Sept-Amber : An Old Compass

After an hour or so here is my cute brass compass. I decided to continue with what I had started with my previous pumpkin pie character. To make a cohesive collection for this week maybe turning each prompt into a cute character would keep me more motivated and excited so here it is the old brass compass coming to life. I have no name for it or intend to make a narrative I am just happy to have finished it for now.

Let me bring back the initial sketch

Usually at this stage it is either I get excited or lose interest, looking at it this is simply a compact or a stopwatch with a plain flat face. That is the challenge most of us face we have to take this somewhere more inspiring or aspirational. Notice how those little changes if you compare this draft with what I have above. the hair fringe flat and insignificant the skirt is too little I basically can't tell where this is going at this point.

I just made this gestures for the hands one on the hip and the other palm up as if this compass character is having a conversation with someone not shown. That is to make it more interesting rather than having a static figure. I decided to make it look like the pumpkin pie. Borrowed its aesthetic like the swirly flowy hair, the eyes and lashes and the quirky form. It is now looking like a face tucked into a compass rather than a flat piece of brass. The question I am debating is whether to give it a real human nose or keep that dial from the compass.

The shape and look finalized it is now time to choose what colors would work for the whole Sept-Amber vibe. If you are already aware the drawing prompt gives that autumnal vibe and aesthetic so I tried to stay in that definition. First color I want to pick is brass I must admit I am not confident if I can pick that color that tells brass and this is the one that came close the one on the circular frame of the face. The greenish color I used on the skirt and sleeves echoes the patina of brass. The skin color is rather neutral and the hair is rust and burnt orange to give it some pop and energy.

I am happy with the colors I chose and after putting on the base colors time to add some depth and definition. The brass part should look olden and rusted so I muddied it up on some areas where scratches and dents are, same with the hair gave it some highlights to make it glow like ember. I was undecided with the nose whether to make it just black or add some white like that of a real compass, I guess you know what I finally did just by looking at the finished drawing right? Anyway that is my interpretation of the prompt. It was a fun and challenging journey. I hope I can do all the five prompts. This is just week 2 of the prompts the weeks 3 and 4 I already saw posted on Draw A Day community go check them out if you are interested to participate.

See you again soon and thank you for reading.
Krisette