Urban Creation

Time for another Illustration Friday post, this time with the theme of ‘Urban’.

I started with a walled city, and then removed the wall. I then went for an olde worlde town, but added a city skyline in the background. Apart from roads, doors, the occasional tree, transport and people, something was missing. So I added an urban fox, caught in the glare of a street light… which was also missing…

The first version I saved was a lot brighter, and a lot more colourful, but I wanted to tone down both the brightness, and the colour and bring the attention more onto the fox, rather than the buildings.

After a little jiggery pokery with a few special effects thrown in for good measure, I settled with the cartoon above.

A little rough around the edges, but isn’t urban life a little like that too?

Apr 7, 2013

Abilities, Animals, Direction, Feel GOOD!, Legends, The World

26 responses to “Urban Creation”

speccy

Apr 7, 2013

Tom, this is great 🙂

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1. Tom Merriman
  
  Apr 7, 2013
  
  Thanks for saying so, Fiona! 🙂
  
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Andra Watkins

Apr 7, 2013

This looks like it could be an illustration in a children’s book, Tom.

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1. Tom Merriman
  
  Apr 7, 2013
  
  I can see what you mean with the blocks of colour, Andra! I think it would need tidying up a little first, though! 🙂
  
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prenin

Apr 7, 2013

Seems you’ve just described where I live – right down to the urban foxes that raid the bins every night! 🙂

Good picture Tom! 🙂

God Bless!

Prenin.

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1. Tom Merriman
  
  Apr 7, 2013
  
  Haha – thanks, Prenin!
  The idea must have come from somewhere…! 😉
  
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lameadventures

Apr 7, 2013

An urban fox. Huh. Here in the Big Apple, we have quite a few skunks. Just sayin’.

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1. Tom Merriman
  
  Apr 8, 2013
  
  I don’t think we have them around here, LA… from what I’ve read about them, it’s a blessing…
  
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  1. lameadventures
    
    Apr 9, 2013
    
    You’d know if you had them. They’re pungent critters.
    
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    1. Tom Merriman
      
      Apr 9, 2013
      
      I’ve heard that!
      
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Gray Dawster

Apr 8, 2013

A masterful entry here Tom, well done 🙂

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1. Tom Merriman
  
  Apr 8, 2013
  
  Thanks, Andro.
  
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shreejacob

Apr 8, 2013

Yes it is! A magical old town in an urban city….I like that idea!

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1. Tom Merriman
  
  Apr 8, 2013
  
  Thanks, Shree.
  
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penpusherpen

Apr 8, 2013

The Cartoon-y type illustration’s great, Sir Aquatom, the dark buildings in the background add a real contrast to the colourful foreground. I love the addition of Mr. Fox, and you’re so right, urban life is rough, especially for the wildlife trying to live alongside us… Last time i saw a fox ’twas early morning, it stood still and just looked at me,… not afraid, just checking me out methinks… Mayhap I smelled ok.. 😉 for it moved slowly on without worry. xPenx

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1. Tom Merriman
  
  Apr 8, 2013
  
  You were lucky, Pen… the last fox I saw ran away. It may have been chasing something (do foxes chase?) but off it went, just like that!
  
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susan sheldon nolen

Apr 8, 2013

I love it and of course the Fox! What would urban life be without them! Yours looks quite cheeky~!

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1. Tom Merriman
  
  Apr 8, 2013
  
  Thanks, Susan… I wanted to make the fox look a little different…
  
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  1. susan sheldon nolen
    
    Apr 8, 2013
    
    Well I just love him!
    
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    1. Tom Merriman
      
      Apr 9, 2013
      
      🙂
      
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gabrielgarbowota

Apr 9, 2013

A wonderful play of colors and textures. I like how introduced an element (the fox) which is not unheard of in an urban setting, but still something most people wouldn’t immediately associate with the city. There a real sense of stage-like space, too, which is a lot of fun.

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1. Tom Merriman
  
  Apr 9, 2013
  
  Thanks, Gabriel. The original version, with the wall, looked too closed in, so I wanted to add some space to the area as well. I like how this one turned out…
  
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beautifulchaos2

Apr 9, 2013

I like the final version best too Tom, like a moonlight beam on the fox. The graphic has such a charm and nice flair to it, great stuff Tom.

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1. Tom Merriman
  
  Apr 9, 2013
  
  Thanks, Nikki – pleased you like it! Enjoy the rest of your Tuesday!
  
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Sue Dreamwalker

Apr 11, 2013

The Fox is an excellent touch.. Is this digital art Tom or by hand on paper…I always wanted to try my hand at digital art… what programme have you used if you do use LOL.. Great artwork which ever method… 🙂

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1. Tom Merriman
  
  Apr 11, 2013
  
  Thanks, Sue.
  It’s digital… all of the illustrations I submit for Illustration Friday are done digitally.
  As for the program, it came with my pen and tablet that I bought (Bamboo Fun or something like that) the program’s called ArtRage Studio Pro – I’m not sure if it can be bought separately though…
  
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