Pencil Sketches, PG - The Coat

[Col.Despard]

Perhaps it's the clothes that have Enjolras intrigued? Doesn't notice flowers...unless they're on Jehan's waistcoat! And don't worry, Loony - as soon as it became apparent where this pic was heading as I drew it, I was giggling too. Even Jehan's expression started to amuse me - he's obviously past the first shock of "Is Enjolras coming on to me?" and is enjoying the situation. I don't suppose it's a problem for those in the pic, MmeBahorel - just as far as my intentions were concerned!

On the other hand, perhaps Enjolras truly is Captain Oblivious. I've given of the "signals" before that in retrospect I realised were terribly flirty, although I was just in a good mood/being friendly (met a boyfriend who worked in a running store that way while trying on shoes).

I still do the alien-on-shore-leave thing as well, Frédérique...sort of like Jehan, I have a whole lot of 20s/30s velvet jackets and coats that I wear over jeans. My first 20s vintage purchase was a teal green silk velvet jacket with a huge ruched collar...it's still my "comfort" piece that I wear when I need a pick me up, even if there are a couple of rubbings in the velvet that make it more shabby than chic. If I were dressing like any of the ABC boys, it would be Jehan.

[MmeJavert]

I had to go and look at the bigger version on devArt, and I admit giggling to. Jehan's so much cuter in the bigger version, and Enjolras... well, I wouldn't be able to resist that sort of flirtation either! His charm is so very evident in this picture, and we shouldn't forget that Enjolras was a charming young man -- with a few exceptions, of course.

[a_marguerite]

I have to say, I looked at Jehan's hair and thought, "Hunh, Enjolras, I guess your Saint-Just obsession can get the better of you!"

Also, happy birthday!

[Col.Despard]

Lol on the SJ reference, a_marguerite - that could be it! And MmeJavert, you're right - the charm often seems to get overlooked in favour of the terror (or at least fierce intensity).

a_marguerite, I sat at work all day with a grin because of the story. Adored it. Pic is over in the fanfic pic thread.

[Marianne]

Hey, you know what would really suck?

Grantaire sleeping through the lull in battle and only waking to a volley of gunshots:

Sorry to drag this up again but I JUST realized what this reminds me of: Delaroche's La Jeune Martyre.

It's a heartbreaking pic as it is, but even so, it hit me harder than it rightfully should've. And I think this mental association is part of the reason.

[Lara]

I love it when I connect things in my mind with things I've already seen (though it gets annoying when I can't remember what it is that I am thinking of). It just adds another layer.

[Col.Despard]

That Delaroche painting, La Jeune Martyre, is haunting, Marianne - and not one I'm familiar with. Looks very much like a Symboliste work, and I'm partial to them!

[Col.Despard]

Some very rough sketches I did while doing a friend's Front of House turn at the Museum, in between doing the meet and greet with members of the public (and explaining to curious visitors why I was doing a more extreme example of 1820s fashion...one woman turned out to be someone who does 1860s costuming and dancing!). I have no idea why Enjolras wound up in the ludicrous outfit - I just found an extreme fashion plate and it amused me, so I used it. BIG coat! HUGE lapels! DAINTY Enjolras! But then, I am a child of the 1920s, and I like my huge collars and coats that just swamp you. Courfeyrac could almost carry this look off. Well, no. No one could. But he'd come closer.

There was a point to these - well, sort of. I'm trying to come to grips with a long-haired Enjolras. I've always resisted him as I thought my rendering of his hair was quite anachronistic enough (it started vaguely Delacroixish, and went south). But MmeBahorel does a gorgeous one with a good explanation (i.e. Enjolras Can't Be Arsed cutting it), as does Marguerite (ditto). So here's unintentionally Romantic E. Straight to scraps on DevArt, natch (check out fail hat in bottom right hand corner!)

[lesmisloony]

I LOVE that outfit. So hard. That there is an overcoat that would make Javert blush. Or weep with jealousy, depending how you characterise him.

I actually gasped as I was scrolling down the page and saw that hat. It's still much better than any of my (many) attempts to draw a top hat, so I deem it awesome either way. I love seeing your art... as you well know.

[MmeBahorel]

This is so fab. The coat! The hair! His expression in the top right corner!

[Frédérique]

Did somebody say 'lapels'?
This is oddly charming, even if the poor lad does run a risk of disappearing in the hugeness of the coat. (Quite a good method to pass from one quartier into another unrecognised, in fact; Enjolras' improbable figure and mane are easily identified, but such a coat and hat cover up much of it.)

[a_marguerite]

My God, your long haired Enjolras.... *swoons*

He pulls off the wonderful 1830s excesses so well, and that huge collar just makes his hair look even better. <3 I love the waves in his hair and how he's still got little curls framing his face/ straggling into his eyes.

[MmeJavert]

Long haired E! D My favourite kind.

I have to laugh at the BIG lapelled-coat one: it almost makes him look like a girl who stole her older brother's clothes.

Love the hat, ADORE THE hair, and the expression in the top-right corner is utterly lovely. <3

[Col.Despard]

@Loony - Great coat envy! Love it! I'm seeing some sort of scenario with the words "I am going to kill Courfeyrac" running through his head. Because, clearly, someone has persuaded him allow himself to be swathed in miles of cloth. And huge, huge shawl collar (?) and lapels. This is almost a toned down version of the original, which is very alarming.

@MmeBahorel & MmeJavert - glad you liked the profile pic. That's my preferred image of the three - it comes a skerrick closer to how I see his habitual expression. Thoughtful and with the eyes on that distant horizon, but not so utterly dreamily abstracted.

@Frédérique, I think a disguise could be the only excuse for that get-up. Unless Grantaire somehow persuaded him to go along with his suggested fundraising proposal...?

@Marguerite, I don't think I could even ditch the tendril of hair falling in the face. I'm far too attached to them. I credit them to the disarrayed hair of the barricades...it seems to get touselled very easily (and, no doubt, very delectably). I'll do a few long-haired versions, but will revert to the mid-length I'm quite fond of. I think he'd get irritated with long hair after a while.

[Cary]

Enjolras is utterly *swimming* in that coat! Oh Force, extreme wardrobes! and that "I can't be arsed to cut my hair, and I don't care how ridiculous I look in these clothes I dug out of some trunk!" look. PRICELESS. And awesome.