Here we go:

First off I really like this one. It's a good subject and a really nice idea. That being said here's some critique for you.

1. The biggest issue in all mono-prints is of course contrast. It's what draws the human eye. My main problem with this cut is that the eye is drawn to the triangle created by Tam's arm, the river and the black space. The issue is that there is nothing there. The eye is drawn halfway down your cut and then left there with no subject and no focus.

2. This one you know. Letter spacing. Just plan the letter layout next time. Spur of the moment letter cuts are going to look sloppy.

3. Where is your texture? Lino cuts really need texture in order to be eye cathcing. The most active spots of the cut are the wrist cuff anf bottom hem of Tam's sweater. More texture is going to make people look twice at the cut.

4. This one is just a peeve. What the heck is on that knife? It looks like Tam was interupted in the middle of making a particularly sloppy jelly sandwich.

And that's about it. Hope you return the favor and cut me no slack.

Ciao

Serves me right for trying to write things this late. Forgive my spelling please.

*adds to favourites* OH MY GOD I LOVE YOU. How are you awesome? Let me count the ways. Your visual punning (the river, the firefly), the Blue Sun characters... gah, your awesomeness knows no bounds.

And the leaves from Objects in Space, and the apple that prompted Kaylee's original utterance of the phrase! DAH I LOVE YOU.

I have to say that I love all of the detail put into this. I've done one lino cut in my life, which was very simple, and somehow it seemed incredibly hard. Kudos to you for all the work you probably put into this. I'm not quite sure how everything fits together though, subject-wise. please explain.

Spelling is always forgiven - by me, of all people, it had better be.

Thanks for the crit - it's appreciated greatly.

Re: Texture-
I agree that it's lacking in the areas where it could be used to my advantage (eg, her hair, clothes, the planet, etc), but part of my personal goal for this was to try to get clean, even lines - more like open lineart than a lino cut. The part I am most fond of is actually the continuation of the falling, dashed leaf line, and their simple boldness. So, partly it was purposeful, but mostly not. Which I'll work on in the future.

4. This one is just a peeve. What the heck is on that knife? It looks like Tam was interupted in the middle of making a particularly sloppy jelly sandwich.

Well, blood. Sort of. The problem with fine lines (originally there was a shadow line on the knife, and the blood looked much better) is that they tend to ... well ... break off. Quite unfortunately. The knife was also shaped somewhat differantly in the early stages, but mistakes and alterations forced it into what it is now.

The ultimate reward is to make a fangirl happy.

People keep assuming the apple is a strawberry. Ah well. Close enough. Hee.

Thanks.

I'll take the wager that you've never seen Firefly, yes? Well. River (the girl) is a brain-damaged genius with some sort of mysterious vendetta against Blue Sun (a company who seems to make/control everything). The charactors in the top-middle are (I'm told) those for Blue Sun. The firefly is representative of the spaceship make that the show is named for. The river ... rather obvious. The knife and leaves are props of special significance to her character. "No power in the 'verse (can stop me)" is a line originally said by the mechanic, Kaylee, after she reclaims her stolen apple from River and takes a bite. River later repeats the line after shooting three men with her eyes closed.

Whoo! Explain it okay?

yeah! thanks a bunch .. guess i'll have to check it out sometime..