Lo We Are Not So

God damn it, I was in love with this until I scanned it, and then all the problems just jumped the hell out at me. Nume's hand looks huge because I screwed up the wrist, and something about the head still isn't right, and I think his glasses would actually make his eye(s) appear smaller since he's farsighted, so the one showing is too big and maybe too high up in his face anyway, and I suck at coloring shadows on things I don't know why I keep trying and the lighting is all over the damn place and ARGH.

Ilraen, you're darling, and I love you for being so photogenic. Nume, you utter, utter bastard, one of these days I will get you to cooperate with me throughout the entire process if it kills us both.

*pant, pant*

Okay . . . rant aside, I really don't hate how this turned out. I'm just mad that it's not as good as I thought it was right up until I saw the scan pop up on my computer screen, when it was way, way too late.

This is the raw image that I'm using as a cover for a fanmix/playlist I've compiled for these two characters--the title of the mix is "Lo We Are Not So," and if you think about it for a minute or two, I think the meaning of the line will pop out at you like it did me when I first heard the song I've snurched it from (which is the last track in the playlist). The mix is available here at Box.net. There's a track list, the basic cover image, and a full cover with track list that's big enough to print, if you feel like burning an actual CD.

Things I still actually quite like in this are the color of Nume's shirt, for which I thank *2138 for suggesting it to me, and the coloring technique in general. I've discovered the power of the Prismacolor blending marker, and it is glorious. Not only does it work like a charm and produce a really smooth blend, it saves my hand and wrist a lot of strain. Better results for less effort is a major win. Also, Nume really does look almost like he ought to, if you factor out the things I know I did wrong. Ilraen is of course a wonderful subject, as always. It's hard to botch the anatomy if you're making it up as you go.

Materials are my usual Prismacolors with a bit of help from a black micron pen and white gel pen.

Characters and art are mine and you can't have them. They need rather special care and feeding, anyway.
Andalites are the brainchild of K. A. Applegate, and this one is a poor orphan who wouldn't really fit in with his fellows.
The PPC concept is the creation of Jay and Acacia, and is used with permission.