Double W Illustrations is a go!

So my new web page is up and running. Take a look and tell me what you think! And let me know if any of the links don't work and stuff like that!

Thanks folks!
-Wilson

Shy Rhino Before and After

This is the image before I changed it up some. I needed to add something to it to make it relevant for a children's book portfolio. I thought making it an Alphabet book page made perfect sense.



There was also some concern that the grass in his/her mouth doesn't look like it was actually in the mouth. And that the portion of the rhino's body below the face was hard to read and understand. I wanted to address those issues too.



At the end of the day I did struggle with adding the letter in. I wanted to make it composed of grass or 3-D in some way. But I settled on simpler being better. I integrated the letter into it's environmemt but kept it fairly non-rendered and easily readable. The objective of the piece should be that the letter is legible and easily identifiable for the young reader. I think this change makes the piece have more of a story and purpose and considerably more relevant to my portfolio.

I'll probably also submit this piece to Illustration Friday for the word this week, idle. It'll be my first time and hopefully it'll be received well. Here's hoping!! :)

-Wilson

Penguin Family Colored Up

Here is the colored version of the Penguin Family Ice Skating. I had a lot of fun on this one and there were a bunch of different stages! Click on the above image for a much cleaner and larger image. (Less pixelly(sp?))

Below is a link to an animation that kinda takes you through the process. From sketch all the way to full colors. ALl done in Photoshop. The only thing this revealed to me is that I really have no process. LOL! I'm always amazed when someone posts a tutorial online and it's neat to see how organized and thought out their process is. The only thing that I learned about myself from doing this is that I have NONE!! LOL! Hopefully that'll improve now that I am paying attention to it.

Having a process seems to allow others to attack their images with speed and clarity. That is something I would imagine is very helpful when running up against a deadline. I'm also going to really start timing myself so that I have a more accurate gauge of how long it takes me to complete an image depending on the complexity and familiarity of process being used.

Here's the link to the animation. http://mtykwan.deviantart.com/art/Penguin-Family-Process-130522890

Also, I should have a website by the end of the weekend, hopefully. It'll be at DoubleWillustrations.com. When I'm done I would love for you guys to come check it out and tell me what you think. Troubleshoot it and make sure everything works and views properly! Thanks again!! :)

-Wilson

Next Sketches

Here is a sketch for the next piece I'm working on.



And here it is with me adding a base of color. I'm thinking that I may do the primary figure to the right and the finish line in full color, while leaving the other racers rendered monochromatic. It would put a great deal of emphasis on the kid to the right and set a very specific tone to the piece. I'm still pondering that though. This is also a double page spread and you can see where the middle is by the vertical line I've drawn in the middle.




In the meanwhile I will be working on making some changes to older pieces of mine. I will probably post those too once I'm done. I don't know about anybody else, but I have the hardest time going back to pieces once I have decided in my head they are complete. The problem is you get some wise person who comes along and points something out in your piece that's wrong, so glaringly wrong that it knocks you on your backside! Those are the changes that I'll be working on next. And some of them are doozies!! If I can I'll post the originals and the draw overs that were done by this wise person or people.

PENGUIN FAMILY ICE SKATING REVISED

I have been taking notes from a new critique group that I have joined. The West Coast Critters Critique Group. It's a critique group of Illustrators interested in breaking in to the Children's Book Publishing arena. We help each other improve our artwork and portfolios. Most of us live on the Western Coast of Florida, and that's where the name comes from.There were a number of suggestions and I used those to revisit my image and make some changes.

1. No longer is the little girl's hat going outside of the border. I extended the left side of the image to make room for her. I also added more definition to her face and pose. She is silently giggling at her brother for having fallen down. A more detailed close up of that is below.

2. The fathers' fins are more upward and not pointing at the children. There was a concern that it looked like he should be holding their fins since his were in such close proximity to theirs. That's not the idea I wanted so I changed the position.

Let me know what you guys think of the changes! I look forward to hearing any input!! :)

sketches

The next piece is what I am starting on next. I intend to take this one kinda step by step through the process of creating it. Uploading images of it as I go. For now the piece is titled, Penguin Family Ice Skating. I know, such an imaginative title. If anyone has other suggestions let me know!

Thanks again!!

4-7 Youth Sport Graphics

Here are a bunch of new images that I have done for a freelance client. They will be used for t-shirts. I've been asked to do two images from various sports aimed at a 4-7 age range. The style is consistant with how I render my children's work, but it is a bit more vibrant and bright. My normal color palette is more sedated. Hopefully I can find a place within my children's book portfolio for some of these. Maybe as spot examples, I'm not sure. But we'll see!!