Pencil Sketches, PG - The Coat

[Lara]

That is one massive coat but it still manages to work it. Whoa. Scary image of Enjolras smiling with his eyes with Tyra Banks just happened.

[Col.Despard]

Cary and Lara, glad you liked the OTTness of the coat. The weird thing is, it's not a parody - it's a slightly toned down version of the original fashion plate (which is clearly ridiculously exagerated, but...). I was born with an affinity for theatrical styles (frequently just the plain bad) - you should see my new 1920s vintage headdress that would do no shame to Mucha or Erte.

Flushed with enthusiasm after violin playing Enjolras, I attempted to tackle cello playing Combeferre in the Amis quartet. Euh - not such a great success. Pride goeth before a cello, mark you my words.



And guys? Thank you. In an otherwise foul day, there was one highlight:

MATURIN KNOWS DESPARD!!!!!!!

Didn't know whether to cry aloud on the morning commute in glee or just hug the book. It was a throw away reference, to be sure - Maturin recalls something Despard said to him about the number of cryptic Catholics in the UK - but it kept me going all morning. Hints very nicely at the nebulous Despard-United Irishman link that has never been fully substantiated, relying as it does on inference and the dodginess of paid spies and informers. Sad to think what dire straights Despard himself was in at the time the first book is set, and to what end he will shortly come.

[Cary]

And you're saying "pride goeth before a cello" because....??

Seriously, that totally rocks. Not just as an Amis picture, but as a music drawing in general. I like Combeferre's chemistry with the cello: here it looks like an instrument he's totally comfortable with, and knows how to coax the best sounds out of it (which is that integral relationship between man and music instrument), and you see that same comfort wit the music score as well - this isn't any real effort for him.

Kudos for nailing the cello; if there's anything that makes me beat my head against a desk, it's drawing stringed instruments! (only a little less so than actually playing them).

[a_marguerite]

Psh, not a great success? This is an absolutely lovely picture. Combeferre is positively squee-worthy. I love his expression- he's clearly engaged with his instrument and both knows how to play his instrument and enjoys playing it. Once again; you have wowed me with Combeferre's incredible hair. It just!!!! He and Enjolras and Courfeyrac should have their own Pantine Pro-V commercial.

The shading here is absolutely exquisite, on the cello and with Combeferre's clothes (especially the knee of his trousers).

Chapeau!

Ha, finally been sucked into Master and Commander? It's so chock-full of geeky marvels.

[Col.Despard]

Erm...it works? Thanks, Cary! I won't go into everything I suspect is wrong with it, for fear that everyone will see the problems highlighted like I do when I look at it. I'm just so unfamiliar with musical instruments - the only thing I could manage is the flute, and even then I'd need a clear reference for it. I'm terrified not just of the technical blunders, but also of missing more subtle nuances of how people interact with the instruments.

[MmeJavert]

Eeee Eeeee Eeee you drew Combeferre with a 'cello! *bounces and squees* Okay, maybe over the top glee, but oh god Combeferre with a 'cello, what a happy happy thing.

It's gorgeously done. I don't see any problems with it -- the 'cello looks marvelous and I love his intent expression --and his hands moving the bow and holding the neck... mmm. Combeferre is beautiful, the 'cello is beautiful, and I want to stare at it all day.

I think this might be my favourite drawing ever. Not going to lie. Yes, even more than the adorable (and hot) slashy ones! Of course, now my mind is super-imposing your violinist!Enjolras standing behind him for a little duet.

And guys? Thank you. In an otherwise foul day, there was one highlight:

MATURIN KNOWS DESPARD!!!!!!!

Didn't know whether to cry aloud on the morning commute in glee or just hug the book. It was a throw away reference, to be sure - Maturin recalls something Despard said to him about the number of cryptic Catholics in the UK - but it kept me going all morning. Hints very nicely at the nebulous Despard-United Irishman link that has never been fully substantiated, relying as it does on inference and the dodginess of paid spies and informers. Sad to think what dire straights Despard himself was in at the time the first book is set, and to what end he will shortly come.

YAY!

See. We have discussed getting you into Master & Commander precisely BECAUSE of this link. We just knew you'd adore Maturin, and perhaps some of the other characters you'll meet in the first book. Stephen is so delightful.

[MmeBahorel]

Oh come on, this is so totally gorgeous! Combeferre is hot, the cello is hot, it's brilliant

(and ha, we knew you'd get sucked into Master and Commander. I've had a mad crush on Stephen and Dillon for more than ten years now. So sorry about the otherwise foul day, though.)

[merlin_emrys]

This made my day ten times over. It's just so perfect! There's nothing more beautiful ... save perhaps, Enjolras with a violin -- although they're pretty evenly matched for sheer gorgeousness.

Haha, been introduced to the Patrick O'Brian universe? That's brilliant! You mentioned before you were a Forester fan, it's only logical that you should check out O'Brian as well! I've only read the first two books so far, but enjoyed them quite a bit. I'd actually never noticed the Maturin-Despard link, but that was probably because I had no idea who Despard was and so it had less significance at the time. Now, however, it seems quite perfect!

[Lara]

These make me regret dropping viola (and several other instruments, now that I think of it) because instruments are just so pretty.
Gorgeous as always!

[9430]

Wow, you can really feel the connection between Combeferre and his 'cello. I love love this picture! Everything about it is so beautiful!

[lesmisloony]

What's wrong with the cello? It looks absolutely fabulous! Every time I try to draw a cello (or violin... or guitar...) it comes out looking like a striped squash or an apple core. This picture is lovely!

I may be a little obsessed with the way his coat is hanging over the bottom of his chair. And his shoes for some reason. I most certainly cannot draw feet.

[Cary]

Erm...it works? Thanks, Cary! I won't go into everything I suspect is wrong with it, for fear that everyone will see the problems highlighted like I do when I look at it. I'm just so unfamiliar with musical instruments - the only thing I could manage is the flute, and even then I'd need a clear reference for it. I'm terrified not just of the technical blunders, but also of missing more subtle nuances of how people interact with the instruments.

Eh, it's not as if there aren't more important things than getting things technically correct. A well-meaning friend once almost ruined me by saying, "You shouldn't put up anything that's less than perfect. Because that's what you would expect of other artists" - until I went on a journey of discovery and found that even the best names in the business, like Dave Gibbons, even classical artists like Toulouse-Lautrec and Magritte, were fully capable of screwing up the small stuff. And it didn't matter, as they'd demonstrated, because the essence and the message were there.

A picture shouldn't be flogged to death either.

[Col.Despard]

@Marguerite - sorry I missed your comments earlier! I was so pleased you liked the shading on the knee, because for some reason I had trouble with it and it took quite a few goes. In the end I'd lost all perspective on the matter and decided "sod it - this is what I'm going for." I nearly finished a pic illustrating the end of "A Passion for the Absolute"...but forgot and left it at work, so it won't be scanned and finished until next week.

@MmeJavert - so glad you like it that much! I'll put the original in the package when I send it. And I'm tickled that you guys compare everything to the slash pics - as good/nearly as good being the scale I'm hoping to get around to illustrating the "Nrgh" line this weekend, and am still working on a colour pic of MmeBahorel's fireplace.

Master and Commander - oh, yes, you guys did tell me. Still. DESPARD! Which reminds me - need to show the rest of the family, who will be nearly as chuffed.

@MmeBahorel - Always pleased when someone sees a bit of sex appeal in my Combeferre. And yes - loved Dillon. And the United Irishmen backstory. And am hugely amused by Aubrey.

@Merlin - Despard was a throwaway couple of mentions, so it's no wonder that no one else noticed or remembered it (for me, it might have been in letters 10 feet high). I've had the series recommended to me for years, but to be honest, I read very little recent fiction. But I'm so thrilled with his research and fluency in the idioms of the period. I note that O'Brian was a biographer for Banks, which delights me as well as an Australian (with a British passport). We have the "Endeavour" replica at our museum, and Bank's cabin is always kept as if he'd just walked out the door - usually there's a spray of fresh native fauna in there, as if he were sketching it.

@ Lara & 9430 - many thanks !

@ Loony - I won't specific what's wrong with it as I'm afraid that's what people will see (if they haven't already), but there are some proportional issues and the shape of the instrument is not very precise. But very glad you liked it - and particularly the draping coat and shoes.

@Cary - Oh, goodness, if I followed that advice, I would never have posted a single thing. What's more, my judgement is skewed - I do pieces I loathe at the time and then later decide I'm quite okay with, and vice versa. As always, thank you for your sound advice and encouragement

[Col.Despard]

The only canonical instrument among the lot!

Intended as a b'day present for Abelarda, I'm afraid it's...eck. I don't seem to have my mind on the job these days (and a bit of sparkling rose might have been involved in drawing this):

[MusicalTwin]

Oh my... these Mizzie musician drawings are downright beautiful! You have an incredible talent. Wow, I'm really speechless. It's very difficult to portray someone at making music but you have managed it so well in every aspect. I figure it's going to be a whole Mizzie orchestra?!

How long does it take you to draw something like that?