069: i woke up one morning / all my fingers rotting
I know it's been a few months since I've posted, but laziness tends to trump everything else where I'm concerned. As always, please find it in your lovely hearts to forgive me! Now, I'd planned to present a multi-fandom entry for my return, but halfway through making my second and latest 20inspirations entry batch, I realized my alternate/variation-loving ass
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Okay, so 20 right? How? I mean k&E*asaSDbk^bas$@. I really, really love it. The composition and repeated image is just perfect and the central texture/image actually brings it all together perfectly. My favourite is 52. I have no idea how you pulled off such a vivid red (same in 4 wow) and the way that the white of the text and texture contrast it is brilliant. IT IS JUST SO FASCINATING TO LOOK AT. I don't know what it is, I think that even though Drew is the least stark element (for want of a better word) the arrow and the white streaks catch the eye and direct it straight to him so it works.
The colouring of 6 is amazing, the touches of purple and pink really add a nice point of contrast. I adore 36 though, the texture adds such an amazing sense of soft lighting in b&w. The way you have composed 2 is very interesting, I like that it doesn't cover his face but also doesn't look like you have awkwardly moved/erased things out of the way. It flows nicely I guess! 26 is nice too but I think the text makes it! 10 is great, the texture makes it look gritty and Drew pulls off the dark yellow-y tones beautifully. The blocking on 5 works really well (I know I am jumping around a lot here BUT I AM WRITING FROM THE HEART OKAY?) and I really love the muted tones and splashes of deep colour on 12: it looks like an film poster!
28-31 = cutest picture ever ohmygoodness. I actually like 31 the best out of that bunch. I think your blocking technique is really solid and you have a good eye for composing them! 64 is well, pretty! I don't know how else to describe it! It is just such a lovely, soft b&w icon and the crops are so intimate and perfect. The contrast is perfect, leaving the icon really clean but not harsh and you can just make out the patch of colour on his cheek. AW, DREWWW. I cannot for the life of me pick between 70 and 71! Usually I can easily make up my mind one way or the other with icons but I am so torn! On the one hand 70 has a brilliant use of negative space and really highlights the colouring but on the other, the texture provides contrast with the crisp white, and draws the focus right into Drew making the whole icons very snappy. 19, 75 and 76: I like the idea and I love the execution but especially 19. The blue tones are so clean and fresh. I CAN FEEL THE OCEAN BREEZE JUST LOOKING AT IT SERIOUSLY. 1, 14, 16, 21, 60, 61 and 77: I think it is fantastic that you have experimented with different shapes like this and the result is amazing. Sometimes I forget that just because we have a 100x100 square to work with doesn't mean everything has to be straight lines and boxes.
Kim, this batch is stunning and bursting with creativity. I know you struggled a bit but really, you should know you have shown so much variety of style and idea here. Fantastic, gorgeous, amazing batch.
P.S. If something doesn't make sense (I have rambled too much or I have mixed up some numbers which is very possible on both accounts) just let me know and I shall try to clarify. :D
ETA: Oh, and I forgot to add: I have been using some of the inspiration photos as textures too! I started laying them on top to get colour references and ended up just merging them with some of the icons in some instances haha. So yeah, I am totally on board with that approach!
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#20 seems to be a huge fave, which is a great relief as it could very easily be seen as too busy or crowded in. I love that it's receiving good feedback, esp. considering it was just an alternate up until I realized that one of my other entries was just not good enough to post yet, so I threw that one in as a replacement.
Awww, there's something in my heart for #52, and I don't even know why. Perhaps it's just that I love my red monochromatic icons. For that and #4, color the image as you usually would to get good lighting, throw on a B/W gradient map, and add a Color Fill red layer on Linear Burn. (Or Color Burn. I swear to fuck. I never remember which one it is.)
I just can't stand the yellow in his face for #6. I kept adjusting it and never got it exactly how I wanted. I think I may like the B/W version better if only so I DON'T HAVE TO LOOK AT THE YELLOW FACE THAT IS MOCKING ME BY BEING IMPERFECT!
#10 was so boring (look at the alternates), and as usual, when I don't know what else to do, I find a color texture, set it to Linear Burn (or CB, what the fuck ever), and just blur and smudge until I get what I need!
#5 is the one thing in this entire batch that somehow makes no sense to me. When I asked my flist for their thoughts, most responded very well to it, so I just chose not to change it, but it feels incomplete to me. Very glad others, like you, feel differently though! It's funny how opinions can diverge so much!
YOU'RE THE FIRST PERSON TO SAY THEY LIKE #12! I love that piece cuz it looks like it was painted with watercolors, and there are so many different tones hiding in that one texture!
#31 is my fave, too, but some flisters thought it too bright in the face or too pinkish, so I re-did it and got my current entry. Sometimes, I take the advice, and other times, not so much.
#64 is a HUGE fave of mine. I didn't use it as an entry cuz it's mostly crops rather than anything complex, but I love it.
#71 equals me being annoyed at having to erase and mask and smudge the damn texture to keep it even and away from his face. Good someone likes it!
Awww, I really had to work to balance out the blues to a tone I wanted. I kinda like that I got a different sorta hue in each version. It's nice to know I gave you a free trip to the ocean with my 30 minutes of work. Definitely worth it!
Honestly, I love to work in as many shapes as possible into my icons. That's a huge reason why I live for textures! BTW, it's awesome that you've been using the provided photos as textures, too. We can't possibly be the only people doing that, right?
THAT WHOLE THING MADE ABSOLUTE SENSE, AND I ADORE YOU TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH FOR NOT ONLY EXAMINING MY WORK, BUT BEING KIND ENOUGH TO GIVE SUCH IN-DEPTH THOUGHTS ON IT, KAT. HEARTS IN MY EYES FOREVER, LADY. FOREVER. <33333333
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Eeee, thanks for the detailed response! I love peeking behind the scenes of some of these!
Number 20 has just the right balance of being visually very interesting without crossing that line and becoming overcrowded WHICH IS SO EASY TO DO. Especially with the tiny space we have to work with!
Thanks for the tips on getting the red icons! I shall experiment! When I work with reds they end up going quite dark/turning maroon so I will definitely give this a shot.
I like the yellow on his face in 6! Makes it stand out from the background! I don't know, I guess it could be duller if you preferred but I think the general effect is successful as is.
10 proves that taking a risk/experimenting (I feel like I am using that word a lot lately) with an unusual colour really pays off when your icon needs something...more to be complete. :D
YES. 12 looks like it has brushstrokes on it. Gorgeous!
The saturated colours in 31 really work to me. I think it is because it is not a monotone pink but mostly in the shadows. It is not something I would make but I like it surprisingly a lot! It is one of the ones I saved to my iconspiration folder!
64 is STUNNING. I definitely think it is complex although next to some of the 20 you picked it could look well, less complex haha. Doesn't take away from what a beautiful icon it is however!
It can be so annoying when you can see how a texture will work but it needs so much tweaking! Worth it though!
Yeah, it is so awesome seeing the different blues you have turned out in the variations and the difference it can make. One of the reasons I love all the variations!
Yeah, you have really inspired me to think a bit differently about the way I compose things and use shapes! I am not sure what a difference it will make but good food for thought. Yup! One of the icons in my batch looks quite simple but has layers and layers of the photos as textures so I think I will keep it in the 20. :D
It is SUCH a fascinating batch, Kim! THANK YOU FOR GOING TO ALL THE TROUBLE TO GET THESE DONE AND SHARING THEM! ♥!
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Same here. I love knowing what went into making icons I enjoy, so look out for a post at my journal where I'm gonna ask people to share their own faves from their batches and give us any info/snippets of their thought processes!
I've often been told that my stuff gets too busy, so I walk that fine line everytime I open PS. It's scary and puts pressure on me, but I try never to let it shut down my creativity.
Please show me what you come up with in the red department. I bet you will work that color out like a goddess!
I look at his yellow face today and feel more at peace with it. I want it just a tuch fuller and richer, but I no longer wanna smash stuff looking at it. That's an improvement! (Also, why am I so violent?)
You and Dayna get A++++++++++ for thinking #12 looks brushed/watercolored!
And...cut to me dying cuz you saved #31 to your iconspiration folder. NOT. WORTHY.
Hugs and kisses forever for loving #64 as much as I do! <333333
I had gotten to the point where I felt lazy cuz so many of the texture here didn't need tweaking, so I deserved to have to work for #71! :P
One reason why I like putting up variations is cuz it gives people a look into my brain. It tells the story of how my piece went from one thing to another to another. Kinda like a PSD except not really.
USE SHAPES AND SHOW ME YOUR CREATIONS! SO EXCITED TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO!
You and so many other people make me feel unstoppable and so unbelievably supported. "THANK YOU" DOES NOT SUFFICE, BUT IT'S ALL THAT I HAVE. (ALSO, LOLZ ON YOUR LAST SENTENCE. YOU MAKE IT SOUND AS IF I MADE AND SHARED THESE ICONS FOR ALTRUISTIC REASONS.) ADORE YOU, MY DEAR. ADORE. <333333333
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