SciFi and Fantasy Art: Spring Steps Out

Very nice and "springy." Is that green ribbon a sping?

Barbara J. Wickham replies: "Thank you, John! Yep.

That ribbon is a bit lively, isn’t it? *lol* I had a lot of fun drawing that part."

Fancy hair doo. Beautiful !
Skip

Barbara J. Wickham replies: "Thank you, Skip! It was tempting to paint long, flowing hair, but I wanted my uni to have a bit of attitude. "

Oh! Such beautiful crisp lines and detail! The border is gorgeous. -- I love how it sort of echoes the flowy, curliness of the green ribbon

He has such a proud, somewhat saucy trot. This young buck knows what he’s doing.

I really like this one Barb. The composition is fab, it’s a great idea, and I love the color choices. --I especially like the way the colors draw your attention to the flag-bearer by the way they transition from blue to yellow/green. The colors definitely brings to mind the changing of seasons from winter to spring.

Random: I really like the ring floating above his horn.

Barbara J. Wickham replies: "Thank you very, very much! I am so happy you like it. Yup-yup-yup!

The frame was a bit of a challenge. I knew I wanted something fancy, but I couldn’t get it to look balanced with the pic. It just seemed too heavy and busy. On a whim I used the emboss tool and I had an "ah-ha!" moment. Make it look like part of the pic, just in a 3D way. Yet again, experimenting got me out of a bind.

Equinox is definitely a proud beastie and saucy is a very good word to use to describe his gait. I am glad that is apparent in his movement because his high-stepping dance is meant to be celebratory, both in his own beauty and in the birth of the season.

I kept the colors within those hues that to me signified an awakening. It’s these colors I see every morning when the sun rises on a clear, crisp day. The touches of green are there as a way of showing that spring is just starting to come alive.

I’m so happy you noticed the ring. I love fun little details like that.

Thank you, again! No pic is ever complete until you have commented upon it! "

lovely

Barbara J. Wickham replies: "Thank you, Kaitlyn!"

Very pretty and I like the idea a lot! I like the strangeness of his anatomy - not a traditional unicorn and very interesting and fantasy-like. I looove the ribbon, it’s so flowy and twirly and awesome. Great work, really nice!

Barbara J. Wickham replies: "Thank you for noticing his strange anatomy. I based his build on part horse, part deer and I really exaggerated his long lines. I wanted him to be just as flowing and graceful as the ribbon!

"

This is gorgeous! Wow, one of my new favs. I love his blue(?) mane and tail, etc. Looks fantastic! It’s much more dynamic than you often see unicorns, and I like it.

Barbara J. Wickham replies: "Your new fav? Really?! *squeals* That is so sweet! Thank you!!!!

Yes, his mane and tail are a blue tone. I wanted to avoid using any true black in this pic, but since his hair is supposed to be black I used blue to make it seem like the reflections are from a blue sky.

Equinox is definitely not your average uni and you can be sure he knows he’s special.

Thank you for your wonderful comments!"

Thought I’d also comment on the fancy hair do. It’s really unique. I love how the tail is out of the ordinary. The way you styled his mane and the fur by his hooves sort of looks like fins in a way.

And I just noticed the trees in the background! So many cool little details on this piece!

"No pic is ever complete until you have commented upon it!" aw, thanks Barb. I feel the same to you! You and me should do another art trade some time.

Barbara J. Wickham replies: "The original sketch of this pic is very stylized, all angles and points. When I finally got around to coloring it I softened up everything, but I wanted to retain the angles in the mane and tail. I also thought it gave my uni an "aquatic" look and I liked the unique and unusual style.

I’m glad that you like the other details. You know me. I love those little details! *lol*

Art trade? Funny you should mention that. I’ve been doing some random sketches and I was entertaining the possibility of another TCLN pic. I’d be open to a suggestion... another character sketch, a scene from the story, something else entirely? All you have to do is name it! I have to give some thought as to what I’d want you to do, unless you have something specific in mind. Hmmm?"

Oo, random sketches? =D

I don’t want to cramp your creativity if you’ve got something in mind! -- but your fabulous uni here made me think it would be cool to see Mountain Thunder in your amazing style. Maybe Mountain Thunder with Dark Horse or another character (none of us can figure out what Dip looks like. Tyler’s pretty nondescript. "Uh...pretty?". It wouldn’t necessarily have to be a scene from the story, though that could be fun too (Poor Thundy and his tutu...).

As for what I’d do in exchange, well...I hope this isn’t presumptuous, and I don’t want to tread on sacred ground, but I thought it would be fun to do something of Kira and Mara. They’re just such fun characters, and they make me think of happier times, you know?

Barbara J. Wickham replies: "*SQUEALS!!!!* Yes!!!! Kira and Mara! That would be great! Just let me know if you need any more info on either character’s personality or history. Either way, I know you will come up with something brilliant and do these two adventurers proud! Woo hoo!

As to my half of the trade, I am always happy to paint a pretty pony. Tee hee! You sparked my imagination when you mentioned the scene with MT in a tutu. I like the idea of a comical pic and I have had a lot of practice with wings lately. Then again, I have a few sketchs of certain characters. Hmmm...

Anyhoo, let’s see what the muse favors. I’ll let it be a bit of a surprise, eh? *devious chortle*"