sigune | Art: Ygraine (G)

I don't want to count the hours I spent working on this small picture! It measures 13 x 21 cm and I started it on the Thalys to Paris. (I have a little something with trains and drawing, don't I?) All that remains from what I drew on the train is the nose, the hand and the rose. All else was reworked again and again. All that to end up with such a flawed drawing... But somehow I like its flaws. They give Ygraine something a little bit otherworldly, which is quite appropriate to the character.

Ygraine teaser

(See a larger version at deviantART here.)

I didn't expect I would be happy with the colours I got from using colour pencils. But it turns out that I am. Maybe my colours skills have improved, because when I tried colour pencils in a Moleskine sketchbook before, I didn't like the result at all. Now I am actually looking for a type of paper as close in texture to Moleskine as I can find, because I want to do this again in the future on loose sheets :-).

I spent more time and effort than usual researching the costume and jewellery (even though you don't see a whole lot of it *g*). That is because this drawing is part of my concept pictures for the final version of The Darkest Hour. More will follow.

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I see what yo mean with the flaws and the otherworldly appearence, but I think it's really lovely. She definitely has that special something... I adore the rose.

Thank you!

The process was a special experience for me. The first drawing wasn't very good, and usually I start all over again in such a situation. This time I kept working on the same picture (partly because the paper allowed me to - it didn't get damaged), forcing myself to look for improvements, to add details and even (!) to do a background *g*.

I'm glad you like the rose, and happy that I put it in :-).

She's gorgeous...and haunting. After that immediate emotional reaction, my eye was very pleased to travel the "triangle of pink" from her lips to the rose and then her gown and back again, and similarly with the blues in her eyes, hair and bangles. It is a superb use of (and composition with) colour. I also love the way you've repeated curved lines and spirals in everything from the folds of her gown and the stem of the rose to the background pattern. It gives a real sense of animation--there is a powerful and sensual potential to her, if that makes any sense.

(And of course I noticed--and squeed over--the fibula fastening her gown! Your attention to detail definitely pays off :-)

Thank you! :D That, and I'm happy to see you around here :-).

It's wonderful to read that the picture and the colours work like this. To me it feels as if this picture just - happened. The colours, that is, because they came more or less spontaneously, in contrast with the hours of work on the line art.

Your 'emotional reaction' brought a big smile to my face. It will sound silly (...or tragic? *g*), but drawing beautiful women turns out to be really difficult for me. The story requires Ygraine to be the kind of woman for whose love a king conducts a great battle against his best friend. That makes drawing her a little bit - stressful ;-).

Oh, how lovely!

(I especially like the glint of light on the coils of her upper arm bracelet)

Thank you very much!

The glint started as an accident :P. I erased a part of her arm and a bit of the bracelet went too. When I saw that, I thought it looked like a great way to do a glint :-). Glad you like the effect!

Absolutely gorgeous! I love the expression on her face. And the jewelry is wonderful. I love the flower in her hand and the vines in the background. Wonderful, so beautiful!

Thank you so much! :D

It does teach me to continue working on a picture until it is quite finished ;-). It's almost ridiculous what a difference a background, even as simple as this one, can make. It took me this long to realise how lazy I have been before *g*.

Your work is so polished now. You use pencils so well. She really glows.

I especially like the background colours - the yellow and green - and how they work with the red, green yellow of her rose. Very delicate.

Eeeeh. Thanks very much XD! I still have a long way to go when it comes to colour, but the progress I have made so far is mostly due to you :-). So: thank you for that! ♥

I do like polish. Pencils do give you the most perfect control. I'm going to try pencils on Bristol paper next and see where that takes me...

Her eyes (regard) are quite catching. I had to remind myself she wasn't just that.

Thank you! It took me a few tries to get there, so I'm especially glad to read this :-).

Wow, I love her! What you said about the flaws and the otherworldly look is absolutely true- the "flaws" (although I don't think you can really call them that if they produce such an effect!) do make her look like a faery. She is incredibly beautiful and her eyes and her expression are so mesmerizing...

But also kudos to you for the gorgeous gown and all of the details. I'm simply amazed. :)

Thank you so much! XD

She's a bit like Helen of Troy: men do crazy things for her. That's why I get very nervous (and often desperate) trying to get her looks right...

Art: Ygraine (G)

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