The Lark's Scribbles

Om Nom

Oh look, I'm alive. I wanted to experiment with the style, so have at it.

 

ART! MINE!

/me looks around, sword out.

So yeah, claiming.

 

@Sky Lark

Yay, finally got to this. Onward!

Sewaddle

Spoiler

Form/Color
Lots of green. So much green theres more than my eyes have room for! Which actually just helps to make the berry stand out all that much more, which I kinda like. The white and pink give a good contrast and help to draw our attention to the center of the image, where the lone blot of yellow exists as Sewaddle’s main body. It contrasts and yet still somewhat blends into the yellow, not creating the mildly harsh attention drawing contrast we get with the berry. Its more of a transition, which is good.

As far as balance within the image goes, it isn't overly bad, but it does seem the lower right has more of the action. Adding some generic texture, or mottled colors to the background might have alleviated it. ANother minor thing that could have been more prevalent throughout is the paint style you used on Sewaddle. It adds a nice texture and dynamic to the image, could have been utilized more on the bushes and background to give additional

Pokemon
Sewaddle has the correct color, proportions, it has adequate shading, overall acceptable. Although those empty eyelids creep me out

Environment
At the very least you added an environment into this image, which allows it to convey a sense of purpose/tell a story instead of “here’s a pokemon, look at it”. The bushes have light yet noticeable shading, indicating a light source that also is lighting Sewaddle in the same slightly off from straight down lighting.

Can’t say much else here, except addition of more textures is always a plus.

Improvements
1. Unify the textures and imagery to create a better flowing image.

2. Add more to the scenery to break up the solid chunks of color.

Score
25/100

Its an easiest, you put effort into the image, have it.

 

So... color pencils this time around. The dark vertical dark band that is near the middle of the image and overlaps the Scatterbug was an artifact created by the scanner which I tried to fix digitally, but I wasn't able to do much with it. The blue splotches on Scatterbug are intentional - something about reflected light I read some time ago I think.





Espurr

This is the first finished illustration. The attached thumbnail is a WIP. This was made with color pencils and a little digital manipulation. I was still feeling the buzz from New Year at the time I made this, hence the sparkler.

 

@Sky Lark

Scatterbug

Spoiler

Form/Detail
THe image is fairly well balanced, there isn't anything too overpowering. It does seem to tail off towards the left side a bit, but the snow-covered wasteland is pulled off with this fading. The focus of the image is apparent, as you;ve used color contrast through lighting to make scatterbug stand out against its environment.

Color and Shading
The lighting effects I think are your main attribute here, as just like you stated, light reflections are an important yet overlooked part of images, especially at lower ranks. While you might have gone a notch overboard, the blue snow both adds some realism as well as gives more color and texture to the image. The lighting is mostly accurate for the image, we have an afternoon or winter sun creating these nice shadows that you colored with the sky reflections.

As far as color goes, you avoided the black and white monochrome that could be expected of a black bug surrounded by snow, and that just makes the image more appealing, and sets the pokemon more apart.

Texture
Not too much texture here beyond some light bumps that came from the colored pencil. They’re a nice addition, but it would be good to see more variation, perhaps other elements in the scene to provide additional variety.

Pokemon Anatomy
Scatterbug doesn’t have too many elements, and all of them here seem correct. THe only thing I don’t exactly know about is how bright you made the reflection’s on scatterbug’s head. The light seems to be coming from a slightly different direction, and it makes the entire face white so that it almost looks like a penguin’s head. Be sure not to overdo the amount of specularity to where it removes all hints of the original color. ALso would have loved to see a more original or distinct pose, but for this image it is acceptable.

Environment/Perspective
A simple environment that I wouldn’t have naturally thought of for a bug type, but fitting considering the caterpillar’s unique nature. The footsteps are a nice touch, it adds some small amount of variety and detail to an otherwise barren landscape.

Creativity/Effort
Since its not a caterpillar in a tree/bush/forest, +1 for creativity.

Improvements
1. Keep improving and utilizing light reflections and shadows to improve realistic accuracy. Along with this, don’t overdo lighting as it can detract at higher levels.

2. Increase variety and detail in the scene in order to break up any large empty patches.

Score
25/100

Its enough to catch an easiest.

 

I was going for a mystical feel with this one. Yay for runes. Also, I tried a different style with the shading.

 

Espurr 1
@Sky Lark

Spoiler

Form/Detail
As far as the image itself goes, we have enough detail to offer a variety of different elements, but not making the scene a crowded, jumbled mess. The only spot which maybe could have used more was the upper corner, but as the moon is there, it seems to represent a clear night sky, so it’s not as big a deal. Something I didn't notice until later was the line thickness around Espurr, where it gets thicker as the light increases. Interesting effect, giving the illusion of dark contrast behind the body. The focus here is quite clear, with the pokemon both being centered and very prominently featured in its action, and the shading of the image assists in bringing the eye to the focus. A few of the tree branches also point toward Espurr, which allows the eye to naturally curve back to it.

About mixing both the digital and drawn mediums together - the stars are fine as they are, no glaring detail to make them seem different apart from being a bit light. The moon though is far too realistic, it doesn't really match the rest of the image. Maybe a filter or two might have given it a drawn/cartoonesque look and made it blend in more with the rest of the environment.

Color and Shading
Lot of nifty color and shading work here. The grass has different patches which could tell many things about the area, the different weeds/subspecies, its far more interesting than the same shade surrounding the tree. With the shading on the grass, you didn't use a straight up black pencil, but a darker shade of greenish blue. That’s a good method to follow, as shadows are never actually black in nature, they are a mix between the ambient sky and the surface they are landing on. So kudos for doing that.

The other light source besides the moon is the sparkler, where there could be an improvement or two. Since its yellow light, Espurr’s grey fur probably would be closer to a lightish yellow, especially with the white light mixed in. However the shading is still there, so its mainly the color itself that draws a few questions.

Texture
Theres a good variety of textures in this image, mainly due to the way you used color to vary them. Even though you only used black to draw the tree, it has a very rough and barky feel just by the line style and composition, even without color or additional shading to drive the effect home. Such shows a definite understanding of how the light and lines would work together to create a nice whole with minimal effort. The grass, by using again the line effect of colored pencils, gives this appearance of thick mats of grass covering the ground. While the fur on Espurr might have been more pronounced, the general ‘fuzziness’ of the medium does give it a fluffy texture.

Pokemon Anatomy
I think as far as most things go, Espurr is able to be easily identified as itself. Theres a few minor bits of anatomy that possibly could have been shifted, mainly the top of the torso and head, where the widths seem a bit off when looking at them specifically, but they don’t take away from the general form. The addition of an emotional response to action, in comparison to the pokemon’s stereotypical death stare, is a welcome departure from the norm and gives us a better look into how Espurr feels while completing the action at hand.

For color and shading, both seem okay considering its a night scene and you were replicating the lack of light on Espurr via the use of a purple shade. I might have gone a tad lighter to better reflect the traditional grey,as with some of the focused lights nearby the darkness would be far less prominent. This would be around the face, and the top of the head where the moon’s whitish light would give a better representation of the color.

Environment/Perspective
There’s nothing overly complex about the environment itself, just a nice simple hill with the lone dead tree on it. Its hard to tell if the tree is dead, or its cold enough that the leaves are gone. But since there’s no leaves around the base and its so grey, I’ll assume dead. Visual cues like a dead branch or two on the ground might have further cemented this assumption. The dragonfly at the lower end is cute, but are there glowing ones that come out at night? if yes, I want one. A lightning bug might have been a more accurate choice, but the general inclusion of a glowing insect is okay considering you have a sparkler to imitate its mate or something.

Creativity/Effort
Since Espurr has a completely unique pose, facial expression, and environment, few bonus points for creativity. Also, I love the tree, its a very detailed and nice addition to the image.

Improvements
A little more medium consistency/fusion of different art techniques like the moon will make everything mesh better. Otherwise, there's nothing horrible about the image, just some of the small stuff I already pointed out. As much as the lined paper could detract from the image, its not a big deal, so I ignored really pointing it out.

Score
40/100

I think a few improvements would need to be made before it could pass for a medium.

Espurr 2

Spoiler

Form/Detail
We have a good mixture of geometric and organic forms here, the magic and such offering the majority of the substance. The color contrast helps to set these apart from the rest of the image. The pokemon’s prominence in the image is acceptable given the larger scope of its surroundings and how the magic is shown to be a large, mysterious entity in the entirety. Good use of diagonal symmetry, though the upper portion could have used perhaps another color or something to give it as much variation as the half with Espurr.

The amount of detail you placed in this image, especially in regard to the runes and such, is a very nice touch and gives a good idea of the amount of effort that went into this image. I like them in the fact that you wouldn’t normally expect such from a pokemon image, its a nice departure from ‘normal’. They work really well at bringing the eye’s focus back to the pokemon, the lower half’s light adding a layer of contrast.

For some reason Espurr’s outline bugs me. it might be the wobbly edges around the ears, but it seems off.

Color and Shading
There is a lot of color contrast here, it sets the different elements in the scene apart well. The magic is very clearly its own entity from the environment, and Espurr is also its own body. using the pokemon as the only source of additional colors can be quite effective in setting the focus of a piece. The part of color and shading that I really think is missing from an image with a cool backstory like this is that the lights emanating from the magical runes are not affecting Espurr in any way. it seems like the pokemon is receiving light from another location entirely, so the yellow glow which would light up its back and feet have no effect on the pokemon’s coloration and shading. With all the glow that you used to make the magic seem very energetic and powerful, there wasn’t much of an attempt to mix that in with the remainder of the scene. Its something that should always be a critical point to look at, since it will bring in the greatest deal of realism to an image.

Texture
With the few elements utilized here, there aren’t many textures either. The entire environment seems to be lacking much besides a flat ground plane, which can confuse viewers at times. The bugs are fine, they have nice detail and enough to give them a magical appearance, which might not have textures. Espurr is the only item that really has a texture, and it seems very flat or smooth. Espurr should have more telltale signs of hair, strands or shading that would follow these furry clumps more accurately.

Pokemon Anatomy
Espurr seems fine anatomically, it has a very similar position to the default Espurr image. I would consider giving the pokemon a different pose to more accurately fit the situation, as there are a number of different things you could have done. Even though the face is in its normally impassive state, it does add to this idea of concentration on the mystical swirling energy surrounding it.

Environment/Perspective
There’s honestly not much of an environment here - the magical mystical energy has obviously drawn a layer of magical darkness over the scene. From the few non-magical elements it seems to be that Espurr is outdoors (the bugs being what Im talking about) but thats not a certainty. In contrast we have the rune on the floor, which is clearly situated on a completely flat surface. So there are two contrasting positions to be taken on this image, and the mind may not be sure which one to focus towards. make sure you are always giving the viewer all the information they need for something like this.

Not much to say for perspective, as its a fairly straight-on approach here. Nothing overly dramatic or special, it works for this image as is.

Creativity/Effort
The magical stuff alone took a while and was creative, so you get bonus points for that whole bit.

Improvements
The thing that obviously bugged me the most was the lighting and environment portions here. Espurr should be more affected by the light shining from these floating symbols, make the shading reflect that more. Then give the environment some other miniscule visual clues to help the viewer identify perhaps where the magic is being cast.

Score
40/100

I think I covered everything in the earlier portions. obviously, not caught for now.

 

@Axion
Fur, moon, dead branch, and highlights. Hope I got all your notes for this one.

 

This took over 9 hours, but it's done ;-;

我愛你. 你對我有一樣的感覺嗎？
Wǒ ài nǐ. Nǐ duì wǒ yǒu yīyàng de gǎnjué ma?
I like you. Do you feel the same as I do?

Done on paper then digitally. The Chinese words were a huge pain to clean up. Could've saved me a huge trouble if I had a tablet instead of erasing all the artifacts from the scanner

Oh, oh, I almost forgot. Going for Buneary

 

Monbrey said I can resubmit both pieces separately, so here's the other Espurr. I tried to show fur but not so much in-your-face. I dimmed some of the runes on the upper left to add some variety, and added a magical wisp-thing to the foreground. I tried to incorporate more highlights from the light from the magical wisps that are particularly close to Espurr - might have went overboard though. I dislike multiple light sources T-T Regarding the environment, this is neither indoors nor outdoors. Think of it as a magical plane - separate from reality, and the bugs are also magical constructs.

 

@Sky Lark

Espurr w/ tree and sparkler

Spoiler

Re curating, activate!

Form/Detail
You fixed the moon, I like it a lot better now. The lack of refined detail makes it look like you could have added it with colored pencils instead of the obvious digital editing that it was beforehand. Blending stuff like that is always risky, and I like the modifications here a lot better.

Color and Shading
I can see just the slightest hints of yellow, especially around the ear area where it should in fact be the most apparent. GOod improvement, multiple light sources can always be a pain. But hey make an image far more interesting, like in this case. Multiple sources gives it tones and dynamic, varying strengths of shadows, and any number of other things. Its also far more realistic in most cases.

Texture
I can totally see the fur on Espurr now, its subtle yet noticeable, just where it should be in general. You don't want textures overpowering detail and elements, but the more you have in a variety of strengths, the more natural the image seems.

Pokemon Anatomy
Not much changed here, although the hair seems lighter in spots due to the lighting change, I like it.

Environment/Perspective
THe dead branch really added something to the scene, even though you might not have realized it., THe branch shows the tree is more dead than alive, and it there helps to represent the dark nature of the pokemon featured here. Its cute and fluffy now, but the night sky, dead tree, lack of other creatures, all give a nice eerie feel that has pervaded Espurr with the rumors and pokedex entries. Its very fitting.

Score
45/100

Tada, one Espurr for you.

 

@Sky Lark

Buneary

Spoiler

Form/Detail
Some good and bad points here, we’ll start the good as usual. Balanced image, good use of diagonal symmetry. Overall there's not too much to catch the eye besides the important bits, so the image isn't cluttered. The viewer can instantly see where the focus is, which in this case is bunnelby and buneary, since there's literally nothing else here. As far as the bad goes, the black line seem out of place in such an organic scene. They do set the pokemon apart, but they give it an artificial portion of something that seemed quite natural in other respects. Following the lines, there's one spot where you colored outside the lines, the lower spot of the balloon. It makes that part seem sloppy in comparison to the rest, something to watch out for.

There is not a whole heck of a lot of detail in this image, but what there is shows the effort you put in. Namely, those Japanese symbols are very well done. Kudos for that.

Color and Shading
I would say the color contrast in this image works for the reason of setting one pokemon at home and another as the outsider looking in (also hit on in the environment section.) Grey works as a very solid way to make bunnelby stand out, making him and his balloon this major focus of the image. At first I thought you were going for bunnelby by that logic, as buneary can sometimes get lost in the subdued reds and pinks. Since you were going for a love-based image/story, the color choices are very appropriate.We have here a warm image, mirroring the warmth of love and friendliness that the image is based around. The only downside I see in here is actually the lack of other colors to mix and create a more varied image. WHat we have here is nice, but maybe something extra could have added additional visual interest.

Now on to shading. Buneary has some really good highlights and shadows going on, you can see where the light is hitting and how it gives the different parts of her body their form, the curves show up nicely. Bunnelby does have some, although I do think some spots could have been darker. The balloon is the only part that I think is off, what with the light coming from the back it should have more lighting around the edges and darker in the center.

Texture
THe best texture here would have to be the cloud. It has a light fluffy feeling, it wisps around, and the lighting even gives it the diffuse, subtle color variations one would expect from such substance. It really is the highlight of the image in this category. In comparison, the two bunnies have little texture beyond the slightest of shading for curves. Being as I would assume both are fairly fuzzy (Buneary has these huge tufts of fur on its body, as well as bunnelby’s similar areas) that it would have been good to see fur on them. The balloon, which has a similar texture on it as the two pokemon, seems more correct, the smooth plastic/rubber surface needing that featureless material to look accurate.

Pokemon Anatomy
Both pokemon seem right in both shading and form. You used original poses, which I always love to see. It shows both effort, creativity, and an understanding of form. Both pokemon have these great expressions on their faces that help to tell the story. Even though a lot of viewers would not be able to read what the balloon, says, the visual clues and emtional presentation give the meaning without a literal translation, things like that are the best way to convey how you want the viewer to feel. Let the people empathize with your characters and the connection will be much more concrete.
I like the fact you used both as shinys, it helped with the contrast and gives another element to the story, that they are both ‘special’.

Environment/Perspective
So, I actually like this environment. I tend to enjoy abstract backgrounds for desktops and such, and this one both gives the image an artistic quality and fits the cute story you set up here. We have the clouds that tie into buneary’s tufts well, the colors complement her tones rather well. In contrast we have bunnelby standing out against the environment, we can tell that he is not from around here. It helps to add to the story you have going on, of Bunnelby traveling to propose to his love interest.

I cant say that the background is perfect, as its again very abstract and doesn’t truly define a location in the traditional sense. But I suppose ith the heart-shaped sun/light we have in the background it could be a dream or an interpretation of how bunnelby is feeling right now. Not sure which way to go there, if its good or bad. So i’ll just say its acceptable.

No major perspective issues, but nothing overly eye catching or dynamic either, very straight on view. Consider using alternative angles to add more intrigue, or to change focus, change the lighting, or other things like that.

Creativity/Effort
9 hours? You’re almost up to the level of 3D modeling horrors, welcome and I apologize. Have bonus points for the effort you put in, and the creativity.

Improvements
Texture is the one main thing, and consistency like with the black lines you used.

Score
45/100

There were some good and bad elements here, but I think the effort and feelings inspired by the image give it a win.

Espurr 2

Spoiler

Form/Detail
No changes here, moving on.

Color and Shading

THe magic is definitely interacting with Espurr now, I love the lighing effects. While it shows where Espurr is in relation to the light sources, it also adds another element: Depth. THe lights give a better idea of how Espurr’s curvature fits in with the rest of the body, it allows people to view it as not a flat, lifeless image placed in the scene, but now as an integral part of the scene itself.

Texture
I dont know if it was there before or not, but I sdo now see the slightest level of added hair/detail. I had to look close to see it, but even the minor additiona of it is worth mentioning.

Pokemon Anatomy
Again, no real change, next!

Environment/Perspective
Since you did end up talking to me, then describing the location in the accompanying text, the environment makes more sense. As I said to you on AIM, not many ways to adequately describe another plane of reality ecept as maybe a plane like you did here, so I wont count it against you. Who’s to say that theres not a reality of existence where magic and this flat plane is the only elements inhabiting it?

Improvements
You fixed most of the things I suggested, apart from the pose which would have been nearly impossible to do anyway.

Score
45/100

WIth the improvements I’m willing to change the earlier grade to a passing score.

 

WIP :O



Sunset Sky
Cottonee, the Cotton Puff Pokemon, is apparently so light that "they go wherever the wind takes them," so I took that and immediately thought of dandelions.

 

Shoot for the Moon

I'm high above the city
I'm standing on the ledge
The view from here is pretty
And I step off the edge
-Broadway, Here I Come

Initially, I had Ralts dangling with one arm hanging onto the moon, but I kept getting Ralts at a weird angle. That smoky object behind the buildings is my interpretation of smog. It says "Lark" near the bottom right corner.

 

claiming cottonee

 

I am claiming Shoot for the Moon.

 

Shoot for the Moon Curation.
@Sky Lark; Sorry about the wait!

Form

I see you chose to use the shiny version of Ralts here, which goes perfect with the theme you have running. I don't see anything wrong with the color or form. The mon hanging from the tip of the moon would've been interesting, but I totally understand about odd angles and whatnot. I think this alternative pose is interesting anyway. The only complaint I would have is that it's a little small and hard to see. Since it's super close anyway compared to the buildings/other stars, you probably could've gotten away with having it take up a bigger part of the sky.

It doesn't look like the mon is struggling much to stay where it is either. This is backed up by the pleasant expression, so I'm assuming it's intentional. That would fit well with the song too, since that's pretty chill. The arms are also casual, like leaning over a fence, and since the Ralts isn't heavily leaning into the moon, it doesn't seem to take much effort. What I'm wondering is how the Ralts got up there. Did it use its psychic powers? If so, is it still using them?

This could be a connection to the song and enhance the story. Maybe if it did use its psychic powers, there could be an aura surrounding it like I've seen in some other pieces. The tune (and since you posted lyrics, there's a connection there you can capitalize on) sets a goal to achieve, much like the Ralts here. But it doesn't come easy, it takes real work. Showing the viewers that in your piece could make the picture even more fun to look at.

Technique

I really like the style of this. The dark outline gives the Ralts emphasis from the rest of the piece, which draws the eye. It also help that Ralts is set against the sharp, bright moon, and since everything else is a little murky, that's drawing too. I think you could've almost taken this further. Broadway and stars go together, so maybe a little shine on the Ralts/emanating from the moon could've been neat. This could also be connected to that psychic aura I was talking about earlier.

The shadows on the Ralts are also well done. I can see a slight highlight on the top of the at too, so I'm pleased with that. The only other place you could've maybe added some additional shadows would be the buildings. Granted, these are in the background and are not that important, but even some simple shading would eliminate the flat feel—particularly from the second building from the left and the furthest on the right. These seem to have additional parts or buildings behind them, and its a little hard to distinguish them.

I really do like the mist/fog effect too. The murk it creates help the Ralts stand out, but it also enhances the story, since it can make people think of tough city life. The mon then symbolizes rising above that and being a star despite darkness/hard times/etc. The fact that it's not solid and blends in with everything so well makes it even better.

Background

Like I said before, the mist really brings this piece together, but I also like the details in the buildings. As mentioned above, a couple shadows would've given them some dimension, but they still look cool for the style you chose. Depth is present in the darker and lighter buildings, making some seem closer than others. You almost could've had some even closer to the viewer by making them slightly brighter, since there doesn't seem to be anything underneath them at all.

This goes for the stars too. The title of your piece reminded me of that saying “Shoot for the moon; even if you miss, you'll land among the stars” yet here, the stars seem almost an afterthought. And with the broadway/shiny theme you have going, I sort of would've liked to see a couple of them perhaps in the foreground with the moon and Ralts.

In fact, out of the entire piece, the stars are the only thing that seem a little out of place. Everything else has a crisper edge except Ralts (even behind the smog), but the stars are wobbly. It just seems a little odd when everything else is styled different, yet emphasis isn't meant to be placed on the stars at all. I think if some of the stars had been in the same pattern as the moon, that would've been pretty cool. Bringing some closer would've also added some extra depth and placed the Ralts in space more clearly. It's a little for the moon to be so close when no other stars are.

Result

Overall, this piece really came together. You have a simple style in the background with some added emphasis on the Pokemon. For Medium-rank, this works. There are a couple things you could keep in mind for next time as a way to enhance story and make your message even clearer, but you did a good job with this one. I'm scoring it 45/45 which means Ralts is captured!