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pallanoph — Autumnal: Work In Progress
Published: 2009-12-19 23:00:59 +0000 UTC; Views: 4337; Favourites: 127; Downloads: 0
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So I've uploaded a WIP of the piece I am finishing up for the Spectrum 17 competition. (For those of you who do not know what Spectrum is, here's the site: [link] ) Naturally, I would be submitting as "unpublished." But I think it's worth a shot.I've started this project far too late, so I've been working on it almost nonstop for the past few days. And I worry I am losing my perspective on the piece as a whole, and I am looking for people to give their input on the piece as it stands now. Since I am well aware that the linework is nearly invisible, please refer to the original sketch, which appears here:
I'm not certain what else I can say... autumnal elements, obviously, and I am hoping to add some bird silhouettes nearer the end, if they will work out okay.
Apologies to the watercolor masters out there for my rather inappropriate over usage of salt.
But I had the opportunity to try out my squirrel wash brush in full, and found out how much I truly love it.Watercolor with ink and acrylic on Fabriano Artistico, hot pressed 300 lb.
Critiques and suggestions are highly appreciated!
Let me know what you think!Art (C) April Schumacher
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Comments: 107
Looking good... seriously!
I don't think you're overusing the salt... just take your time BUT GO! Don't worry, I'm already pretty expectant!
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i love the bleed in the blue-grey 'clouds' did you use salt?
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It's looking great, I would love to be able to do work like this.
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How did you erase all the shading on the linework?
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Oh, the linework for this actual painting was transferred via an Art-o-graph (fancy projector of sorts) so there wasn't much to erase. I leave just enough of the lines for me to see where they are.
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Wow, I'm amazed.
This looks great so far!
May I buy some part of your skill?
Can not wait to see this piece finished!
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Yay, this is one of my favourite drawings if yours, i cant wait to see this when it's done!
already looks great though
keep up the awsome work!
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Oh my good Lord Jesus. If this is this amazing ALREADY, when it's DONE...HOMIGAWD. You are God. XD
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This looks fantastic so far - the textures and effects you've achieved with the watercolor are wonderful.
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this is absolutely beautiful!!! cant wait to see it completed
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pssht you apologizefopr overusage of salt... dont, it givesthe piece really nice texture. this piece is fabulous, even though its not finished. it isvery vibrant, and the scenery is beautiful! keep it up, im sure when itsfinished it will be masterful!
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=] This already looks like it will turn out great!
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I hope, more than anything, that I can simply hold the vision in my mind as I work on it. It seems I need longer periods of time to sit down with it, or something...
And thank ya!
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I think the use of salt is fine if restrained, it's looking good so far, I hope you get to put it in!
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i love it !!!!
i can't wait to see the end result
what kind of salt did you use ????
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AWESOME !!!
i was putting one kosher salt and sugar and everything else , thanx !!!
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At this point, it is looking great! I cannot find anything to critique...The salt effect is good, yet subtle. Lots of artists go overboard with it, but this is just right!
I love how the background is coming along, and the detail in the layers of color in the creature itself proves your attention to detail. Patience is the key. I would hate to see this piece ruined by trying to go faster than necessary just for a competition.
...I'll bet that the piece will still place even as an unfinished work! I really do.
If you go too fast, or push too hard, you will lose your perspective, and that would be the worst thing!
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I'm hoping the same: Even if I don't get it finished in time, it would still be worth the work. (And I think, if I were to not finish it by the end of the year, that it would perhaps be eligible for next year. 
And that's what I was worried about. Too many people overuse the salt!
You can bet I'll be taking my time on this, as much as I can, that is.
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Oh yes! Definitely if not this time 'round...for sure next time!
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Holy mother of masking fluid! You do amazing things with watercolour!
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Well, coming from this watercolorist, I think you're doing just great! Lovely colors and texturing so far. (My only worry about salt is how it might affect the longevity of a piece, but no matter. It's such a fun technique!) I'll save more thoughts until I see it closer to completion, as I know just how utterly unpredictable this medium can be...
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Thanks very much, Laura! It's good to hear one is on the right track, especially from a watercolorist!
I only hope I can keep the rest of this together and not rush through it.
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Very beautiful 
I hope you don't lose sight of this picture, it would be a shame to see it go unfinished!
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Oh my god, this is looking amazing already -WOW!!!!
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Can't wait to see how it turns out and all the best of luck for Spectrum
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Aww, thanks! 
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This looks like it's coming along beautifully. The textures look spectacular, and I think the salt is well executed, as long as you don't cover the beastie entirely with it.
There are a couple things I do want to mention, though, since you are bold enough to submit into Spectrum. There is a tendency in a lot of us amateur fantasy artists to create vignetted images. (I am no exception, every illustration in my gallery has little to no background!) After showing my work to editors and professionals, this was the most frequent critique I got. Some professionals, from whom I've simply heard or read interviews, have mentioned this trend about up-and-coming fantasy art too. Your creature is fantastic and you handle the medium beautifully, but the background is underdeveloped. Now, your execution of the image may well win over your jurors at Spectrum, but I think if you give the creature more of a context, then I think it will push the image further and display more of your skill to the viewer.
I submitted to Spectrum last year, but unfortunately didn't get in. However, for the relatively cheap entry fee, I think it's entirely worth it simply to submit, because professionals are still seeing your work. So I wish you the best of luck! (Trust me I'd really rather see your work in Spectrum than a lot of other stuff that gets in!)
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Thank you very much! I don't intend to use the salt texture on the beast, thankfully... so I'm glad it works as it stands now.
And also, thank you very much for pointing out this particular trend in fantasy art. I guess I had never really noticed it (
And I totally agree. I thought, "Why not? It's worth a shot." And thank you very much for your feedback and suggestions, they were very helpful!
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No problem! I agree, you don't want to crowd up the background too much--I think that's why a lot of people tend towards the vignetting. We are so detail-oriented that we want to fill everything up. But I think the subtle forms of birch trees in the background and defining the rocks will work nicely. Maybe you can have some depth to the trees as they lose definition into the the distance? That will bring the image to the border of your composition, and there you'll have a solid illustration.
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This looks epic, and it's not even finished T_T I like the pose, and I could stare at your watercolor pieces all day! I bet this will turn out great when it's finished ^_^
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This is just out of this world April. I really can't believe my eyes - the animal is stunning, and the flowing backroung just makes my eyes drop out XD! 
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Why thank you! He's got a long way to go, and I expect more will happen with the background at some point.
Oof, I have soooo far to go! Must work harder!
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You're extremely welcome as always April, and yes, it does seem rather daunting
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Wow, looks fantastic to me. I don't quite know what you mean by 'inappropriate over usage of salt', but whatever you did it looks good.
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I guess people aren't bothered by it.
Thanks!
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'inappropriate over usage of salt'?? 
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Okay, I guess it doesn't look so overwhelming when I've posted it. I had my nose inches away from it, and wondered what people might think of it. "Frosty" and "crisp" are exactly the sort of feelings I wanted to convey, so I'm sticking with it!
And thanks!
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Wow!
This is so awsome, I can't wait to see the finished version!
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Such beautiful colours already, the pose looks really nice
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It had better be! I'm slightly afraid the beast might mesh too closely with the rest of the scenery, but we'll see. Just... gotta... finish the thing!
These colors are super bright in comparison to what I normally use....
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Haha
Yaaaaaay for bright colours <3
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It's wonderful (and helpful) to see your art in progress. I haven't gotten the handle of using salt I guess, I never get such fantastic results! Thank you for sharing
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Thanks very much!
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