I am bursting through your door, finally officially able to tell you about the reason I've been drawing ships for 2-3 years:
I'm working on a new graphic novel very close to my heart called A TRUE GENTLEMAN
With big marsh, big ships, and BIG YEARNING, inspired by a lot of real queer history and sort of 20% 'if master and commander was trans and hated the british empire'. It’s also my first book where a main character has the same disability as me, and it means a huge amount to get to make this story a reality.
Proper synopsis and more art on patreon (free)(don't worry),
or just let me email you when it's out, if you like.
And it's a bad idea, really.
But most of Will's ideas are bad.
There's a millisecond of hesitation, of pulling his lip between his teeth before he smiles, his face softening and his eyes never leaving Mack's.
"Do you wanna come to Boston?"
my Alexander design as a teen, around the time he first took over as regent (around 16 years old).
as usual, design notes and alternate version under cut (˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧
I am not sure if I got the teenage vibe across just right. I wanted him to be Not Quite Bulked Up at this point, I imagine he was more on the skinny side as a kid because of some anecdotes about his upbringing by Leonidas and he's only now catching up. He kinda reminds me of a lynx, large hands and feel but otherwise a tiny boy.
His hair was originally ginger but the glow layer made it look gold, oops.
I avoided any scars on him for now, I still think I could have added some bruises or a scraped knee, but I let it be in the end. The only one I included is a scratch mark on his cheek that is about to form into a lifelong scar :)
I'm not sure if the kausia could ever possibly be purple. I've seen some discussions about whether it was felt hat or leather, but it looked good with the outfit as is. Sandals referenced from a statue. Who knows, leather can be dyed after all.
The pattern on his chiton is references from Vergina tomb wall paintings! I tried going for a colour border at one point but hated it, so gold it is for our golden boy.
As for jewelry, as much as I'd like to deck him out in gold, I kept it light. I don't remember the specific fibula I referenced anymore, but the belt with the heracles knot is real! Referenced from a belt from 3rd century BC, a bit after his death, but I liked it a bit too much to skip it. Also! His regency ring! I liked the note in Fire From Heaven about how his first order of business was to get a strip of gold to make the ring fit him better. My take is that he just wears it on his thumb instead, until he grows into it proper.
Last but not least, the alternate take! I wanted him in black to properly show him wearing rich expensive fabrics, but he just looks so nice in this lighter shade, too, and you get to see the details a little better.
