a bit more symmetrical and somehow have the mermaids a bit more spaced - I'm not sure about the margin areas on the left and right. Hope it helps!

@ErinCortese Thank you. It kind of blew my mind when I compared my initial illustration to your solution. Their faces really get into focus like that. When I started adding shadows it felt to me that I wasn't getting enough defined lines and shapes and I guess that is why I kept adding darker shadows. I ended up using close to black values. Thanks a lot for the feedback, very useful.

@Neha-Rawat I see what you mean, it might be indeed that the Koala wouldn't be the first read. Thank you for your input!
@Gary-Wilkinson, aha, I see your point also. Thank you. I'll use the 3rd sketch then.

Thank you, @eriberart and @idid for your feedback!

@Neha-Rawat I see what you mean, it might be indeed that the Koala wouldn't be the first read. Thank you for your input!
@Gary-Wilkinson, aha, I see your point also. Thank you. I'll use the 3rd sketch then.

@Nyrryl-Cadiz Thank you for your help!

Hi!

I’m finishing work on my first picture book and I need some input from you on layout design, on which is best in terms of readability. I have already agreed on a layout with the author, but I am not sure about the changes she suggested. The original sketch is with the title on the left (1). She proposed to have the title on the right, but I am not sure how I feel the sketch fits around it. In sketch (2) I moved the kangaroo to the left and some of the animals to the right and in sketch (3), I flipped the whole illustration.

My feelings are that the original layout is more harmonious and it has a clearer reading path. What are your opinions? Thank you for your help!

@smceccarelli Can I ask you please what solution you found as a workaround? I forgot I was supposed to start the file in rgb in procreate and convert later in photoshop to cmyk. And just imported the .psd cmyk file from my computer on procreate. It was only when my fiance asked about how colors exports on my computer that I checked. Now I have 60% of an illustration done in procreate with horrible colors when seen on my computer. It still exports the illustration as rgb, even though the original .psd file is cmyk. I would like to be able to use my work if possible, instead of starting all over again. Thank you for your help

Welcome, Kali! I like how you worked in textures and the choice on color values. Love the truck illustration and mice preparing breakfast for the cat, that's funny!

@Amber-Lynn-Benton Hi, Amber. I really like the first two concepts.

In the first one I like the composition, it looks more symmetrical and gives you the possibility to play a bit more with the details, I think. I like that you made the mermaids interact with the title and the subtitle of the book.

In the second one, the shape reminds me of the Ouroboros (the snake eating itself) used on Michael Ende's The Neverending Story, which I loved. I may be biased on this, but I think it's a bit of a more bold design this one. Maybe if you make it a bit more symmetrical and somehow have the mermaids a bit more spaced - I'm not sure about the margin areas on the left and right. Hope it helps!

I'm sorry for your loss, Will. Be strong. My condolences to you and your family...

The illustration looks very nice, I like the concept. Have you thought about flipping it horizontally, so that the focus is on the upper right? It seems as though your eye comes back to the left, although the original direction is toward the right.

Something like this. I was thinking it would also look better with some more depth, so I added some foreground plants which also help to frame it. I hope I'm not intruding on your illustration

@demotlj Thank you for the feedback! I've changed Lucy's face, not only in terms of shadows and cheeks, but also the eyes, which I've decided would look better if they were closed. I think it's a lot better like this now.

Thank you all for the feedback! It helped me understand some notions about shadows, focus of the illustration and illustrating the faces better