Reviews from

The Lizard wore a Black Hat

Illustration to a story

25 total reviews 
Comment from paulinejjones


This is a fun picture with an interesting, if crazy story behind it. In writing, words have speech marks but thoughts don't. If you edit with that in mind instead of question marks the story will be easier to read and make more sense. As for the picture; it's great to see that you can illustrate as well as write stories.

 Comment Written 23-Mar-2010


reply by the author on 23-Mar-2010
    Thank you so much for your kind review. I didn't used Question marks. I just forgot that it is custom of our site to replace al quotations marks as other grammar sign with question marks. [example: a quotation mark will be replaced by three question marks before and three after the sentence] After I realised my mistake last night, I took all sign out and changed the comments but I think it won't help a bit. Could you do me a favor and have another look at my comments as they are now. I just don't know how to write other than the usual grammatical way, what means using other marks than point and comma.
    I'm very thankful for pointing the flaws out for me.
reply by paulinejjones on 24-Mar-2010
    I see your problem; you're almost better off putting each thought on a separate line and not putting any punctuation in
Comment from GaliaG


what a cute, happy and colorfull story you have created here, I love it

good colors harmony, composition, presentation and initial impact

good luck with the contest

 Comment Written 23-Mar-2010


reply by the author on 23-Mar-2010
    Thank you so very much for your kind review.
Comment from seshadri_sreenivasan


This is an amusing artwork. Very well conceived and crafted. The story is also interesting. Brilliantly drawn, coloured and composed this makes an interesting viewing.

 Comment Written 23-Mar-2010


reply by the author on 23-Mar-2010
    Thank you very much for your kind review.
Comment from Godsgirl



Awwww, that is a cute lizzard lol. Very happy little thing!!

The colors are so vibrant and real looking.

Detail work is great.

Story-telling ability is good.

Thanks for sharing!! :-)

 Comment Written 22-Mar-2010


reply by the author on 23-Mar-2010
    Thank you for your nice review.
Comment from BC Art Studio


Very nice photograph!!! Kinda strange but a nice cartoonish effect! I like the editing on the background photo to give it a sort of dreamy fantasy effect. Well done!

 Comment Written 22-Mar-2010


reply by the author on 22-Mar-2010
    Strange probably, It's just a silly illustration to a silly story. I got the Idea when FanStory had a flash fiction prompt a wile ago. Thank you very much for your kind review.
Comment from Hotshot


Ok, l didn't understand a word of what you say, but l like it, and the lizard is really cute, l think the story telling is still on the beach ! nice creation, looks like you did a great vacation.
Thanks and good luck.
Hotshot

 Comment Written 22-Mar-2010


reply by the author on 23-Mar-2010
    I just checked my post and the appearance of the story because you aren't the only one who didn't understand. I think the custom of our site to replace quotation marks with three question marks has a lot to do with it. Each second sentence in that story has quotation marks. I got confused myself of my post looking at so many question marks. I have taken that quotations out, just hope it helps.
    Thank you for making me aware of the fact that there is something wrong. Of curse it still could be just my story.
    Thank you for your review and your kindness.
Comment from Stephanie Laird


Creative,clever and oh so cute! I love all the elements and how you combined them. This is such a fun, fanciful colorful image. GREAT WORK!

 Comment Written 22-Mar-2010


reply by the author on 23-Mar-2010
    Thank you for your nice review.
Comment from nannybpurple


Well now this is cute as a button.I like the colors used in this scene especially the sky and the palm tree and the pink flowers i'm not sure abut the black lizard but I tip my hat to you! Good work

 Comment Written 22-Mar-2010


reply by the author on 22-Mar-2010
    Thank you very much. This picture is a Illustration to a flash fiction story. The lizard was given and is the main subject in it.Please read the story and my comments.
Comment from R. Eugene Wallace


I am tough on this kind of "art". I fail to see the humor or what connection the lizard has is the scheme here. It looks to me like the lizard was an afterthought and what is left is a photoshop filter. I do like the beach scene and feel it has a place but as a viewer I can't tell where. What is really going for this photo is the flower and the color and composition. I don't even mind the overused border technique. I think the lizard ruins the beauty of the floral and seascape scene. This is pretty but misses the point which is what I am looking for. I can't tell where the artist is going here.

This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.

 Comment Written 22-Mar-2010


reply by the author on 22-Mar-2010
    I appreciate you review and I'm sorry to disappoint you. I don't mine the rating easier but I like to clarify and would be very thankful to hear what you think after reading my reply. The lizard is not a afterthought but the main object. I didn't use Photoshop or any filter. I don't own Photoshop. The changes on the photo were made with a distortion paint brush. The lizard is also painted by hand. I see you haven't read the description to the picture nor the the comments. It is written in both that this Cartoon illustration were made for the story provided in the comments. The punchline The Lizard wore a Black Head was given for the story what means for the picture as well. The seascape is may beautiful as the flower but it is not the theme of the story. Sorry.
reply by R. Eugene Wallace on 22-Mar-2010
    In all fairness I went back and re-read your artist notes. I stand by my comments. Please remember that a picture is worth a thousand words and I can't figure out what you are saying with your words. Also, in Photoshop there is a filter that will do the same thing you have done with your paint brush. The term "filter" is used for this type of technique. I don't like art used to support words or stories, it lessens the importance of the art. Perhaps entering the combination of story with the art would had more impact. But didn't you make reference to a green lizard?
reply by the author on 22-Mar-2010
    I appreciate your prompt response very much but don't understand parts of it. Mmmm...truth, I mention a green lizard, but what is wrong with it? The lizard in my picture is green, of curse not totally. The aren't in nature either. Not the once I know. Given it is a real scene. In bright sunlight. on a bright lighted background objects seam darker as they are. Think for the dark shadows in faces when you photograph somebody that way, Sometimes you have only silhouette's]
    There may is a filter in photoshop what does work like I painted, but I don't agree that the therm filter is used for this type of technique. A filter is a thing what is applied to a picture [any picture photo or painting]. Brush strokes are painted, stroke by stroke into a picture. There is a big difference. Of curse I could have painted the whole scene but I found it funnier that way. It is what we see when we come out of sedation, Everything is fuzzy, wavy and distorted and there is bright white light on the edges.
    Sorry if you can't find out what I want to say with my words, than maybe the story is bad?
    I'm sorry if you don't like pictures with stories or stories with pictures. I'm sorry, I just don't understand how one or the other could lessen the importance of each other. Not that I mean that either my little story nor my picture is of any importance. They aren't meant to be. They are only meant to gave people a good laugh. We should do that from time to time, don't you think so? [By the way the story is not total fiction but a experience in a hospital]
    What do you mean by entering the combination of story with the art? I tought I did.
    Sorry to send more question your way but I always want to see clear and I don't understand.
reply by R. Eugene Wallace on 23-Mar-2010
    not a problem. I do understand a l iittle more of what you are doing with the illustration. I thought there was a classification for stories and photos together and the total effort would have been more powerful and perhaps much more successful. I think your ideas are sound, but i'm real hard on communication in the visual arts. I didn't any qualifications down in my profile but I've been professional photographer all my life and taught photography in the military. I have also written two award winning books. I do like very much what you did to the flower and beach scene. Yes, I agree with you, "filter" is a poor term but it is a photoshop term and is use a lot. Being an old photographer, I understand what a real filter is the same as you. If you ever want to bounce an idea off of me, go ahead and do so. Also, you can get some good shots back at me, when they finally start reviewing my photos. :). I know I'm a tough critic but I was brought up that way and it does make one a better artist, if not a lonely one. I really want to see what other things you have done. Take care.
reply by the author on 23-Mar-2010
    First, I love tough critics much more than some bla,bla in the reviews what doesn't help a bit. I know you care and a admire your courage to say what you think and stand to it.
    I can't tell you right now who I am, that would be against the rules of anonymity in this contest. That has to wait until later.
    I have checked on my post and understand much better now whats happen. What I found was confusing. even for me. It's my false. I forgot that I can't post the story as it is. For some technical reason all quotation marks and other grammar sign will replaced by Question marks [one quotation mark is replaced with three question marks before and three behind a sentence]. After I found out about I took all signs out and changed the comments but I think it won't help much. I can't find out how to write in English other than the usual way. I know you by now as honest and carrying, could you do me a big favor and have a look at these changed comments and tell me what you think about? I was thinking about erasing the story but than I have a picture what dosn't make sense it all. Thank you very much!!!
reply by R. Eugene Wallace on 23-Mar-2010
    Wow, you really made a lot of headway by explaining this a little more. I see where you are going and the illustration does in fact help the story. Perhaps you could write you story in a word processor and then copy and paste it into the contest area. Perhaps that would eliminate their editor from changing your writing. Also, for better english, you can purchase a grammar checker, it's not a spell checker, put it will correct you grammar just like a spell checker does for words. I am a professional writer and I've used them, they are worth their weight in gold. I wish I had one for Spanish, that I'm trying to learn. Your illustration is good, I just couldn't put the theme together. I think you may have a chance in your contest. Hope I have helped. The teachers I remember best are the ones that were the hardest on me. Good luck and let me know how you do.
reply by the author on 23-Mar-2010
    Thank you so much. No it doesn't help. It's written in a word processor with spell and grammar checker. That's were all the mess came in and I didn't know. I should have blown the site to 150% so I could read, but I didn't. Guess that will teach me.
    Good look with Spanish, the grammar is quite tricky. It was easier for me since there are similarities in all of the roman language family but English. But I've still have trouble with the many exceptions in conjugation of irregular verbs. I think there is some better on the market than a Spanish grammar checker, It's called: 501 Spanish Verbs, Barron's Educational Series, Inc.
    Interesting, you are an professional writer? I come back to you after the voting is over. It's just to complicated to write anything when I have to hide my identity.
    I agree The best teachers are these, who are the hardest on the pupil.
    I'll come back to you when the contest voting is over.
Comment from Snapdecisions


Promise me you meant Hat , A great entry for the competition you have here , Full of busy and pleasing content on this subject , A very nice overall composition , and was my pleasure to review , Thanks for sharing this , Trev

 Comment Written 22-Mar-2010


reply by the author on 22-Mar-2010
    Of curse I mean Hat [#$%^& Spellcheck!] Thanks Trev, I've already changed it. I know I should blow the contest entry page to 150%. I can't never read what I write there. Thanks for mention the mistake. I appreciate that.