Pencil Sketches, PG - The Coat

[Col.Despard]

When one is down to one's last $70 until payday (Thursday), one buys a set of new graphite pencils, a sketch block, and a bottle of French sparkling Rose (I blame the last one on the fact that my favourite bottle shop was festooned with French flags, so I felt inspired after my Saturday morning gym class). Spent the weekend at BFFs, chatting to her over the kitchen counter as I sketched and we drank the sparkles (and moved on to Gin-and-It). She was curious about who I was drawing, and prefers Marius.

Now I find that they don't scan well at all -very grainy and muddy, with detail lost. Ah well...



"By the way!"

"What is it, father?"

"Have not you an intimate friend?"

"Yes, Courfeyrac."

"What has become of him?"

"He is dead."

"That is good."

LesMisLoony referenced that exchange recently in her fic, and it's been playing mental earwig with me ever since. This won't be the expiation of the idea, not yet.

Friendships ought not to be reckoned on balancesheets, and Marius did do the odd good turn by Courfeyrac...he leant him those 60 francs (and there's a plot bunny waiting to be followed...what did that money go to, bullets or light-o'-love?). And in his brief gunslinging phase, he even saved Courfeyrac's life, buying him a few hours.

I'm glad now that Hugo didn't give us pages of Marius musing on the meaning of Courfeyrac's death, or those he left behind in the tomb when he emerged. I don't think I could manage it if he had done so. Better to say "he is dead" and leave it at that.

[Col.Despard]

"His speech was harshly inspired, and had the thrill of a hymn."

[MmeJavert]

Good god your drawings are beautiful. Oy. I could jump that Enjolras right this second. (even if he does appear to be missing a finger.)

[MmeBahorel]

It's the perspective - his index finger is coming out at you, thus sort of blending in with his thumb, which is not.

I'd still take fingerless!Enjy - christ, these are beautiful!

[brittlesmile]

Oh, wow! These drawings are beautiful!

[lesmisloony]

Aww! Look at that Marius's hair! And his cheekbones. Wowww. Poor thing. That scene has always gotten to me a bit, too. Look at this eyelashes! Poor thing. But he's so adorable!

And that Enjolras... I can't stop staring at his torso. Well, I do stop every few seconds, but then I'm staring at that Marius, so I'm basically trapped.

[Col.Despard]

Thank you all! I enjoyed doing these - have-a-chat was chatting as I did them, talking to my friend. I was concerned about the perspective on the index finger, MmeJavert - I wanted to give him as dynamic a hand gesture as possible, but was worried it wouldn't be entirely clear what that was...I haven't sprayed fixative on these, so will try to rework it to highlight and separate it.

May also get rid of Marius' single-emo-tear. He's obviously pretty upset (unless he's having a migraine), so it's probably overkill.

[Gulnare]

Nooo, I love Marius' tear!

Brilliant job, as usual

[lesmisloony]

It's Marius, for heaven's sake. If anyone in LM would have an emo tear, it's definitely him. I think it's beautiful.

[MmeJavert]

It's the perspective - his index finger is coming out at you, thus sort of blending in with his thumb, which is not.

Yeah, I noticed it after a few moments. but unless you're looking for it, he does kinda look fingerless. Not, mind you, that I am complaining, because he is hot. His mouth--! and the way his hair falls about his face... mmm

[Euphrasie]

May also get rid of Marius' single-emo-tear. He's obviously pretty upset (unless he's having a migraine), so it's probably overkill.

I didn't even notice he had a tear. Aww, Marius. Sometimes, I just want to hug you and tell you it's all going to be okay. Other times, ehh. Not so much.

[Mamselle Miss]

Preeeety! Sorry, that's really the only thing I can think of to say about these.

[Col.Despard]

Ah, I'll let him keep the emo tear. Here, Marius. Have a hanky.

I want to do either Courfeyrac throwing his arms around Marius at the barricade, or Courfeyrac tying up his headwound with his own cravat.

Sniff. Courfeyrac. Hang on a sec, Marius - I'll join you in the sniffles there.

And thank you for all the nice comments...and especially the feedback on the hand. It really helps to know what doesn't work, and I shouldn't have chose a source hand image that was so awkward for me to work with.

[MmeBahorel]

Courfeyrac tying up his headwound with his own cravat.

Pirate Marius! (you know Courfeyrac is thinking it *g*)

[lesmisloony]

I feel like being able to pull of Marius's response to a glomp from Courfeyrac would be beautiful. He'd be battling with his pride and his actual affection for Courfy... hahaha, Marius.