Sunday, February 15, 2009

Making up for lost time on these recent posts...



As promised, I've posted the sketch before the final this time around. I hope the image is clear enough for you all to get the main idea. The size is roughly 18" X 12" so it's going to be pretty large. The medium will be acrylic paint.

I'm trying to capture a dramatic moment between a hippo and turtle trapeze team. The circus tent ceiling will be dark red and white. Costume colors are yet to be determined but I'm thinking of doing a throwback to the trapeze artists of the early 1900s...Barnum and Bailey style. The spotlight will be primarily yellow with a very dark shadow cast upon the tent.

My initial thought/concern is that the turtle looks too large but I'm going to be focusing on creating some pretty dramatic depths within the field of view...so it may work out in the end. He's supposed to be pretty far in the foreground, so I'm really wondering whether that's evident or will be with color.

I'm really excited to get to work on this one. I've planned an interesting light source which should really make the hippo's spotlight shadow really pop!

Do you guys see anything I need to address?

6 comments:

Unknown said...

I think it looks great! You seem to have such ease with creating cute and believeable anthropomorphic characters!

The only thing I can think of is the eyelines - make sure they're where you want them to be - it doesn't look like the hippo is looking at the turtle...

Also - with the lines coming out of the tent - watch the tangents! The one touches with the hippo's tooth.

That's all I can think of.

kris fulk said...

Hi, Pete! I agree with Isaac - I think this is fantastic! I have two things and one of them I'm not sure about -_- Well, with that preface, the first one is about the girl hippo's eye brows. They're kind of manly and I wondered if tweaking them into a finer arch is something that would interest you. Gosh, that's really a very minor thing. Anyway, the second one is about the turtle's arms. Something about them doesn't seem to align and seem slightly awkward to me. I think maybe because the left arm is sticking out so far while the right arm seems to be farther within the shell...? I think the right arm is supposed to stick out a little like the left and kind of crook into a little elbow so we can have the same kind of pose (as if the turtle's bent to the right). But it may just be me, so I'd ask for a second opinion from the others.

I think the composition is fab and it looks super dynamic. It's going to be another great portfolio piece for sure!

pete said...

Thanks for the feedback! I agree with EVERY comment and will fix 'em up before going to paint.

Tangent...nailed it
eyeline...check
soften hippo brow...aw-right (2 year old translation of "alright")
Correct turtle anatomy...stick a fork in it...it's done.

Christy/Tiddly Inks Digitals said...

I have no idea how you make them look so realistic and 3-D in line form. I love this. :) I am glad you got the earlier feedback because that was all stuff I noticed too, so it saved me a lot of typing. Now, I just get to say....cool...wanna see it done. :)

wendy said...

I love the look of fear on the turtles face. Can't say I have to many ideas on how to make it better. It looks fantastic and I can't wait to see it in color.

pete said...

Thanks Tiddly and Wendyo! I'm in still in the under paint phase...I may re-post to get thoughts on lighting soon.