Transformation drawing (Orca)

This was probably my personal favourite of the transformation drawings. I think the composition fills the page nicely, and the tonal range works really well to pull the eye through the transformation. There is a subtle pattern of dark and light tones through the bottom stages that is very satisfying to look at, and having the final whale looming up and over everything else gives it a larger-than-life feeling accentuated by the nose coming off the page. I don’t think the composition could really be improved upon much; it is visually balanced and interesting. If something needed to be adjusted, the darker areas of the water could be pulled up the final whale a little further, but again that feels nitpicky.
The use of mark-making (particularly the crosshatching on the whale’s belly) provides a really strong sense of three dimensions. Not only do the objects look three-dimensional, but they exist in a three-dimensional environment due to the composition. The correction of the water from the first critique has done wonders for this piece, and the broken texture of the water contrasts well with the smoothness of the hose attachment and the whales. The elements of this piece (although showing an impossible scene) are proportionate, providing a really strong sense of realism.

-Isabelle