Smoochagram 203 - Tanukidad

This one was for TanukiDad! This one was wild! I got it all wrapped up in 3 days which is... I still can't believe it! (That's not to say it was 3 days from acceptance of commission to final product but 3 days until beginning in earnest to completion which means it's something I can do! It's also something I want to do so I'm gonna do that!) I had lots of great thoughts while working on this and had a wonderful time with the foliage! I don't know something clicked for me this time and I was basically just doodling the leaves and flowers from imagination, which really fits the piece much better than if I had referenced every little flower and leaf shape to make it a fully accurate render!

I've always wanted to draw these two and now that I have I'm incredibly satisfied with the results!

Planning: Each of these steps is meant to basically be doodle versions that help me see the final product more clearly! Each one brings me closer to solidifying the vague notion I see in my head, bringing imagination to reality!
Pt 1 The Boys - Getting a feel for the boys I'm going to draw and the style I'll be doing it in by doing a preliminary sketch
Pt 2 The Pose - Figuring out the general pose I'll be working with
Pt 3 The Interaction - In Smoochagrams it's rarely useful to plan out just the kiss. How the hand moves over the body when two characters are touching is so fuffing essential in making a kiss work!
Pt 4 The Cropping - Each cropping brings a different flavor to the image. What you don't show is just as important as what you do show!
Pt 5 The Directional forces - How will the eye be guided around the painting? Are there any forces that shoot the eye directly off the painting?
Pt 6 The Color - Color is the emotional backbone of your piece. What do you want the viewer to feel with these colors you're using?
Pt 7 The Lighting - Closely tied to color, this adds more dimension to the mood in how the emotion is framed! Are the shadows harsh? Do they hide anything? What's in light and what's in dark?