Saturday, October 23, 2010

Come One, Come All...

 
Welcome to the newest, revised version of Under the Circus Tent (or was it Beneath the Circus Tent? I can't remember, I should look, but I am too tired) Silly, I know. I am in a silly, happy mood! My daughter was invited to attend Oxford University for her graduate program in the fall!!! I didn't even know they did that. Because, she is in the top ten percent at the University she is attending, they asked if she would consider continuing her education there! See, I know she is amazing, but it's really cool when other people realize that she is amazing too. I've been doing a little happy dance for hours now. So, I'm full of silly exhaustion. I just can't help but brag, I seem to be doing that a lot lately.  I wanted to call everyone I know, but I didn't; I restrained myself and I only called half the people I know. So, now I'm blabbing about it to all of you!
Anyway, silliness and bragging aside, what do you think, is it better? too dark? too much? (Andrew, does the slight vignette shadowing work to replicate the curve of the flags in reverse?) I could add a row of lower lights, but this would cause a change in the lighting and shading. 
On another note, my blog was a year old in September and it has been a great year. I didn't even realize it had already been over a year until I was reading Andrew's and Amalia's blogs and realized we started blogging at about the same time. I won't name all of my lovely friends, you know who you are. I have enjoyed meeting all of you and getting to know you. It has been a year full of kindness and support. You have all helped me to grow as an artist. So, thanks for putting up with my bragging about my children. I appreciate all of your comments and input. You all are the best!

44 comments:

  1. Karen. congratulations!
    for your daughter, and you too, that talent comes from somewhere, right?
    Congratulations on a year of your blog!
    And that's fine, when you're happy not to think about anything serious!
    Beautiful, your Illustration!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congratulations! You deserve a happy dance for such good news about your daughter. Congrats for a year of blogging too. I really like the pennants at the top of this piece.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you Linda, I really appreciate the congrats and that you like the pennants, they are growing on me. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. WOWOWOWOWOOWOWOWOOWOWOWOW!!!

    Happy dance indeed. Oxford unitversity! That's great. Is she going as a Rhodes scholar? Oh my, what a great honor. Congratulations. I read your comment on my blog and I smiled I read the word "throttle". How many times I have wished that but in the end, they are but an extension of ourselves and they are struggling to do the rught thing. I also think having a high achieving sibling gives them added pressure.

    Ah Karen, This illustration is wonderful. I love his funky pants! Hahahahah! Such pattern. Only an artistic wardrobe director will design that.

    Oh I bought a Wacom Bamboo Fun. It is wide at 13 inches but now I forgot why I bought it. I think it's too much for just using as a mouse. Hahaha!

    Have a great week, Karen.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello Karen - sorry been staying away from blogland as on blogholidays!

    Well I think it's a good improvment. I think the compostion works very well. The shadows under the personcat sit them much better in 3d space.

    The only real suggestion I'd have would be to hit the saturation slider and see what difference it makes. It might make everything more 'gay' - like circus like?

    Also the levels - you using the histogram? Thingy?

    In photoshop elemnts there's a 'levels' slider which gives you a pic of a histogram - so if you have seomthing similar then maybe a little more highlight on the top end of the tonal scale? You do this to a merged copy of the original pic layer without the vignetting turned on - so the vignetting layer hidden . It's the last step I do is these two things - and you can selectively erase the parts that it made worse.

    So these are suggestions and might not improve the image at all. It is looking very good and lots of interest happening

    sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. By the way I just love your mail out design card you have at CC!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congrats on your daughter's achievement!

    beautiful illo! love the characters and setting! it has a magical feel in it

    ReplyDelete
  7. I LOVE those flags!! And the string of lights. This is so festive and fun. You need this guy and his cat to come and entertain at your celebration of your daughter's big news! Hooray, you lucky mom!

    ReplyDelete
  8. thanks guys, you made my morning! Ces, I don't know I'll have to find out, I was just so excited I didn't really ask questions! It makes me feel like all this home school time and energy is sooooooooooooo worth it!!!

    ReplyDelete
  9. ..fantastic illo..love the composition.. congrats for your daughter's achievement!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. maaazzzeltov, karen! what super exciting news! this is cute piece! keep working it - :))

    and thanks so much for the visits! "))

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh, oh, oh! I'm doing that happy dance with you!! Oxford?? Really?? That's like a dozen wows all at once!!! I'm so happy for you, K.H!

    And happy blog anniversary to all of us!! May there be many more banters and laughs along the way!! Hahahahaa...

    ReplyDelete
  12. Would you believe that I haven't been following your blog all this time??!! I just visit you routinely, it never occurred to me that I wasn't following it! Well, fixed that! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. awwww, I'm so glad to see your lovely avatar in my followers Amalia, thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  14. froggie and anil, thanks so much for the visit and input!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Karen, Congratulations on your daughter news. Love your ringmaster character, especially all the detail on the leggings:)

    ReplyDelete
  16. You know you always, always get me with CIRCUS!!!! Oh my goodness how spectacular!! Such a wonderful illustration indeed. Thanks so much for stopping by my friend. Hope all is well with you.
    Hugs
    V

    ReplyDelete
  17. hey VEE! it's after 7:00 pm and Cyan and I have been doing school work since 8:30 this morning. I'm soooooooooooooooo tired and burned out and too tired to draw :(.

    ReplyDelete
  18. wowzers, there is so much overt awesomeness going on on your blog - i love it!
    keep up the fantastic posts you! x x

    ReplyDelete
  19. Congratulations for your daughter!!! I am happy with you :)
    Sonata

    ReplyDelete
  20. thank you Sofia, Lauren and Sonata, I really appreciate it!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Hey well hope you are having a good holiday, I am :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. I was just going to write that I love your daughter's work, especially that last piece! So it's not a surprise that she was offered such a great opportunity. I think Moms should be very proud of their children!! ;) I wanted to tell you that I just love the effect on the banner and the lights... so magical, I just want to touch it!! I've not tried my wacom tablet but you're inspiring me to go the digital route!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Congrats with your daughter and on making the year mark! Also thanks so much for always stopping by my blog and giving words of encouragement and support! All my best to you!

    -Wilson

    ReplyDelete
  24. Hey Karen, oh I'm sorry you have extra work aaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh. Just think how grande it will be when you get some drawing time, it's like window shopping with money!

    see you

    thanks for commenting on that video so many times!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hello dearest Karen! How are you doink? I need you! I got a wacom bamboo fun and I feel like throwing it out of the window. I am frustrated! Have a great day.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Ces dear, what can I do to help you my friend? Don't throw it out, it will one day be your friend. I will post on your blog :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Karen, Karen, KAREN! How did I miss this??? Oh my goodness, a hearty congratulations to your faaaaaaaabulous daughter! Wowie! That is great, great, great news! Ooooh, decisions decisions! Hahahahah

    And I love your latest and greatest! The deeper shadows and muted flags work wonderfully to highlight the center stage. Step right up, ladies and gentlemen! It's the greatest show on earth!

    Happy Blog Anniversary!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. thank you Kay, I really like your work too! :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hey Super Woman! Thanks so much for stopping and leaving me those nice words. You are the best! Hugs to you.
    V

    ReplyDelete
  30. hey Vee, I'm kind of wishing I was Super Woman. Love ya!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Love this piece! I'm glad you kept the flags and toning them down a bit was a good fix.

    Congrats to your daughter! How exciting!! Woooooo! Also, congrats on your 1 year blogoverary! You make the blogosphere a much sweeter place!

    ReplyDelete
  32. thank you so much Linda, you are so kind

    ReplyDelete
  33. I love this illustration! And congrats to your daughter!! :0)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Of course you know I had to come by because now I am truly a Puddle of Crumbs. You and my other blogger friends have touched my heart in a way that words can't even being to say. I so appreciate your friendship and honestly. I hope that I am a good to you as well. Thanks so much for your healing words. They are life and breath. Thanks so much. I am praying that the Lord will bless you and your family this Season with lots of strength for the rest of the year and new found strength for the New Year. That your house will be filled to the roof with much joy and love and that His peace would guard your heart and mind. I send great big hugs and well wishes from NJ,
    Hugs,
    Your friend always,
    V

    ReplyDelete
  35. This is a great piece. Circus themes are so "in" right now and you've nailed it here. I love the child's posture and clothes, and the cat is cute. Reminds me of how I've trained my dog to jump through my hula hoop for treats!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Gobble gobble. Dropping by to say howdy. Don't let your son crank the oven to 400 on turkey day!

    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  37. I'll do my best Bella! happy Thanksgiving!
    Thanks Christina!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Hi Karen! Hope you are well! Missing your wonderful art, but I know you are busy. You always make time to stop by and say hello, and I so appreciate your visits! Have a lovely Thanksgiving-- I'm sure you will be surrounded by that wonderful family of yours!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Oh thank you Krista, I am actually sans grandson this week and we are on break from school so I plan to draw, paint and draw some more! Then Myles and I both have birthdays at the end of the month so Thursday will be a triple celebration!

    ReplyDelete
  40. congrats to your daughter! you should brag, that's your right as a mom! nice work on the circus illo, love the colors!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment! You are the best!!!