Don’t mind me! This is just a comparison between two of my princess tutu pieces cause I’ve got some reminiscing and pontificating in my system. ^.^
So, like.... 5 years later, it is done!
First of all, the redraw was actually prompted by someone noticing that the water level on Duck’s leg was higher than it should have been. I can’t find their tag, so this’ll have to be unsourced, but... thank you to that person!
Overall, it didn’t shift too much, but one major change was the placement of the camera. Instead of the viewpoint being from a higher perspective, it’s now right at the level of Duck and Fakir’s faces. I think it gives a better perspective “equality” so I could capture both of their expressions to the same degree.
The water is also directly lined up with the view so I didn’t need to worry about doing(ignoring) the distortion that comes with viewing a thing from a wobbley water surface. Also it creates a cleaner line between Duck and Fakir. (A better separator of their worlds)
I feel that the second has much better details, but a couple things the first one did better would be, 1. Clearer poses. With extended limbs Duck in the first one strikes a better silhouette, and the perspective seems to be a more flattering angle for Fakir. 2. the lighter colors of Fakir which make it easier to see the details which are more obscured in the darker colors of the second picture.
I like the softer look of Duck in the second one (she looks happier to me). Duck in the first looks more like she’s asleep, and the face is a little funny because I was trying to wrench the perspective of it more to the viewer, (even though the “camera” should be looking almost at the back of her head.)
The black lines also stand out harsher on Duck1, so changing the lines from black to a brown on the skin reeeeeeaaally helped for a softer look.
Again, I like the expression better in the second vs the first. The details of the hair are a bit lost, and birthmark/ muscles don’t get to be as prominent in the softer lines and watery shading buuuuut.... like, now you can see the gills on the torso n stuff!
I drew each of the scales in the first drawing. I think it looks nice, but it took so long, and I admit I was panicking a little when I unintentionally started making the scales get smaller as I went along (yes, that was an accident) I used the spray tool for the second piece which took a LOT less time, I could also use it for an iridescent affect
I think.... if I were to redo the picture I would highlight the lines on the second piece in green to make them standout more.
Finally, (kinda my favorite part) is the hands reaching out of the water.
Originally, Duck and Fakir were going to mirror each other. gently reaching, almost touching, and creating ripples on the water surface. Emphasizing the water as a barrier between the two, with minimal breaching by Duck with her foot and hair. I felt it created a very bittersweet scene.
As I started the second piece I couldn’t get that positioning quite right. it continued to not look right until I drew them caressing each other's face (Which I kinda got mad about, cause Dang it Fakir! Now people can’t see Duck’s cute little elf ears!) Suddenly something in the mood has changed. They’re no longer completely separated by the surface of the water, and suddenly it’s much more hopeful. ^.^