Turkey Bowler

The image looks good, and I'm certain the connoisseurs of the pins would find thing image to be appealing to their past-time. The turkey himself is pretty good, matches all the traits of a bowler's caricature. He's posed properly with just the correct amount of motion to get the motion of bowling expressed but relaxed enough to show a fun, relaxed implementation of the sport.

The background is where most of my observations lie. I feel that the bowling ball in the turkey's hands is the most important element in the scene for establishing character and action, but the ball disappears in the composition of the alley's design. The top edge of the ball experiences a substantial tangent with the background, which sucks the ball (according to the viewer) out of the turkey's plane into the background. The line weight of the background is also as strong, if not stronger, than the turkey's so the turkey doesn't have any pop in the image.

There are some issues with depth as well. It could have been your intended design, but the perspective doesn't push the alleys far enough, so the pins look like they're only 10 feet away. Also, there are some interesecting lines with the pins (I feel those pins are the most important background element, as it is the object the turkey is pointing at, so those should be nicely cleaned up).

I don't like the placement of the ball dispenser in the foreground. I think it would have been better suited if it was off to the right side, so it wasn't overlapping the turkey. That would also have it act as a border element, getting rid of the empty space in the bottom-right corner.

Lastly, and this is just getting nitpicky, the wood plank texture to the left of the turkey's left foot doesn't share the same alignment as the other lines representing the floor texture. That throws off the environment's perspective in that area, and with its position next to the turkey, that also angles the turkey (in comparison) oddly in the environment.

Vision: The feel and theme of this image puts The Stray Cats in my head. If I can look at an image, and hear rockabilly in the aether of my imagination, the image succeeds at bringing me to the emotion it was intending to bring. It takes a special breed of visualization to do that.

Originality: The subject matter and choice of character are very appealing, and quite novel. This definitely works as a mascot sort of representation. I do wish, though, that the actual action of the image was pushed a little more. Maybe giving a bit of a wilder theme to the image. For example, the design above the pins is a retro 50's style; maybe if a retro feel was exemplified even further in more period-related objects hanging on the wall (adverts, etc.) or laying around (classic soda bottles, excessively patriotic logo designs).

Technique: I'm sure you spent a good amount of time on getting those shoes just right. So I'm taking a moment to recognize the shoes in particular. Well done. I think that the layout and perspective of the background could have been a little better and more consistent. The turkey doesn't quite jump out like he should against the background, especially around the bowling ball. And there are some intersecting lines. But the turkey himself looks great in design, expression, and stance.

Impact: This looks a lot like an image a good friend of mine would draw. And considering whom the image was made for, it's very fitting. I really like the image, and find it expressing a positive vibe towards bowling and good humor in its style.