Monday, August 3, 2009

Modify - Illustration Friday (and please let me know what's not working here)..thanks!



That unmistakeable sound would make you want to modify your bicycle too. : )
(click to enlarge if you'd like)

Hi everyone...bonus points for constructive criticism here... if you could write about what is missing in my work in regards to children's book illustration (color? layout? white space? originality? too complex? perspective? too close, too far away, that sort of thing)..that would be super and I'd love to hear it. Really, don't hold back....

24 comments:

  1. Oh, this is so cute! Reminds me of when I was little and put spokie dokies on my bike, fun!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is soooooooo cute! I love that because I remember that sound when I was growing up. Many a bicycle was "Modified" with special sound effects!

    Bravo!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey Shirley! I used to "modify" my bike like that. I wish I had some of those baseball cards that I used to make the "FWAP FWAP". Nice work. Love the feeling of motion and fun!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Thanks so much for the bad link tip!
    And thanks for visiting, so I could find your site. I love your work! Especially this cute girl and her adorable puppy!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lovely illustration!!! I just love the way you have painted the whole street scene and the perspective you have used!!! It's brilliant you are so clever!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is great, there is so much movement and character to this illustration, great work.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hey Shirley!

    Thanks so much for your kind comments and as per usual, it's always fun when you drop by!

    You have a great week as well!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I LOVE this!!! SO much fun and so reminds me of childhood! Love the "fwap" sound. So great.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Awesome! I love the forced perspective and she is just adorable. I remember the cards on the bicycle tires! Love it.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Great perspective, and a fun and original take on the theme! I love how you colored this, especially how you didn't strictly stick to the lines or color in every blank area. It makes the illustration look "friendlier" if that makes sense. Awesome job!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Her confidence just shines in this illustration, and the perspective adds to the sense of herself! Bravo!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Nice perspective and color! Using typo of varied size and thickness, instead of handwritten 'fwap-sounds' might be another option worth trying :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I remember doing just that!!
    So cute!

    ReplyDelete
  14. so lovely characters! my advice is: never ask too many people about your work :))

    ReplyDelete
  15. It's really great, I love the girl on the bike. I have done it as well when I was a kid. The colors you've used are so bright and wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi Shirley !
    Thank your for your nice comment on my blog ! I'm glad to discover your world too ! And I cross the fingers for your works to be published soon ! I think your style works well for children's books !

    ReplyDelete
  17. I have an award for you, my dear. Stop by when you get at minute.

    Have a great one.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Came back to say - FYI - I'm giving your wonderful blog the Bella Sinclair Award.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi! this is a really cute illustration, such joy in the colors and expressions.

    Here is my constructive critique (even though I am not a published illustrator and haven't moved past my fear of going for it, but I am a graphic designer and think I can give you some thoughts) ... everything about the illustration is beautiful, here is a thought... if it were a a two page spread you would want the girl on her bike to be to the right, let's say, leaving room for the text. The white space works wonderful for that. As is she would be right in the fold. If by chance you wanted it as just an illustration for possibly framing I might consider bringing the girl up so that her head would slightly overlap the boys foot and shifted to the left.

    Your work is just wonderful and really don't need much direction and I know most people don't give critiques, but I like that you are asking and I would hope someone would do the same for my work as well so I could improve and work harder. Thank you for your wonderfully kind comments on my illustration. Here's to being published someday.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Hiya Shirley, I think you've nailed her attitude beautifully... The confidence that attaching a small piece of plastic to the spokes of your bike can bring is titanic. I remember it well. ; )
    Thanks so much for you sweet comment, I appreciate is so very much. x Alisa

    ReplyDelete
  21. I agree with Anwar's comment about it looky "Friendly"! The white background and the black outlining really does it for me. I would love to see more like this! :D

    ReplyDelete

Feedback! You rock! Thanks for your words...