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Sigune — Henrietta
#illustration #watercolour
Published: 2015-08-30 16:02:19 +0000 UTC; Views: 2561; Favourites: 69; Downloads: 0
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Description
This is Henrietta, a character I invented ... ages ago ... for a comic I worked on while at university. It never went anywhere at the time - I don't remember why, I guess I never got the story sorted out to my liking - but somehow I thought of the characters again a few weeks ago and started sketching them. This was so much fun that I decided to paint Henrietta as a birthday present to a friend. And so he ends up with an elf-eared eighteenth-century pin-up
. I have a soft spot for eighteenth-century costume, but I am rarely patient enough to draw it in all its overdecorated detail. This time I thought I would really sit down and do it properly
. And can you see how I tried to add some contrast? My art teacher would say it isn't nearly enough, I think, but I did my best, honestly!I am rather happy with my watercolour technique in this one. I managed reasonably smooth transitions, which is something I have been trying to achieve for a while. That wonderful Arches cold-pressed paper probably helped...
Media: Copic multiliners (inks) and Winsor & Newton and Blockx watercolours on Arches Cold-Pressed (300 g/m²).
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Comments: 12
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Beautiful photo. Great pencil work and coloring. Coloring has a great texture to it. Very nicely done.
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… GOODNESS ME, but this lady looks like the sort of Trouble men can't wait to charge into! (Well done Ms. Sigune, definitely one for the DANGEROUS LIAISONS sorority).
By the way, for those of you who find this apparel rather overpowering, it should be noted that by the standards of the Rococo look this particular costume is downright modest - in fact that hairstyle in particular is downright PLAIN by the crazy, crazy standards of the court at Versailles (Quite a number of ladies elected to have their hair somehow sculpted into an astounding variety of shapes).
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I am utterly fascinated by the crazy combination of those décolletés with heaps and heaps of fabric elsewhere. Not all décolletés were equally deep, but some were very deep indeed.
The crazy headdresses were more the thing at the time of Marie Antoinette though (earlier Marie Antoinette, before she went all 'shepherdess'). This dress and hairstyle are a bit earlier - more Madame de Pompadour.
Also, Les liaisons dangereuses is one of my favourite novels ever
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I have to admit that Rococo is fascinating to look at, but I much prefer the later and somewhat simpler fashions from the early 1800s (what we in GB would call The Regency Era); I'd much rather be a Dandy a la Beau Brummel than a powdered Fop!
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I love the addition of the fleshy stocking!
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Thank you! I was pleased with how that came out
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Well, as you said the details need patience, but you managed to do them 
And you say that Arches really makes a difference? 
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Oh, Arches makes a HUGE difference for me - maybe because the Fabriano paper I used to use was just really bad? It absorbed too much, too quickly. I know some people find Arches disappointing, but it has never disappointed me. It has gorgeous texture (whether smooth, rough or inbetween) and exactly the right degree of absorption. It's just <3!
I'm afraid my knowledge of Photoshop is sadly limited. I have no idea how to work with Levels...
Thank you!
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