The Owl and the Pussycat
Whew, I've had the craziest past 3 weeks!! Forgive my slowness on the group @_@ ... I hope things are calming down around here now for me.
So I finally finished this painting based on my earlier Clandestine sketch. I'm not sure if I love it, but I think I do *like* it. Not going to re-do it again probably (but you never know), but I would love a critique anyway as that is always very helpful to see where my strengths and weaknesses are for future projects!
Oh yes, I wanted to ask if you all thought this would be good for a portfolio piece or if I should wait for something stronger.
5 comments:
Hey Carmen (ha! I got it right!)
I like the changes you made and I love love love the sky and the way you colored the sea. I think the waves could envelope the boat a little more, though, so it doesn't look so flat (i.e. have another wave peeking where that tiny part of the tree trunk is on the right, and peek again on the bottom left of the boat.) Also, I feel like a couple of branches could even extend farther left just to balance both sides. But this last part may be too nit picky. The rounded edges work, btw, because it gives the feeling that they're contained. I think a little less rounding (and rounding them more evenly) of the edges would help. Though I think it's really the top right corner - with the directionality going there, plus the darkness of the branches, it all adds up to a lot of weight.
I think this is nicely done though. The above are not big issues. But should you put it in your portfolio? Hmm. I feel like it's a different style from your current color collection so I'm on the fence about it. Hopefully there will be more definitive (ergo helpful) answers from others ^_^
I really like what you've done with it - the texture to the sky and especially the waves with the little highlights - it gives the water a very magical look.
I like that the characters are interacting - but the pose seems a little stiff and flat on the owl - i don't know if the lower body really relates enough to the upper body (and it seems a little elongated). - but that might just be because of the pose/cloak that make it look strange to me...
As far as a portfolio piece - I believe it could work - but I wonder about the pose of the owl. If you have this picture - you should have another picture of these two where it's more open and the scene has more depth - as I see that being something that an editor or director might be concerned with. And the two pictures (or more) would strengthen your port with some storytelling and continuity.
At the same time - I love the style and the color and the media - and
It has the sense that there is a great fairy tale like story that goes with this illustration.
I think the thing that I notice is not enough contrast. Maybe some darker ares could make this pop a bit more. Under the owls cape closer to the arm(wing) and some of the shadow areas around the cat.
I don't know what the story is behind the illustration so this might be wrong on my part, but the tree appears to be growing out of the water. Now maybe the story is about a flood or the tree is magic...I don't know, just something I noticed.
Like the soft colors and the mood I get from the piece.
Thanks for your comments everyone! Hrm, I think you're right about it not being quite a portfolio piece. I like these characters so maybe I'll give them a whirl later in a different setting....
Isaac I didn't notice how long the owl's body had become! Good point!
I like them in color, but I agree with the final analysis that it isn't a portfolio piece...don't you hate deciding something like that. :( It is lovely though, so maybe like you said in a different setting. I do like the watercolor sky and water. Nicely done. :)
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