Illustration update- Hayao Miyazaki spree

For my illustration class we were asked to use a celebrity, as long as they weren't obscure, and not only do a portrait of them but create background elements that would further identify the individual. The illustration was to be used in a hypothetical non-descript typical U.S. entertainment magazine. Naturally I thought of Hayao Miyazaki, but since I wanted to avoid the "fan-art" syndrome and addressing any of Miyazaki's work with a picture is beyond daunting...I wasn't sure. Well after batting around some other ideas (Jackie Chan, Julie Andrews...etc) I "manned-up" and settled on Miyazaki. Honestly...if you can believe it...my teacher thought Hayao Miyazaki was OBSCURE!!!! I had to convince him Miyazaki wasn't.

This illustration literally portrays every movie he has ever directed (except 1. Can you name it?) and several side TV series (I'm sorry Future Boy Conan! You didn't make it in.) In my opinion only a true Miyazaki fan could name all the characters in this illustration and the movies/shows they are associated with.

Here is the hypothetical layout I designed the illustration for. The magazine centerfold cuts the front of the bus away from the back 3/4's.


Now to start my new illustration...the topic relates to my new hypothetical client (US veterans service). Make a poster that addresses the availability for PTSD treatment(Post Traumatic Stress Disorder)... Oh boy. What a contrast to Hayao Miyazaki. ^_^

IF-Summer surrender

Summer surrender:

How often is the summer days encroached upon by sweltering storms?

I admit I love the rain, but this can also be represented

by anything that ruins a good summer day!

(how ironic that I am talking about summer when I am snowed in)

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So I just found out classes got canceled for tomorrow...I hate missing class especially when they are art. Counting Thursday I will have been out of school for 4 days in a row due to this crazy snow storm. So this particular picture is a result of the sudden influx of time that is normally not available for exploration and technique improvement.

Technique:

The purpose of the illustration was to gain more control over semi-realistic color in a made-up large environment. Basically set the mood, and then build on top of it while still keeping the colors in sync. To get that I began by lifting a flat-even palette of LOCAL COLORS off of a photo:

As you might tell the colors are quite subdued, but utilizing colors from nature and from only one instant keeps the colors working with each other and not being over saturated or dark. I made sure to select colors from the same value range within the photo...which makes them all good LOCAL COLORs.

Next I painted the colors on my drawing and then utilizing the color picker toolbox I picked the color I wanted to make a darker version of it and then adjusted it in the toolbox and then painted it on. This is the result:

(As you might tell I also introduced some new LOCAL COLORS not on my pallette (such as the eye-whites)

Then I continued to push the range of colors both lights and darks up and down from the local color in a method I have learned over time. I also adjusted Color balance adding more reds in the shadows and yellows in the highlights.

and then after several adjustments from color balance, redoing the line-work, adjusting the content more and doing a final check with levels...this was the result:

Hope you enjoy. ^_^