Hmmm

[telophase]

Well, the question from last night about what's holding the lamp was for inspiration on a picture I had partially in mind (none of the whimsical suggestions really fit, sorry). Posting it here, risking killing it dead (because I think that looking up ref pictures killed it dead, really) because it need help. Compositional help, mostly, but maybe help on the elements of it. Hell, I dunno. All I know is that it's not working and I can't figure out why



I pasted my sketch-in-progress here:




...and then realized that most of you probably won't be able to visualize the picture as it's meant to be, with an overall dark feel. So I inverted it and slapped a few different shades on to give a better feel for it:




She's wearing pink Converse hightops and carrying a goldfish in a bag. No I don't know why*, I just know she is. At the moment, what's holding the lamp is a Kyogan kitsune mask, tied onto an amorphous dark blob that's not really discernible in the darkness.

(ETA: OK, it's working better in the inverted form, but it could still be improved.)

Hm.

* You don't need to link me to ursulav.

Comments

[yhlee]

Take with a grain of salt, but my eye feels like there needs to be something that produces the white line (apologies for the roughness, I am working with a trackpad):



(I have this uploaded to Scrapbook, will delete when you've seen it.)

[lady_ganesh]

I like this suggestion. A high wall, perhaps, or a gate?

[telophase]

Got it, thanks!

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Ooh, cool. Very evocative.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :)

[maxineofarc.livejournal.com]

I approve of her footwear.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Hee. :)

[weirdquark]

Not sure what sort of comment you're looking for, so apologies if this is the sort of thing that kills it dead rather than helps:

What if you extended the picture to the right and put something (low-down) behind her? Another mask on the ground, maybe? A small shrine?

If she's carrying a goldfish in a bag, did she just come from a festival? Possibly there could be festival related things scattered about.

Possibly the thing in the mask is not that tall and is sitting/standing on a post. For extra LOOMING action.

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

Yes, "walking home from a festival" is my first thought from "carrying a goldfish", too...

[vom-marlowe.livejournal.com]

I love the shoe choice!!

[batwrangler.livejournal.com]

I hope posting doesn't kill it dead because I like how it's looking.

[kintail.livejournal.com]

Oooo, I really like where it's going, but I have no ideas to offer.