2019 icon progression post

[abyss_valkyrie]

I've never done an icon progression post before and it really helped me see what I've learned and the skills I've honed,the ones I don't use anymore and in general how I tend to icon obsessively when I'm in a fandom,lol!

If you would like,check out more icon progression posts aticontalking.

January
Cutting out the subject and using textures was mainly what I focused on.
I also started trying out borders around the character and learned how to do round text.



February
The second icon is probably my most different icon this month, the crop and the colourful hair strands on blonde was a new one for me. Still using that outline technique and improving it. I started experimenting with text on cheek/face/the subject. I also started getting hooked on Guardian. :D



March
I was pleasantly surprised by the green & unnatural colouring I accidentally did in 2,new discovery yay! At this point, I think I’d decided to stick to the outline technique for the rest of my life,lol. I did diagonal levels in 4 and liked that a lot. I was crazily in love with Guardian by then and its actors so I iconed them a lot and did so for the rest of the year.
I really liked that last icon with the duplicate text and dark icon



April
3 was one of my best icons this month because the cap was difficult to work with and yet the icon turned out better than expected! I found the Master Script font and used it in lots of icons! One of the smoothest animations I’d done was in 5 and was extremely happy with. .



May
Did the unnatural colouring once more and the blue/pink combo was one I was starting to love. In general I had quite a few blue, pink, purple icons this month. Outline once again.
First time I iconed a celebrity chef-GORDON RAMSAY! :D The last icon also uses the unnatural colouring all over with an unusual crop, I’d been trying to not play safe and loved the end result of this icon.



June
I was on holiday at this time so really,not a whole lot of icons.
I watched Carmen Sandiego for the first time so I created icons for it!:D


July
Still on holiday,lol! But I’d just watched the first 2 episodes of The Untamed; and started iconing it.
Made a whole bunch of Reign icons for itsabattlefield’s round on emotions and one of my most fave icon is the ’flirty’; icon(4^th one).
I played Legend of heroes:Trails of cold steel,so I iconed it. Created just 4 icons for icon bingo.


 
August
HOLIDAY! Participation is so-so but I remade icons for iconthat. Still playing Trails of cold steel.I also entered two rounds of disney20in20 this month,lol! Finally watched Aladdin so I began making icons for it!:D One of my favourite unnatural coloured icons was the Lana Del Rey one(The last one)
  


September
Back to making icons-and lots of them! I tried out lots of blending and techniques for themes in various communities and also in general. Full on into Aladdin at this point, I’d watched the movie 4 times already! I rewatched Attack on Titan S1 and S2,then watched S3 and was sad so I made the 3^rd icon for the icon bingo at ic_animated.
  


October
Narnia20in20 had just come back and I had actually watched all 3 Narnia movies this month for the first time.( I know,I know,but better late than never!) There was also a villain centered round at disney20in20.Watched the first season of Is the order a Rabbit? So icons were made. Was pretty excited by the promo images of Maleficent 2. Technique wise,I made some dark icons with lighting that turned out quite interesting! I also made a rotated/muted/close & far icon that I absolutely can’t believe I made!
 
 
 

November
Super busy month with Guardian Bingo going on! Watched HIStory 3-trapped. :D
I also slowly started out experimenting with soft,muted but bright-ish colouring.
Made a very different icon for a faceless challenge(5^th icon). I made quite a few icons of some Chinese actors this month. :D
I started watching Nancy Drew and icons were made!XD The master script font & other text dominating the icons is back!





December
Lots of icons! Especially of The Untamed,I was fully into it and nothing else worked for me when trying to icon.
Also really getting into it with the muted+pastel colouring by now. I made a whole batch of close/far crop icons for a Guardian battle at iconbattles.



.

Resolutions:
Trying out more unique icons like text placement on the face or subject; blending techniques;crops that are not centered; multiple images in 1 icon; making icons of crowds; odd crops that look good; smooth animation; interesting compositions that combine text, textures and other outside elements like stock.