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CyberArtist · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2001 12:26 am

This is a sketch I'm working on for a (late) xmas card to send and give to friends / family. It's a little girl of maybe 5-6 holding a box to her ear about to shake it.

Far from finished, but wanted to post here to see if anyone had any crits. If anyone knows of some useful reference images for this kind of thing, that'd be great too (been looking online all night for a @#%! little girl sitting on the ground.)

CyberArtist · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2001 6:09 am

As I said before, this sketch is for a christmas card. Here's the background as it is now. C&C please! No gifts under the tree yet, and no shadow under the tree. Probably need to darken the shadow on the "wall" and add some random framed paintings to make it more obviously a wall.

First time really using this technique for painting (the "spooge" method, even made an all black sketch of the tree! hehe). And before someone rips on me for calling it the "spooge" method, I know it's used by many others, and has been long before Crain Mullins even existed on this planet. Spooge is just one of the better known artists on this forum to use that style, and I don't know what to call it otherwise.

The girl will be sitting at the base of the tree, either to the left or right (would flip her around) Not sure yet.

[ December 23, 2001: Message edited by: CyberArtist ]

gekitsu · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2001 6:51 am

this one will look nice for sure. has a very nostalgic feel what i can see from the parts.

Basement bound · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2001 11:22 am

Can't quite put my finger on it but the girls right hand and the present looks flat not solid. Can not see that she is holding it up to her ear at the right angle with that hand.

Am I clear?

JA

CyberArtist · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2001 5:12 am

Newer version, just started to add the girl. Still need to add a few more gifts, and the main shadow. The tree is better centered in this revision, and better shaded. I may repaint the teddy as I'm not happy with the current balance of the composure. Pulling the teddy closer to the center of that box might help that though.

Novacaptain · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2001 7:17 am

I think it looks good, I'd be glad to get one of those xmas cards even if it only came in march

Comments: I think you should change the top branch (where the angel is) into a greener color. Also, consider removing that bright vertical brush-stroke on the blue disc (just right of the tree). It gives the impression of a corner with two blue walls.

I think the angel might be a little too big for the tree. It seems a little gravity-defying.

Maybe the teddy bear would look better if it was right next to her, lying on the floor. This could give the impression that although teddy is very dear to her, she's put him aside in view of the excitement brought on by new gifts.

If it's a real tree, by the way, it might be suiting to put some leaves randomly under the tree.

Another Idea would be to darken the whole image a little...to give it a "cozier" feeling to it.

I like the triangle-circle arrangement you've got going there.

I hope this is of any use

CyberArtist · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2001 1:45 pm

It IS the corner of two blue walls, lol! I'm going for a norman rockwell kind of look, so it's more like a slice out of the real world. The teddy bear was intended more as another gift under the tree than her's, though I like the idea that is one she dropped on her inspection of new toys. I also like the needles on the ground idea.

As for the angel, hey, it's an angel, let it fly.

I'll try darkening it more when I've finished it, but printed images tend to look a bit darker than on the screen anyways so I may not have to.

Thank you for the comments, it's always nice to get some feedback regardless of what it is.

CyberArtist · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2001 6:24 pm

Latest version. I case people are wondering, the constant updating is something that used to happen a lot on this forum. I believe was started by someone asking about someone's technique so they could see how someone else forms an image. I love seeing that stuff, so I figured I'd post my progress slowly and hopefully others will do the same.

Novacaptain · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2001 7:15 pm

Ah, you tricky weasel

Now that you mentioned it...it's not just the vertical brush stroke that gives the impression of a corner...it's that all the brush strokes on the wall converge towards that one faint line.

Progressive updating rules! It's like a step-by step tutorial. The folds on her dress are wonderful.

Norman Rockwell is a great artist...I love that self-portrait of himself (duh) painting a self-portrait more than any other.

CyberArtist · Posted: Mon Dec 24, 2001 7:26 pm

Final version is done.

Full res version here.