A few sketches

[fpb]

It occurred to me that I haven't published any new sketches in years. There is of course a practical reason for it - I don't have a working scanner, let alone one that takes A3 sheets - but it means that a number of my newer friends may not even know that I am a failed artist. So, behind the cut, I have placed a number of drawings I produced from a few years ago, and which I published on this blog at various times - not to compare myself to any of my real artist friends, but to show that I do have a small claim in this area.

Comments

[inverarity.livejournal.com]

Pretty cool. A long, long time ago, I wanted to be a comic book artist. I even went through a few phases of taking art classes and buying lots of books and supplies.

Now, I just mangle pixels -- I don't have the dedication to really learn the craft, so I'm still mediocre even with Photoshop.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

I have long been thinking about producing AQ illustrations - I should have known you had some comics background, your writing builds up a visual dimension all the time. Unfortunately, until the blessed day when I have a functioning scanner again, it won't do much good even if I try.

Actually, I never took any drawing lesson and I only ever had a couple of textbooks. I guess you could say I am dedicated - or that I wasted an awful lot of time.

[inverarity.livejournal.com]

Well, I'd certainly love to see some AQ fan art. Hope you get a scanner some day. :)

[thefish30.livejournal.com]

i <3 these. earnest & beautiful.

[sanscouronne.livejournal.com]

The Harry Potter ones made me smile (I'm afraid I am too culturally illiterate to recognize the others...)

I did not know that you sketch. You a truly the Renaissance man!

[fpb.livejournal.com]

What surprises me is that we go back for so long. I thought surely you must have seen some of them? The non-HP ones are all about my own superhero universe, and the protagonist is the Silver Angel - or "she who looks like Trine Michelsen".

I wonder if I could feature you as some sort of heroine (remember my brooding about tall girls in armour)?

[sanscouronne.livejournal.com]

Now that I think about it, I do recall the Silver Angel (Trine) sketches, though I did not know that the characters were of your own creation. Are there past posts that you could approximately point me to to review these characters?

I would be honored to be part of your superhero universe, of course!

[fpb.livejournal.com]

If you were cast in some sort of superhero or fantasy story, what kind of character would you like to be? Active, less active, fighting, not fighting, humorous, cool? You must have found yourself thinking about it in some way, having been cast in so many other people's fantasies. I have once or twice put friends in stories, though only in HP fics so far.

Ideal superhero self

[sanscouronne.livejournal.com]

Like a Tolkien elf! Paradoxically old but young, whimsical, very perceptive, with sharp senses, able to flit about soundlessly, adept with a bow and arrow. I am not to keen for outright combat, but I like the idea of shooting from afar. :)

Re: Ideal superhero self

[fpb.livejournal.com]

I thought it might be something like this. I knew that, the more I thought about the Joan of Arc idea of a girl in plate armour, the less sense it made for what I knew of you. I'll think about it; it is certainly a suggestive idea.

Re: Ideal superhero self

[sanscouronne.livejournal.com]

I am not against armor, or the Joan of Arc ideal. :) That was just my initial thought.

[elise-the-great.livejournal.com]

Oh man, these are so much fun. I can tell you're heavily influenced by comics, in an excellent way-- deft linework, characterization, and lots of verve and vigor.

Voldie up top reminds me a whooooole lot of the Grinch, but he's so dang expressive it doesn't bother me at all. XD

[hermoinejean7.livejournal.com]

Your drawings are so good! I loved the Lady Camelot one, especially.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Thank you. There is, of course, a whole personal mythology behind them (apart from the Harry Potter ones). Maybe one day I will clean out the draft outline I left unfinished and write it down.

[annie-from-aust.livejournal.com]

great sketches !

[affablestranger.livejournal.com]

Very good sketches. :)

[mentalguy.livejournal.com]

Cool! I'll second the admiration for your interpretation of Voldemort. I hope you're able to scan again soon.

[capnflynn.livejournal.com]

I really like the girl with the winged helmet! I am a sucker for winged-helmet-having girls. :D

[fpb.livejournal.com]

She is my lead character. She is actually twins, one mortal and one immortal - as you can see in the sketch with Athena. Her character is gentle and rather timid, but she is terrible in battle and could eat Galactus for breakfast, were she that way inclined. The mortal twin's name is (unmarried) Laura Lockridge, (married) Lady Camelot). Yes, another woman with initials LL and a big S on her tunic - notice the design, it's made of laurel leaves. That was wholly unplanned. I may publish an account of the Barbieri universe at some point if I can retrieve the notes from my computer memory.

Oh, and I call the thing she wears a headpiece, not a helmet.