Today I'm here with a very, very special design. A design based on an OC I'm deeply obsessed in love with <3
Griselda is the proud daughter of the incredible artist @zeldot, a JJBA OC who's part of a project as amazing as it is ambitious: a retelling of different parts of the series in manga format, "fixing" those things that left a bad taste in our mouths! Don't you think it's amazing?
If you want to know more about Gris and this project, or simply enjoy his work, be sure to check out Zel's blog posts under the tags #jjbar, #griselda, and #my art mostly.
This was supposed to be kind of a birthday present, but true to form, I'm a few days late
Happy birthday anyway, Zel <3 I just hope I lived up to the standards of someone like her and yourself!
More wall text details on design choices below the cut :D
Honestly, Gris has been quite a challenge. The more I care about a character, the harder it is to feel like I'm getting it right.
Since she's such a special character, I tried using a base pose that wasn't from a fashion template, which are generally extremely stylized, and instead went with a proportionate reference, from a real human being. Honestly, I really enjoyed the experience; I feel it gives character to the presentation of the overall look even if that is colser to character desing than fashion desing itself.
She's kinf of a rockstar, (her and her stand are deeply connected to music. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to add their stand, which is a real shame because I think it's spectacular. I hope to be able to do so in the future if I ever review this design again) so that was the general vibes I had in mind to whole time.
I've tried to work with very vertical lines and sharp angles to convey her personality, as well as the lines used in her reference design. Both the angled belt and the hidden color in the cape allude to everything that's hidden and the idea that we all keep a story inside that only those who want to know you well will ever see.
I must also confess that I added the cape because capes are DRAMA, and we're all more than ready for a good drama. And I thought it would be something Gris would appreciate.
Tryed too, in a way, to encapsulate one of her physical characteristics: her narrow hips. So I opted for a rather short corset, loosely based on 18th-century stays. By not emphasizing the hips, I also aimed to give it a masculine feel, despite the overall hyper-femininity of my style. And to tie it all together, it's a veiled reference to the design I did for Caesar because reasons, whose corset uses the same historical period as a reference.
And speaking of references, the gloved right hand is one too. Within modern Western culture, generally speaking, the ring finger of the right hand is associated with commitment, and she has an unavoidable commitment to the destiny reserved for her lineage. That's why that finger is bare, standing out among the others, like a gigantic ring would.
The only thing I'm a little disappointed about is that, as usual, I messed up the shading a bit. I managed to salvage it somewhat, but it's something I need to work on.
If you've read this entire wall of text, I love you to infinity.
Again, I just hope I lived up to expectations and did a good job with a character and artist I appreciate so much.
Thanks for coming to my TED Talk and see you soon <3
