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Andrew, This is so AMAZING!!!! You really did an awesome job!! I really like how well you lit there faces...really the lighting is spectacular throughout the whole piece- you really nailed it!!And you did a great job of making the child more "child-friendly" too...he is very endearing.

My only thought was on looking at the bigger verson, it looks as if the dog isn't making eye contact with the boy, but looking up past the boy. It might make for a stronger connection if they were locked in each others gaze.

My only other thought was to add some more wrinkles/draping on the boys pj's, like on his arm and torso...since pj's are often made out of cotton and drape off the boy somewhat. Or perhaps so a bit more muscle definition in the arm? I don't know if that is possible with your type of computer illustration but it is just a thought.
But really those are so minor....it was hard to be constructive as I think this is so fabulous!! Such a great subject matter too, kids can totally relate to it!! And learn a little history all at the same time- awesome!

I noticed the dog's eyes too...I also think the pooch should look more into the boys face to create that connection.

As for the PJs...I love-Love-LOVE the skull and bones pattern. Really adds to the boys personality.

As for draping...one could argue that he's in space and with zero gravity, the fabric wouldn't cling. I thought, at first glance, that it was his space suit and not PJs.

Overall, an awesome illustration.

I was thinking the dog was looking at something in the boys hands. This is a great image. I love the effects and how it makes me feel like I'm in space. I do think the boy is more child friendly too.

Hello Suzanne, thankyou very much for your kind words and observations.

Heh, the dog's eyes, yes they are out! I was trying to get a good shot of the face of the boy and the dog, and the best I could get was this one. So I thought I'd trick everyone by putting that flash of light in the boy's hand as Chris noticed. It was a slight of hand that almost worked :).

That's also a good point about the draping - it is one of my weak points. I need to put them in by post processing. With this one I tried to make a kind of astronaut's suit- so it's kind of plasticky.

Hya Stacia - and thankyou as well for the comments on the dog's eyes. I agree entirely. As for the skull and cross bones - I'm really glad you liked them. It was a whimsy of mine for fun. Though what they are doing on the outside of his astronaut outfit? Oh, I was aiming to give the impression of a dreaming boy with half PJ's and half space suit!

Hey Thanks very much Chris. I appreciate that. I am trying to be more child friendly. But my wicked nature trips me up :)

thanks everyone for the comments!

looking forward to more work from everyone

cheers

andrew :)

oh, seems I'm late to the party again Andrew. I really like it, I didn't even notice the eyes until I read Suzanne's comment, but I see it now. I love the skull and crossbones, and think the pjs/space suit would look great with some draping, even spacesuits have some drape-y folds I think. I think even just making the sleeve a little fuller might do the trick, it seems too narrow as it is. I do love it though and it is definitely more kid friendly and it's cool too, which is always a plus!

Heya Karen

Never too late :) Thankyou for your astute comments again. I better go and practice my drapeing! :)

It's good it's kid friendly! I better do some evil stuff to balance it up!!!!! :)

cheerios

*I* want a valgal room with furniture and paintings! The chair is beautiful even before you painted it, but you definitely made perfection even more perfect! :)

Dreamy and out of this world, dood...I LOVE IT! Such an amazingly diverse and abundance of talent you have, val...so prolific!

This space cadet would gladly travel to distant galaxies if she could only return with a chair like this! So cool! :o)

whoaaa! awesome!

Hey Val! Wow that would be so cool to have a room filled with your wall hangingings,houses and furniture! This is so beautiful and a great story too. Nice work Val!! God bless.

Nobody would say a star chair could be like this.
Amazing!
:-)

What a beautiful chair - I enlarged the pic so that I could see the art work better - what a great combination, Val!

I have chair envy ;)

Someday, I hope I get seated across from at a dinner party. Love both your stories and artwork-- and this is a really cool chair.

I would love to have a ValGal chair! It's beautiful! I love the color. I think it's the perfect choice for this week's theme.

Have a great week ahead, my dear.

i HAVE a room filled with valgal. in fact, everything else in the room is made invisable by my valgal treasure.

if i had to march into the desert with only two cherished possessions, this would be one of those two.

i know i am lucky. plus i love you.

:)

p.s. i should say something about the chair:

it would be the star of any chair-ity event.

sigh...i tried.

♥

fantastic!

A chair fit for a interplanetary queen! hehehe!