Saturday, August 2, 2008

Illustration Friday: POOF!

Read updates to this post below...



What do you know? I thought I would pass up this week’s challenge and tend to some other projects I have been putting in the back burner, but my mind kept taking me back to ‘poof’. So I started to sketch, and from the sketches I thought the idea lent itself for a book layout. It’s not really a spread, because it’s not one illustration that spans over two pages, which is something I have wanted to try out.

I went back to the drawing board and the writing pad. I am not claiming to be a writer, but I wanted to show text on the pages and I did not want to use dummy text as a placeholder. I wanted to show the same character in different poses and show how the text and the illustration relate to one another.

Well, a few tracings, scans and re-draws later, I present you … this little witch!
I usually like to post my work in color. This was such an exploratory exercise, that I did not have time to paint them, but I’ll try to finish them next week and when I do I will update this post.

BTW- If you have any recommendations or suggestions to improve these, please feel free to comment. I want to build my portfolio and it is difficult to know how strong your work is without the input of peers. My kids and my husband think everything I do deserves and award, which is so sweet, but not necessarily reality!

FIRST POST UPDATE:

Here's the first page in color. I must say, I am pleased with how it came out. I shortened the text a bit. Let's see if I can recreate the 'magic' one more time! ...I 'll post the other page before the end of the week. (if I can get to it!)



SECOND UPDATE:
I had to share this with everyone... When I realized the obvious, I chuckled! Let's see if you can realize it too. 
Now, let's play the game: What is different between the picture above and the one below?


If you guessed the dog is missing one leg, you were right!
I have no idea how that happened? Even the sketch didn't have the leg, and the whole time I was painting, I just thought of shapes, colors textures, and never noticed! Poor dog!
Anyway, I feel better now that he is complete.

THIRD ... and last... UPDATE
I was getting ready to work on the second sketch, when I received Heather's comment. She made so many good points, mostly about point of view and layout. I took her advice and made some changes to the sketch. I think this illustration has more energy and movement. 


17 comments:

INDIGENE said...

I know what you mean about family loving your work; which is great when you have that! I think this is a good story start and I really like the line drawing. How do you plan on coloring it? It's lovely!

www.indigeneartforms.blogspot.com

Kathleen Rietz said...

Cute idea Edrian. I would love to see it in color.

Bella Sinclair said...

This is great! I especially like how you've drawn the dog, and the girl is adorable. Can't wait to see it in color. :)

Sandra said...

This could work really well, I would also like to see it in colour.

I feel the same way about my family. They are full of encouragement but I am unsure if my work. I know that I love doing it.

http://mollyandcoffee.com

Bella Sinclair said...

I just read the comment you left over at my place, and I had a good chuckle. :D Funny thing is, this is EXACTLY the kind of predicament my Emma would find herself in!

I just scrolled down and saw your business card. It's really nice! I really love the colors there.

studio lolo said...

Very sweetly drawn! Cute Boston Terrier...and my dog's name is Emma :)

Christy/Tiddly Inks Digitals said...

I like the layout....probably even better in color! :)

Thanks for stopping by my blog. :) I plan to attend a SCWBI conference in Dallas where they do portfolio critiques for a fee.

Eric Barclay said...

Great concept! would love to see it in color.

Bella Sinclair said...

Hi again! I LOVE the color! It really did turn out beautifully. I really like the little girl's face. She's very sweet, and the way the pup is looking up at her---very nice. He doesn't know what's coming!

Heather said...

The colored version is lovely and I like the shortened version of the story better. For the second drawing I would like to see some variation in the placement of image and text--its pretty much the same as the first drawing layout wise. And I'm wondering what is going on in the background? There is some kind of jelly bean shape outline that I find a little weird. The character is in a very similar position in both. While I think this would be fine in a whole book, if you are going for a portfolio set you might think about a slighly different vantage point for the second drawing. (I hope you don't mind me saying so much--I agree family and often even the comments from IF are heart warming but don't give all the info you need sometimes ;)

Juan said...

very nice work Edrian

Tom Barrett said...

These are really good! The color versions came out great!

Perhaps she touched the dogs leg with the wand first, and made it re-appear before you reposted it!

Good little story to go along with the illustrations, too.

Kathy said...

This is lovely! I really like the expression on the dog's face--so trusting. And purple is the perfect color for magic : )

Edrian said...

Thanks everyone for all the kind comments!
Indigene and Sandra, It’s great to have a family that supports your creative endeavors, right? It really makes it so much easier when they believe in you!
Bella, I thought it was funny how I subconsciously used your daughter’s name in my mini story.
Thanks so much Heather. I agree with so many of your comments. I like this new approach better.
Tom, You may be right, maybe she was testing out the wand with the dog’s leg.

My daughter wants me to make a full-blown story out of these illustrations (see what I mean my blind encouragement!) Anyhow, I may explore ‘Emma’ in some different situations since the assignment for Monday Artday is 1 character, 4 panels…I’m already half way there! And if I like them, I may add them to my portfolio.

Nina Seven N7 said...

i love how you are showing all your updates from sketch to final product. it's so fun to see how other people work. it's great you are taking chances and willing to change things up.thanks for your comment on mine, i really appreaciate it!

Josh (musarter) said...

...and now how does she get him back. I must say Boston Terriers are one of my favorites and you captured one very well. I like seeing some of your process. Very nice entry.

Bee said...

Nice to follow your progress here, the evolution of the second scene is great, the final colour version where you change the composition is really susccessful :)