Awww I love how he's glancing back and pointing forward!! I love the water too. Nice work Justin!

How are your glasses ;)

Cya!

cute creature Justin, I love the background elements, that sun is very cool, lookin good

Thanks, Tahira! Shouldn't we all be looking behind but pointing ahead? Then again, it's more fun just looking ahead, isn't it!

Thanks, Karen. I'm sure there's some mean, ugly monsters out there who'd think my cute little guys are a good ... um, snack!

I had fun with the sun— somehow, both the sun and moon (but especially the sun) can be noodled forever . . .

Hmm interesting, by looking back we learn from mistakes that we can avoid in the near future! I like that! But in my case, I would trip a lot, because looking back and walking forward....is tripping disaster! So I'll look forward and look back every once in a while hehe.

End Ramble.

Awwww, he's a cutie Justin - I love your monsters!

Love how you rendered all the elements too, they have such a soft, ethereal quality. It is hard to know when to stop noodling sometimes, I think lots of us go through it - but looks like you stopped at just the right point!

TJ - you are so cute and you make me laugh!

Looks like you have quite a theme going here with these monster guys. I like it!

thanks, Susan. I'm actually still somewhat torn between using "hard" edges and soft shading (I went soft here, but I started with nothing but hard shadow edges). What do you think? Sometimes I can't help but feel that hard edges make a stronger statement, but the blends give a little more realism. It's a trade-off!

I have a funny feeling the monster thing has just begun ...

Sign me up! I want to go with that little fella and find it!

Yesh! The boat's big enough for all us 12-weekers!

I love the sun... again (deja vu?) I love how it ripples instead of rays...

Your combination of painterly styles (sky/bkgd) with animation inspired illustration (water/foreground) just works. But I think what really is strong and ties it all together for me is the colors you use! You have a good sense of color!

(ps - I need to get my IF done - missed last week and had such a good idea for it too :( bummer! Thanks for the reminder and motivation)

Thanks so much, Shana. I really don't have any "color theory" training and don't consult color wheels — I just go with what feels right and try not to use the same colors every single time!

It's really interesting seeing how you break down my style, because it's not conscious on my part. But it gets me thinking and I appreciate your input!

Yes! Join for Illustration Friday fun! Can't wait to see what you come up with!

He's great! Reminds me of a morning sky, morning colors, fresh and new - perfect for ahead!!!

... so he's pointing east, then, eh, Shell? Hmmm ... makes me wonder (I'm a west-coaster) ...

We likes him! :)

We thanks you!

dang justin, I love this little guy!

Murph! Man, never knew u swung by my little blog. I take that as big praise, cause your stuff is full-on awesome and always impressing me! Rock on!

Great painterly look, love the monster .. onward we go! :)

Well, I'm not going to read the other comments lest they sway what I say :)

Love how the eyes engage the viwer- and very real they are. The pose is superb, the smile of anticipation makes us love this character.

And he is taking us on his journey.

Let's go, he is saying.

You never know what lies ahead, eh?

cheers

This character is a good one to go with by the look of it. In the first one, the dark one, I thought their teeth were collers! Doh. I am a thick head. :)

hey, Andrew ... new avatar! You're not as thick as you think (I had another visitor tell me they thought those teeth were some sort of collar too — and they were only 8 yrs old!). But this guy is kinda fun and I may have to explore some adventures ahead. You in? Passport handy?

(no passport required)

Actually they took my passport away so I couldn't get back into the country... Heh.

New head on the avatar? I got sick of being ugly so I stole someone elses picture :)

I like this character you are working up (or have worked up). You have a talent for saying so much with so little, eh?

very cool as always.
Really love the textures. Great pic as ever!

Wonderfully simple and direct. Beautifully done.

thanks, Kevin and Dayle!
I appreciate it!

Can't quite say why, but I like it :) Contrast perhaps?

. . . maybe because he seems friendly? . . .
Ha! Thanks for the comment, Roger -- glad you like it!