#new wave sff

[omie-wise]

I keep returning to this, a shading technique I haven’t played with in some twenty years or so. I took a long break from doing much drawing (and I haven’t painted in 25 years or so, sculpted even longer) and the return has been bumpy.

But I look at this & I’m pleased with it. I wish I had older art to compare it too, to show how far I’ve come. But older art is lost, destroyed, or with my parents which means it might as well not exist. I can see where I’ve been, how far I’ve come, and where I’m going.

And the tiny lines are a nostalgic thing too.

I used to work on thick water color paper, India ink, small brushes and dip pens and a razor blade to carve thin white lines into the ink. White ink exists of course but the small scratches added texture as another form of contrast.

[omie-wise]

1) I think this needs the extra detail along the chest/shoulder (in addition to the edging of the collar/placket and gold fasteners along said placket)

2) I think the sleeves read better as lace/mesh and appliqué when it’s solid color. Looks less like tattoos.

3) frankly I’m debating leaving this as an uncolored sketch. Let me die.

[omie-wise]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/65134276/chapters/198663166

…

There was nobody outside but some fish, small silver ones unspooling in the air like pigeons. They glittered in the ambient light before darting into various dark crevices and holes, hiding their fires. A shadow passed over us and I looked up to see the underside of something vast moving away from the direction we were headed. There was no reeling involved, no drunk delight, instead a steady ground-eating (water-eating?) retreat from our destination.

I kept my reservations to myself.

…

[omie-wise]

I wasn’t liking this but I kept going and now I like it, it’s taking a shape I approve of. Idk if I’m going to keep the pencil look or ink it or what.

[omie-wise]

Yes I’ve decided to try the tinylines approach with this.

Here’s the scribbled out thing I did previously to play with color.

I prefer her mouth and eyes in this piece.

And here she is with the scribbled in color but without the outline.

[omie-wise]

This would be like… chapter nine or so, when Vialle follows Random to Amber after his failed revenge fratricide/regicide.

[omie-wise]

I worry that the appliquéd fabric along her throat looks like a throat tattoo.

I’ll try to define the border of the fabric & maybe add a few wrinkles & see if that helps. Failing that a bit of color might clarify things.

I’m still debating the belt buckle. Maybe I’ll make it a knotted sash? That would tie in with the flowing sleeves. The rigidity & structure of a large buckle suits the rest of the gown though. And then there’s the toggles/frogs up the front.

Maybe a subtle snake theme…?

[omie-wise]

Ok. I think the stuff along the throat is too small and close together. The sleeve is already looking better.

I am an impatient person who hasn’t got much free time. Why do I keep adding fiddly details??????