Noah's Neat Newborn (06.06)

[Noah Bradley]

Hey guys. Thought I'd start up my own thread to show the progress of my piece. I've been craving a good assignment since I got out of school and this looks like it'll provide a great avenue. Here's to a good journey. :)

First thumbnail sketches:

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[madster]

Great thumbs, Noah.

Just looking at the shapes and values as you have them (no details), you don't seem to have a very smooth flow on any of these. There are isolated lumps and hard, divisive "walls" that prevent the eye from smoothly traveling around the canvas.

Here is your Thumbs sheet, flipped horizontally and slightly blurred, with the contrast pumped a bit. Notice the shapes created by your values.
http://s3b.directupload.net/images/090607/s3fdmfpe.jpg

Now, keeping in mind that these are upside down, notice the darkest value shapes in your thumbs. Those darkest values have the most "weight," and will pull the eye to them in a composition...They will enhance your focal points, or detract from them, depending on what and where those values are emphasizing...

Your linework has a really nice, almost "ethereal" quality to it, so you really want your values to emphasize this, and not compete for attention.

Best of success to you!
~M

[Noah Bradley]

Thanks for the tips, Madster. Very useful suggestions. :)

Anyways, here's the direction I'm thinking of taking my piece. Naturally, if I pursue this piece (or any of them, most likely), I'm going to do a finished oil painting. So this is still a very preliminary sketch. :)

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