Saturday, November 1, 2008

ILLUSTRATION FRIDAY ~VACANT





~ Sometimes they would go to the VACANT lot to feed the ducks.  But when the bag of bread was VACANT the ducks would become impatient.  Because Ethan was so much smaller than Jennie he would cling to her for support and protection.    All would end well when the ducks grabbed the bread that fell instead of the tender fingers that had tried to feed them.

PS~   I am aware that this is a stretch of the subject, but I have been working on this one illustration for several days, and wanted it to 'fit.'  It is the fifth version of a much earlier work.  Sometimes when  you think you have a good image and look at it a year later you can see a new way to create the mood.  That is what happened with my old "duckpond" illustration.   I think I may have it where I want it, but who knows it may resurface again at some point.



So.... Kate asked about the original. This is it. It was okay, but I wanted to feature the children a bit more and create an Asian influence.

First I resketched the children and made them larger than in the first illustration.



Next I completely changed the background. I wanted it to be more parklike and even though I did try it with a city scape in the distance I liked the final version better.

13 comments:

isay said...

i love the way you are drawing the newly grown grasses and i like their black hair and the polka dots sandwich bag....

Tessa said...

Oh, that's just enchanting! The colors sing and I love the expression of fear/excitement on the little boy's face. Wonderful!

INDIGENE said...

Exquisite imagery and color!

http://www.indigeneartforms.blogspot.com

Zórdís said...

Just lovely to see these children ... impatient ducks ....

NANCY LEFKO said...

I can remember having aggressive ducks coming after me as a youngster, it can be quite scary...

excellent illustration....you tell quite a story here

MIKE said...

haha duck attack. very nice illo

Kathleen Rietz said...

It's very cute...but I'd love the see you post the earlier version so we can see what you changed.

Anonymous said...

This is such a beautiful illustration - I love it! The ducks are wonderful - and I love the scenery...and the falling bread - really lovely work:-)

Kathleen Rietz said...

Hhhhmmm...you know, I really do like both very much, and I think you could easily show both in a portfolio. I do like that city scape a lot...kinda makes your eyes move around the composition and it feels more "open" to me. I actually remember having seen that piece in the past. So I do thonk you could show both pieces....they are both very strong!

Anonymous said...

CUTE!! And I stretch the topic all the time, I think yours fits better than most of mine ;)

studio lolo said...

I like both too Ginger! Cute kids and quackers!

Vacant loaf of bread? Okay, I've stretched the topic many times myself :D

Roberta said...

My bread has been vacant....LOL!
They are wonderful, they have different settings and they could be completely different stories.

I look back and think about reworking past pieces too. I wonder why I made some of the choices I did...always good to keep progressing!

valerie walsh said...

Thank You for showing this wonderful progression Ginger! I really am so impressed with this re-do! Beautifully done and it is so detailed and gorgeous :)