Personal Exploration Design in Progress: Open to Critique
Lots of my readers have asked me/been interested in seeing some of my personal designs. I started the BittBox User Showcase @ Flickr recently, but most of what you’ll see there from me are designs I make for my posts here on BittBox. I enjoy taking the time to provide example designs for all of my posts, but I thought you all would like this much better. The image below (and at the BittBox User Showcase) is a personal piece I’ve been working on. I have no client for this. Just an empty living room wall and an appetite to learn and explore new techniques. I’m constantly trying to improve my skills, and practice is the way I do it. I hope you like the piece. (not the final version. I would consider this about halfway done.)
If you look at this piece, you might notice that a lot of the elements are either BittBox Freebies/Brushes, or a technique from a BittBox Tutorial. Yes, some of the elements in this design are purchased from iStock (the photo of the woman for example, and the fancy flourishes) but I just wanted to share a personal piece with all of you. I have looked at over 63 images in the BittBox User Showcase on Flickr, and I’m extremely impressed. I love what I see, and I can’t wait to see future postings. I don’t consider myself your teacher. I consider myself your peer, and I would love to hear your feedback on my first personal exploration piece.
~Bitt
Related Posts:
- Announcement: BittBox User Showcase
- Inspiration: User Showcase Roundup
- BittBox Reader Designs
- Aperture 2 Released: Only $199
- Featured Artist: Michael Brito
- Featured Artist: Pashii
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Lookin good.
Right now I find the white doves and the large white swirl to be taking away from the vibe of the piece. They stand out to much and keep grabbing my eyes.
If you can find a way to work those into the pieces natural flow it will be ace. Post the finished piece once your done please :)
Cawlin,
You said EXACTLY what I was thinking about an hour ago! I totally agree.
Like I said. A work in progress. Thanks for the feedback!
~Bitt
This is just depressing.
I will never be that good!
Very nice.
This is very pretty, I wish to improve my skills also.
That being said, I would like to emphasize concept. I love your tutorials and freebies, but I think people also need to reminded that Graphic Design is also about communication. There needs to be an idea or concept, not just pretty pictures. Great concept + great design = Gold.
Also, I think it is better if you explored your own aesthetic. Right now your work looks similiar to some of the inspirational links you’ve been giving us. That’s all well and good, but please don’t forget that the best designers have their own aesthetic.
I am just saying this because I got a good chewing out from one of my teachers about this. That concept and one’s own interpretation is more important than doing what is currently trendy in design.
Awesome work bittbox.
very impressive.
Bitt, i think the girl needs to be different. She’s just not interseting enough to me, not her body but there’s just the coloring or someting.
Maybe someone happier?
Just a thought. I love it though. Better than what i can do :)
Nice! I like what I see. I just noticed (and I thought it was a little strange) that the models elbow is transparent. Looks like her wins run through her arm..
But I have to say.. You’re being way too modest. To be honest with you, before I discovered Bittbox I was a complete zero in Illustrator. With your tutorials I already managed to be a 0.1 or so, proving this (or this) :)
So, you are pretty much a teacher for me, and I want to thank you for that :)
Hi! I think this a beautiful and complex piece, it kind of reminds me of some of Neil Duerden’s work :)
I was wondering how long a piece like this takes you… Given, I don’t know a ton. I’m not schooled in this kind of thing, but I’m learning… I have the problem of having all these grand ideas that take absolutely forever, so by the time I’m halfway through something, I have something else urgently pulling at my mind for me to start. So I wanted to ask you, as well as the others who have created such fantastic work in the Flickr showcase, how long it takes you and how you have the patience and determination to follow through with the most daunting of projects. Any tips?
BittBox,
I quite like the piece. I disagree with lawton chiles, I think that the model is pretty cool. I like the fact that she has an angry face. I would try to incorprate that feeling in to the rest of the piece…but I don’t know how, exactly.
The only thing that reall stuck out to me is the size of the wing. It looks a little too small.
Other than that, its on hot design that follows the current trends. I like it.
starvingyoungartists.com
Hye man thats sweet ..nice work. post the final piece when its dun. Ace site btw ..one of the best ive seen for tutorials and downlaods. Clean n simple …they always work the best …keep up the good work n tutorials ..ive learned loads for illustrator off here. nice one !!
mike webb
Thanks for all the feedback. The best way to get better is to practice!
~Bitt
I’ve been surfing on line, trying to find out about vectors and web-design. It is a new topic for me. One of the things that attracts me to this piece is that it carries a focal point for the eye, that most vectors I’ve seen do not. I’m an artist, and this has really surprised me, that most work is very matrix like, and lacks a center point to orient the viewer to. There is a lost feeling when viewing most vector art, and what this piece does is maintains an etheral feel, while at the same time allowing a focused attainment (or sense that one is able to grasp the feel and emotive nature of the piece). I also really like the photo and illustrated factors together and the tension between the two. One really wants to look at it for a long time.
Ok, this is my first time here and post. I’ve been trying to find vectors for a web-site., and I’m wondering if you have a place where I can see your work. Maybe I just missed the link here, or something. Where do I go to see more and do you do contract work? Thanks, I’m an explorer wondering how this vector world will work.
Beautiful!
E
I really like the piece. It?s screaming Neil Duerden all over it…and that?s not in a negative way, since he?s one of the best out there. It would be really awsome if you made a tutorial out of it to show how you went about to do the piece.
Thank?s for a great site and keep up the great work. Being mentioned in Computer Arts shows that you?re doing something right :)
wow. amazing use of cold colours. total admiration!
[...] Personal Exploration Design in Progress: Open to Critique | BittBox (tags: flick showcase) [...]
This piece is incredibly awesome!!!
wow jay this is beautiful, how did you do those sinus curved lines in the background (right side-ish) ?
awesome piece of art, beautiful lady and nice colours!
dont lose the doves…just add more glowing aspecs to the work…….. @ Noor I agree whole heartedly about Concept…..its everything in design. Bitt keep with it and try messing with the crop of the piece and deff get rid of the green splash/mold on her amazing abs and unda da pitts……green on skin always looks weird, unless your going for gross and decay.
Pretty fantastic.
When I see work like this, I wish that I could find the time to create work like this.
It’s very inspiring.
The colour balance between the greens and blues work very well together.
Great work. Thanks for sharing.
Lookin’ good. While the white swirls are an obvious Sii Scott rip-off, you’re able to pull it off quite nicely. Kudos!
Eric,
Thanks giving us a link to Si’s site. I hadn’t heard of him/her before. I can’t wait to check out the site when it gets finished. I can see the influence on the swooshes. I don’t know who made them, but i got them at iStock. I see them everywhere.
~Bitt.
I think theres a danger that too much analasis of anything is bad. At the end of the day, when you see works for the first time. You either like it or you dont. Same for clients. They either like or they dont.. I like the art youve shown us bittbox and i dont feel the need to analyze because of it. I saw it,, i appreiciated it….Weather its like many others out there in the formula of its creation or not, it doesnt matter.
Theres nothing wrong with following a trend in my book. Artists do it all the time. Especially in film.. And if we all waited for inspriration to come to us so we could do something totally unique, we could be waiting forever. So from me to bittbox..cool stuff.
frank
@Emua,
I’m sorry but at the moment I don’t accept any contract work.
~Bitt
Thanks Frank. If I tried to concept everything I tried, I would be sitting around thinking all day when I could be learning skills. Sometimes it’s nice just to set yourself free, and dive in. The experience with technique and practice is what I aimed at gaining here.
~Bitt
Looks cool Bitt :)
-* Disclaimer *- First I want to start of that people can somehow mis-interpreted the questions I’m about to ask. But, please, they are in now way whatsoever meant to judge ones creative process ok?
They are thoughts, questions that I always think in order to organize mine.. and maybe other people also :)
I’m wondering how are you going about your designs? Do you put things together that ‘just’ (nothing negative meant here) look pretty or do you have emotion/feeling and try to bring the components into sync with that?
I’m curious what the work is ‘telling’? Is there a base emotion, message you want to express? (=> how does the girl and her expression fit in that ‘picture’ - pun intended ;)
I really like all the things you share with everyone. But me personally I’m allways interested to get insight in the creative feeling that comes (or possibly doesn’t?) with creating one’s art. I understand that can be very personal but that would be cool to get more insight into what makes people create the things they do, in contrast to try to recreate what one sees and likes.
In any way don’t feel discomfort if you cannot or don’t want to elaborate on this ok?
Heads up! :)
jax fx..Im not sure if your question is for bittbox and i cant speak for bittbox or anyone else, but personally If i design something and i like it, and its for me, then the only emotion i need or want is appreciating what ive done. So i guess if we want to get metaphysical about it, then the emotion is appreciation..If i ever do work for a client, then my clients needs or appreciation of what ive created overrides anything i think or feel. For example Its quite hard for me to get too excited for typing simple text on narrow card for a folder spine to be inserted. But if that makes the client doo lally then im happy enough with that, though i wouldnt bother doing that for myself. I work in a digital colour print burau as a colour print machinist and we have a design department. Some of the things i see them design makes me realise more and more why im aiming to make the move from the inside from print management into more design orientated work. I can only answer your question by saying if you get paid to design, then the clients needs and desires have to come before your own and i think the best we designers, from amateur to pro can hope for, is that the client appreciates what we create enough to pay us if were freelance, or use our business again if we’re employees… Amen lol
oh my god this piece is amazing, can i use it as a desktop background??
@Jax FX
I made this piece to “practice ” technique. I see no wrong in practicing for skill, especially when it involves more than one software. No Client, No Concept. Just practicing technique.
~Bitt
Thanx for your reactions both :)
@frank
Great (form my view as a designer that is ;) that you are thinking to make a move to designing, unleashing the inspiration you get from what others create.
For me the question was more focussed at what makes Bittbox or others create the designs that they make - thus the -source- where it starts, the creative flow.
Do they test what looks good as ‘pictures’ or do they feel things and start combining things that feels in sync with that.
Sorry, bit hard for me to get my question accross exactly in words.
But again, thanks both for your reactions (and others that took the time to read my ramblings ;) :)
Have great fun reading &/ designing all! :D
@Bitt
Sorry, I tried to be careful to put my msg in a few it would not be misunderstood or offend someone, that’s why I also wrote the disclaimer.
From your sentence ‘I see no wrong in practicing for skill’ I understand that you maybe said you did something wrong?
Again sorry if so, absolutely not my intention.
Thanx again for this site and everything that comes with (so including the people posting their positive energy in their reactions)
Jax
Great work! But I think her hands are out of place .. I prefer if they were on her hips instead .. any chance of us seeing that? ;)
This is where usually I have an frustrating creative block. I tend to work better under some type of constraints or a guiding concept. I guess this makes me more a designer than an artist. :^)
Whatever worx for you Jaxxx :)
Really nice image, i like the colors and the lighness of the pic.
could you make a tuttorial on this please ive notice a lot of oppacity mask you use on this right? it will be great if you explains the proces thanks again and your right…practice is everything!!!
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Love the compositions, colors, and the rawness. BUT, why does it have to be an almost-naked-so-she-might-as-well-be chick?
i was browsing around this site with my whole screen inverted and this design looks awesome inverted.
If you have a mac use cmd+option+ctrl+8 to switch between modes