Ellis Beetle Poster

[SoonerGriff]

This is a promotional poster I did in Photoshop. The project is a children's themed adventure series, and this is the launch of their ice cream brand. Art, letters and design by me.{Fonts provided by blambot.com}

[Gelf13]

I like it. My only crit is that for an Ice Cream festival, it seems a bit on the dark side.

[Maggott]

For a kid who's looking forward to a grand adventure AND stuffing himself with ice-cream, he doesn't look all that excited. But aside from that, the shape of the child's face reads beautifully. I'm having trouble reading the shape of the beetle's head, though--you've got a light source that appears to be from the left, but a shadow going straight down from his cheek and a highlight on the rightmost edge of his face.

Also, the linework looks a bit rough in some places. If this is going to be a poster, clean curves and lines will be very important. If you're using Photoshop, often the best way to clean up a troublesome curve is to just use the pen tool.

[RenoWolf]

I have to agree, this looks kinda dark. I think its the background that seems to be muddying things up. Maybe try a lighter color? Something that will make it POP!
I also agree about the child not looking exited to be eating said ice cream.
I have a question though. If this is the launch of an Ice Cream Brand, what is that brand? GKD? Or is it Lars and Ellis Beetle? I would have no idea that this was promoting a brand had I not been told.
The pertinent information is place appropriatley, (other than the brand of ice cream) but you have some left-over space in the bottom left hand corner that could be filled.

Hope this helps!

[SoonerGriff]

Thanks for the helpful hints. This is a preliminary layout, and the dead space is going to be filled with sponsors and such. I agree completely about the background, (he originally wanted it black) but I think I'll send him over here to read what ya'll wrote, and see if that changes his mind.