Nah, I’m not necessarily talking about the actual changes to be made to your current drawing. My point is more about the preparation phase in general of any of your future projects.
I never jump into a new project without a preparation, in other words, “designing” phase. I collect references, study them, simulate a variety of possible compositions fully utilizing photoshop, complete my final reference, and then finally start drawing. Therefore, the designing phase usually takes twice or more time compared to the actual drawing phase.
All the suggestions I’ve made about this dog portrait are something you can definitely foresee in the prep phase, before you actually start drawing. So I would recommend that you post your “plan”, i.e. your composition ideas on the forum, before you start drawing/painting. Compared to pen and ink works, pastel works are easier to make corrections, but the only thing you can rarely change or correct is the composition. Composition is something you can never overthink. Composition is something you must be totally confident with before holding a pencil or a pastel stick for the actual drawing. Composition is where you can make the best use of your creativity. All possible efforts should be made to come up with a good composition.
I remember one of our forum buddies did actually post his composition idea of a newly planned bird drawing. So I suggested my composition idea using the same reference photo. Eventually he came up with a new idea which was totally different from his original idea. And the final composition idea was stunning. This going-back-and-forth thought process is critical for finding a composition which you feel just “right”.
You can check the discussion in this topic.
From your artworks posted here so far, I can tell that you are quite a quick learner when it comes to art medium handling. So I think your artistic journey will become even more exciting once you start focusing more on the development of your originality.
Hi Maki! So nice to hear from you, even though I think this note was intended for another learning artist. I’ve been mainly focused on outdoor activities and family this summer, along with a holiday trip to London, Scotland, and Ireland, which was wonderful, but now that fall is here in Idaho I’m eager to jump back into my art projects. I’m looking forward to seeing what you’ve been doing over the summer.
Thank you so much for your time and help. You have opened my eyes to an area I find most intimidating. I totally value, take seriously, and respect your critiques and suggestions.
My concept on values has improved some, my concept on composition has been the hardest to acquire. Photoshop? Not a clue.
I’ve been putting off trying photoshop hoping composition “comes to me”. But, it is time to focus on composition and photoshop.
It’s like the rocket science of art to me!
Hopefully the studying will show in my next piece. I will get there…at some point in the near future with all guidance and help I can get from you and the other artists of the TVI forum.
Dear @Maki,
Hello again, I am posting the updated picture with darkened chest area and background lowered. I was going to attempt the ear, however after my sister in law showed me some more pictures, turns out the dog has a big head and little flappy ears, so that’s as high as they ever go…
My husband loved the changes I made based on your suggestions and in person it looks really good.
I downloaded photoshop on my laptop but after installing it, turns out my laptop cannot support the whatever the system needs. So I installed it on mu ipad, however the layout is very different than my computer so I will play with it and hopefully learn to use it as I watch Matt’s computer version tutorials. Sigh… if it’s not one thing, it’s another…
Thank you so much!
Sonia
P.S . I hope it is not offensive to call you Dear Maki. I feel that you are a very appreciated artist in this forum.
Hello David, nice to hear from you too! And what a wonderful way to spend the summer! I believe you had a lot of fun and now feel totally rejuvenated! I have been working almost non-stop since December last year preparing for my solo exhibition in this Sep and Oct. You can check the works I’ve completed and the photos from the show in the topic titled “so far so good”.
Hello Sonia, thank you so much for your reply and sharing the new version of your artwork. Looks just fabulous!
Are you going to give the portrait to your sister with a frame and mat?
I was curious to see how this work would look when framed, so I ran my favourite framing simulator again:
Hope these images will be helpful for you as references when choosing the frame and mat.
And good luck with photoshop. For a quick learner like you, photoshop will not be so difficult to master, but there are some other simpler free software for images editing too. I myself a pretty old photoshop user; i.e. I started using it when adobe was still selling DVDs, instead of subscription plans. I think I am one of those last bunch of lucky persons who were able to purchase photoshop elements and have not had to keep paying the user fee.
Well, I don’t understand under what kind of circumstances “dear Maki” could sound offensive at all. If it could, what else could you say instead?
Anyways, absolutely no problem
OMG - I just went thru this entire post. The finished drawing is simply wonderful!!! And Maki, it is so appreciated by many of us when you make such thoughtful suggestions. It takes time and effort for you to make these contributions, and with your plate being as full as it is in the rest of your life, it is a gift you are giving us. I’m learning as much here from you as I do from Matt in the Members Minute. Speaking of that , Sonia you need to send this one in for the members minute weekly critique. Please.
I’ve been mainly focused on outdoor activities and family this summer, along with a holiday trip to London, Scotland, and Ireland, which was wonderful, but now that fall is here in Idaho I’m eager to jump back into my art projects. I’m looking forward to seeing what you’ve been doing over the summer.
