A Little Preview

[HugeHarHar]

Here's a few finished pages from my current project.

[NathanLong]

I like the idea of these a lot. I see a lot of Art Nouveau and Vienna Secession movement influence in them, and I love that stuff. I think, however, you could spend a little more time getting your measurements locked in before going to ink. Particularly on the second one, which looks like it was supposed to be symmetrical. It slants a little off to the right, and ends up looking a bit awkward.

You seem very rigorous about the measurement and placement of your frames, and they are compositionally pleasing, but less rigorous about the placement of the elements in the frames. Another example. The celtic knots in the tree in the fifth feel off because they are not evenly spaced and the heights are slightly uneven. If you were going for a more naturalistic style these kinds of things wouldn't matter. But as you are creating such regimented designs, I think more attention has to be paid to precision.

Another small problem is the lettering. I like the nature inspired shapes, but you need more contrast between the letters and the background or they will get lost. Right now they are very hard to read. Look again at Franklin Booth (one of my favorites too!) and see how he uses different line widths, and a variation of the amount of space between lines, to manage tone and contrast, and to separate elements from each other and the background.

You've got a good start here. I just think that a little more precision and thought about line weight will really help your pages.

[HugeHarHar]

Thanks Nathan. I agree with the need to be more thought into my lines. For the newer pages I've been putting more time into the pencil draft before I start inking which I think has been helping.

While I actually try to avoid perfect symmetry I do need to work on the balance of the images.

Thanks for the comment.

[Phil Moss]

very interesting stuff there, I think its got the opportunity to go a long way, get your nose into some old books and lift the designs, art nov etc. you've got the technique, I think with a bit more 'background' it could be something v.good.
keep it up!

[HugeHarHar]

Hey man I really appreciate the advice. I have books that have definitely taught me a lot but there's always the need for more.

I really dig your pencil work and the armor designs in your sketchbook.