Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Work-In-Progress Part 3

Now I've finished most of the girl. I need to soften the darks underneath her neck a bit more. I faded out the wisps of hair at the ends. I like the white of the shirt. Having it vignette works fine. I don't feel the same about the hand. It's actually drawing more attention to it then I want. It looks kind of awkward. Like I didn't know where to stop, which is true. So I will be including her wrist.

Once I've got the form down, I really like drawing hands. Seems like most people don't, but I find if you look at what's really there, and don't let your mind tell you what to draw it's not so hard. Same thing with ears. Draw what you see.

The other thing that happened, without me realizing it, is my paper angle had shifted. While focusing on the details I lost sight of the original placement. Here I have angled the image properly and will have to extent her hair (hair extensions!) and sleeve down to make the bottom edge horizontal again. I guess you can see where I'm going with the color now.

To see all the steps of this work-in-progress click here.
To find out how you can win a signed print of the finished illustration click here.


9 comments:

roz said...

Gorgeous, Gail.
I love how you have the bubble blower a different color. Great touch. As usual your "pencils" are just amazing.

C.R. Evers said...

Wow! this is gorgeous and so full of precious nostalgia.

You're so talented!

Christy

Anonymous said...

I've always liked how the bubble wand echos the "o" of the mouth.
She is shaping up beautifully.

Anthony VanArsdale said...

Your work is Gorgeous with a capital G! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog... it means so much to me coming from such a talented artist

-anthony

c.g.young said...

Gail,
Thanks for the visit...
Your work is wonderful, and your pencils both soft and dramatic..
full of life and character!

I'll be stopping by here often for
a bit o' inspiration!

-c.g.young

gail said...

Hi Roz! Thanks for taking a look.

Glad you stopped by Christy. Ooo, I like your nostalgia comment!

Angela, I did play a bit with the degree of the ellipse and the placement of the "O". Yea for Photoshop!

gail said...

Wow Anthony and c.g.!! I had just stumbled on your blogs today via the SCBWI boards and I'm in awe, both by your work and your kinds words. Amazing talent. And i love both of your styles!

"Gorgeous with a capital G!
and providing a bit o' inspiration! "

I'll try not to let that go to my head. :)...oh, but "soft and dramatic and such a talented artist too." OK back down to earth now gail.

You've both been added to my daily blog reads.

Tanja Bauerle said...

Hi Miss Gail,

You are amazing. Are you recreating this entire piece? I thought the one at the conference was great and here you are re-doing it. Crazy girl.

Love you blog.

tanja

gail said...

Hi Tanja!

No, I'm not that crazy. I had saved each step as I went along and I'm just getting around to posting them. Although I do have an option for the finish that I have since worked up. (Like as I was posting the steps this week.) Very subtle. I'm undecided on it. I think I'll post both and take a vote.

gail