fanart for cereta (pencil version)

[ratcreature]

I usually don't post birthday wishes, but I happened to work on fanart for the fabulous Hanging Work AU, when I noticed that it's cereta's Birthday today. So I thought it would be nice to post it today as a present, even though it's not colored yet. (The colored version is going to be posted soonish, I just couldn't finish it in time for Lucy's birthday.)

It's an illustration for the last scene in the series, for the story Aiding and Abetting III: Resolution of Claim, i.e. for this passage:

Five minutes later, he stood in front of the mirror, needlessly adjusting the sleeves for the fourth time, brushing nonexistent lint off his shoulder. Alfred had done an amazing job. The colors were more muted: the green that took up most of the body was almost black; the red that covered his shoulders and moved down his arms in stylized wings was more blood than apple; the yellow was only there in the insignia. But they were still his family's colors, still the colors he'd learned to fly in.

He felt as much as heard Batman's presence behind him, just before a gloved hand grasped his right shoulder, then slid down to the stylized "R" on his chest.

"Should I ask?"

Dick took a deep breath. "Robin," he said. "Call me Robin."

Oh, btw, I also made a new icon for birthday wishes. So:

Happy Birthday cereta! I hope you enjoy your present, and it's hopefully going to be finished soon.

Comments

[thete1.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, that's gorgeous. Dick's *nose*. I... it's so... *pokes it*

DICK SO PRETTY.

SO SO PRETTY.

But... mmm. I think the hair is my favorite. It manages to be stylized and real-looking at once. And also hot. Sexy, hot hair.

[ratcreature]

Thank you! I'm glad you like it. And I admit that for the hair I shamelessly spent quite some time looking at my desktop wallpaper and how Jim Lee styles Nightwing's hair, though I'm still some years of practice away from being able to make Dick look that sleek and pretty. *g*

[thete1.livejournal.com]

See, I don't know. I mean, Jim Lee's Dick is PRETTY AS HELL, but he's also kinda bland, to my eyes. I like him... he should be staggeringly beautiful, not inhumanly perfect. *hand-wave*

That's why the way you did his nose is just killing meee. :D

[ratcreature]

Yeah, it's true that Jim Lee's characters look very slick, almost too perfect. The unfortunate thing is that in my case the imperfections come more from shortcomings in my drawing abilities rather than conscious planning. *cough* Still glad the nose works for you though. ;)

That said, talking about noses, I now wonder why not more artists draw Bruce with a nose that has been broken but not taken care of perfectly... I mean, all those years he spent abroad learning martial arts and what not who knows where, with no Alfred to fix him?

[thete1.livejournal.com]

*ahahaha* LJ is sending me comment notifications at laaast.

On the Bruce-nose thing -- I think that's why so many people are more fond of the original toonverse design for Bruce than the redesign they busted out for GK/TNBA (and JL/JLU). That was a Bruce who had BEEN THROUGH STUFF.

McDaniel also did it with Bruce -- iirc, the stuff pre-Murderer in BATMAN comes to mind -- but... yeah. Mostly? I'm okay with Bruce looking terrifyingly perfect. It... suits the mythos? In a way? Kind of?

I can *see* him being a scarred-up 25 year old or something, and deciding to put himself through massive amounts of plastic and reconstructive surgery *to protect the secret*.

[cereta.livejournal.com]

I...that...OH MY GOD, you just completely made my day! Thank you so much! It's beautiful!

[ratcreature]

I'm so happy that the illustration works for you! :)

[basingstoke.livejournal.com]

eeee NICE!

[ratcreature]

Thank you!

[maelithil.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, puuuuurty. Hugging! And smiling!

[ratcreature]

Thank you! I'm a sucker for happy endings even in the Batfamily, so of course I chose that final happy moment to illustrate. :)

[lomedet.livejournal.com]

oh my.

that's *pretty*!

I...I...I'd have more coherent comments, but I can't stop looking at the picture.

[ratcreature]

Heh, I'm happy you enjoy the picture. And when looking at Bruce/Dick incoherence is absolutely excusable. ;)

[mklutz]

Oh my god, that's gorgeous! Now I desperately want more hanging work...and more of your fanart!

[ratcreature]

Thank you! I want more Hanging Work too. ;)

My fanart output is unfortunately very sporadic at best, as sadly I'm not a productive person, not even with fun fandom stuff.

[elynross.livejournal.com]

How absolutely gorgeous, and just the perfect moment to choose! It's just *wonderful*!

[ratcreature]

Yes, the final scene was one of my favorite moments in the AU too. I'm glad you like the drawing. =)

[rubynye.livejournal.com]

That is one gorgeous present. *applauds you*

[ratcreature]

Thank you, I'm glad you like it.

[caia-comica.livejournal.com]

Oh wow. That's PRETTY. I've totally lost track of the AU in question--*makes note to catch up at some point. BUT TEH PRETTY!!!

[ratcreature]

So glad my drawing reminded you of Lucy's AU (how could you have lost track??). And it's now finished too (though I sort of hope for sequels...), so perfect to reread!

[caia-comica.livejournal.com]

*hangs head* I'm bad with serials on a purely logistical level; I tend to lose my place and not have time to reread or keep track. Good to hear it's finished, though; once I've got a bit of time on my hands, I'll be on that!

[nightchik.livejournal.com]

*dies*

[ratcreature]

Um, oops? (Who'd have expected fanart to be this hazardous? ;) I hope your afterlife is pleasant. *grin*

[brownbetty]

Oh, nice! Dick's expression, and his body language are very... and the way Bruce is standing. Mmmm...

[ratcreature]

Thanks. I'm glad you liked the drawing. =)

[petronelle.livejournal.com]

This is lovely. The warmth of the AU comes through -- and that *smile*. Oh, beautiful.

[ratcreature]

Thank you, I'm glad it comes across feeling like the AU to you. :)

[meret.livejournal.com]

That's terrific! :)

[ratcreature]

Thank you. =)

[kid-nova.livejournal.com]

Hoh! Just noticed the little nipple tweak in the bottom left. Sexy as!

[ratcreature]

Thank you. I wasn't specifically thinking "tweak", but it was supposed to be a caress, so I'm happy it comes across right. :)