So, I decided to have an illustration style smackdown with myself (...that doesn't sound exactly right...). I need to create a cover illustration for a story that I've written and am trying to get published. I did the exact same illustration, first in oils, then as wash over a drawing. Both pieces are initially created using traditional media, then scanned and finished in Photoshop. The one with the darker blue background is in oils, the lighter one is the tinted drawing. I am curious to hear comments. One look may be better suited for a younger audience. Does one look appear to be more dated? Please post your reactions to each, preferences, observations, etc. Thanks.
I prefer the top version, but would like the colours to be a little less saturated!
ReplyDeleteI don't really know why I make this choice, both are great!
I like the textures in the bottom one such as in the smoke and in the bear body. Also agree that some colors look too saturated, (which might be due to the vagaries of monitors.) The title pops more in the top one. Not sure but the top style (no line) might be viewed as more up to date than the linear style. That being said, I'm a line junkie, myself. I wonder if having more color variation or clouds in the sky might be nice... or even a hint of the landscape below. Not to make more work for you!
ReplyDeleteI can see why you struggle with this... each has elements about it that I like, but overall, I'm leaning toward the oil, I suppose, but there are aspects about the second one that make me take a closer, longer look. The presence of your hand is more obvious, and i think that's what I'm responding to emotionally. Ultimately, though I think the oil might make for a more impactful cover image. Wishy Washy answer, I suppose, but hope it helps!
ReplyDeleteMy pick, John, is the bottom one. I like the drawn quality to it- more comic book like. More importantly, though, is the title. There ARE too many super heroes these days! Also. doesn't SH the dog belong to the Ambiguously Gay Duo?
ReplyDeleteJust keep your leg away from SH!
DeleteThe bottom one has a more "immediate" and "Grab-you" feel (which is an effect of the stronger lines and bolder/simpler colors.) I can't say either of them fall into any sort of "trend" blackhole...they both seem timeless and I can think of countless artists that have books out with both styles. I really like the rendering of the top one, but because of my personal interest (and my illustration style) I prefer the bottom one. (besides it looks like alot less work than the top one...which means quicker turn-a-around times, right? ) ^_^
ReplyDeleteIt's actually not that much less work. Isolating each color area with the tablet and pen can be tedious work. But, once all the separate color areas are created it's so easy to make adjustments.
DeleteJohn, I prefer the top image for its color richness and the pop that it gets against the darker sky, particularly for the title. However, I do like the texture of the lower image and would like to see more of that texture in the lintless painted version above.
ReplyDeleteI struggle in my work when I remove the ink line and go straight to digital oil paint to sculpt the forms. I am trying to include more texture and brush strokes to maintain the dynamism and movement in the scenes.
Both covers are quite lovely but I hope this helps and does;t confuse things more as you make your style decision.
Not confusing, but that fact that neither style is the unanimous preference is, in and of itself, edifying.
DeleteIt's interesting to see you agonizing over which way to do your work, John… and Maggie was doing the same thing. I guess I have to be relieved that I only know how to use watercolors, so I have a limited amount of choice!!! Even so, I do exactly the same thing!
ReplyDeleteSince I've been teaching, I've realized how subjective art is. It IS all in the eye of the beholder!!!! I've had a fellow teacher come to my class to go out for lunch, and praise a piece on the wall that I just blasted! Yikes.
Of course, as commercial artists, we want to reach the most beholders that we can!
I know that you've already gotten lots of feedback, but my impression was that it was hard to compare the two. The second one had more line, which I thought worked well for super heroes, but the colors in the first one were more nuanced, and much richer, especially the background (which was quite luscious) My least favorite character (in both) was the tiger. Bear was my favorite.
I think if you send it to 10 art buyers, you will get the same range of opinion that you got from fellow artists… personal preferences making the difference, since both styles are so obviously competent and and well executed! My take, overall, has been that we just have to be ourselves… follow (as best we can) what we enjoy and like and want to do (sigh) and hope we'll find enough champions to hire us!
Good luck with your project. Miss seeing you at the Highlights party. Maybe next year?