New Project - Little Warriors

[mrlich]

Starting a new project - the Little Warriors. I'm going to be doing a series of images of kids in costume with the archetype they're dressed at behind them.

There's a couple of things I would love some feedback on:

1. I'm not sure yet whether I want to make the background figure 'ghostly' or 'tangible'. Right now I'm leaning a little more towards ghostly - with a slight shift. I was thinking about making them look more tangible the closer they are to the kid in the foreground. Any thoughts?

2. "Little Warriors" or "Lil Warriors"? Again - I have a direction that I'm leaning towards, but I don't want to sway anyone. I want all of your gut reactions.

I selected viking as the first archetype as a sorta advance fan art for gdg's Wolves of Odin. (I really can't wait.)

Oh, and no - this one is not done - not by a long shot - but it's late and I need sleep.

Comments

[grumpymonkey.livejournal.com]

I'd cast my vote for "Little Warriors" and suggest you make the archetypal figure not so much transparent as slightly 'washed out'. Sorta like you have it in the prototype, but with not-so-dark blacks. I like the off-set, as putting the larger figure behind the kid would suggest it's possessing him/her.

Neat idea. Can't wait to see the ninja and robot. :)

Little warriors

[sandalfon7.livejournal.com]

I am not sure what the project is, but I think you should be daring and use thin lines, be expressionistic, I am pretty sure that doesn;t answer your question, but it is my gut reaction. Never the less, whatever you choose to do will be great.

[anotherjen.livejournal.com]

Definitely "Little," not "Lil." Ecch.

It's a very cute idea. Make sure to include girls! Ilana would love it! But your kid proportions are off. He looks dwarfish. I'm not sure why.

[spiritualmonkey.livejournal.com]

Ghostly, Little, waiting on the pirate. :D

Neat idea.

Model

[shellefly.livejournal.com]

When you're ready to do the pirate, let us know. :)

[lawbabeak.livejournal.com]

I second grumpymonkey's votes.

Drop a line to onecrazymother (tell her I sent you). She's got two young boys, an eye for archetypes, and, well, would think this is really cool.

[xtingu]

I love that the kid is holding a rolling pin. :-)

1) Ghostly, all the way.
2) Little.

And I agree with anotherjen - get some cool stuff for girls in there. Wooot!

[mrlich.livejournal.com]

Looks like "little" is winning - which is just fine because that's the one I liked better anyway.

re: the 'washed out' background character - Great minds really do think alike!

re: ninja and robot - I'm planning on doing a poll requesting everyone's feedback in a "who's next" kinda thing. I'll be sure to count on your vote. :)

[mrlich.livejournal.com]

Excellent.

and

Done. :)

Re: Little warriors

[mrlich.livejournal.com]

I will likely be using a combination of thin lines and thick. I generally use thicker lines to help something 'pop' out from whatever is behind it.

As to the 'expressionistic' side of things - I'm also planning on being very that. Meaning: I'm planning on having the kids portray a lot of emotion and the 'shadow beings' behind them will (though not in this one) 'mimic' the kids. This should provide a fairly dramatic effect.

[mrlich.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the feedback, and great idea with the girls. I can already picture a couple of different ideas.

[mrlich.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

Re: Model

[mrlich.livejournal.com]

Absolutely will do!

[mrlich.livejournal.com]

As you wish. :)

[mrlich.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought of it until I read your response, but your thoughts made me think of this image of Anakin and the shadow of Darth Vader. I can see some similarities, but I hope to widen the gap as the image gets closer to finished.

I worry about the 'screwy sense of perspective' brought about by differentiating the line weight nearer the child, and I'm pretty sure that it will take some real experimentation to get it 'just right'. If I can't pull that off, I may just go with your idea of 'line weight with folds and muscle to create texture'.

Thank you very much for giving such a well thought out response. It helps me immensely!

[grumpymonkey.livejournal.com]

Where the archetypal figures are supposed to represent the image the kid is imagining he/she is representing, you may also want to be sure the poses are identical or very near-to. It will emphasize the imaginary quality of the rear figure without having to make it TOO ghostly.

[mrlich.livejournal.com]

I agree. I was thinking that and let myself get 'sidetracked' while working. I'll be fixing that.