The Indecent (But Hot) Proposal Strip
This strip really didn’t need to happen at all, but I figured a humourous beat would do us all well before we skipped on out of this storyline next Wednesday.
Over the course of the last few months, I have slowly revised most of the characters. Mostly, no one has noticed unless I’ve pointed it out. Sydney and Pepper’s hair colour was darkened, as was Wade, who also had a slight haircut. Aside from constantly evolving hair, Aikida has largely remained unchanged (except on days when I draw her inconsistently). I darkened her hair a few weeks back (no one noticed), and as of this latest donation incentive, I actually darkened her skin quite a bit. I wanted her to have a more exotic look, and I think this a step in the right direction. (I also like this hair cut. For now)
The image to the right (and left, I suppose) is from the latest donation incentive. From the shoulders up, I think it may be the best Aikida pictures I have done. The body turned out alright as well, aside from a part I was dissatisfied with, but all in all, I think it is a result of the new art changes.
I was discussing the art changes last night in IRC, as after almost three weeks, I figured we had a decent cross section of work to disseminate. The biggest change has been the consistency of eyes, though they are still not 100%. But because I don’t have to frame eyes around a more complicated (and usually poorly drawn) style of nose, they have been easier to place. My next goal, while continuing to work on the eyes, is to establish consistency with the shape of heads, and then hair. I’ve been working around the face right now, and we’re making slow progress.
I don’t want (but it probably will) this to spawn a bunch of pro or anti art comments… I get it that some people do or do not like it. I am just saying that it has a point, and it is happening slowly. There is a point to all of this.
As I mentioned above, new donation incentives are available. The Aikida one is a full colour preview of her new look (sans tattoo, which I haven’t settled on yet), with a cute little Sydney one for people who can’t donate as much. The colour on Aikida turned out fairly well since I actually spent some time on the colour and shade blending, which I think (hope) is evident on the image samples you can see.
Mad Men season one was excellent. I will probably spend the weekend digesting season two.
Hopefully yours goes at least as well.
January 30th, 2009 at 12:04 am
Well that got my mind off what the tattoo is going to be. Maybe just a little bit of feeling up to celebrate then?
January 30th, 2009 at 12:11 am
I like how fast Aikida replies with a “nope” to the making out to celebrate question lol. Now i really wonder what kind of tattoo she’ll get! Damn u Monday, why r u soo far away!?
January 30th, 2009 at 6:10 am
Hahaha. I like Aikida’s expression.
January 30th, 2009 at 6:23 am
So she has a daughter, but wants to make out with Aikida? So she’s bi then? If she’s a redhead too, then I think I have a new favourite character.
January 30th, 2009 at 7:34 am
Argh! Damn you, Fenris! I liked the new art style when it started, but the little changes I didn’t like now seem to becoming permanent and more at the fore (like the rhyme?).
I never wanted to make any negative comments, but I’m going to have to. For me, Aikida is looking too young. I know this reboot has set them in an earlier part of their lives, and the addition of Pepper helped to cement that, but over the last 2-3 comics, Aikida seems to be losing her distinctive face and expression. She always looked a little world weary to me, having to put up with the irritations that are other people. The ‘new design’, ESPECIALLY the new incentive, have stripped Aikida of that and made her look more like a generic anime/manga girl. Now I’m struggling to see her as a strong, independent and sure of herself character, and finding it very easy to see her waving her hands in the air and shrieking for some manly hunk to rescue her.
I love your characters and your art, which even for a ‘trained’ artist would be incredible. But now I’m worried that design changes are moving the comic too far away from the unique qualities that made me fall for it in the first place. I’m just expressing my immediate OPINION, as I’m hoping that when we get to a new storyline, the writing will bring out those character traits I love and make my re-adjust my image of Aikida to fit with yours.
(Hmmmm… looking back, that seems like quite a long rambling post. But I’ve gotta get back to work now, so I’ll have to hope you guys can slog through it ;-)
January 30th, 2009 at 7:55 am
That is a good example of constructive criticism. In my defense, she *is* twenty, and hasn’t had a good reason to be world weary. Yet.
Part of the goal was to make her look younger… she still looked in her late 20s, which wasn’t appropriate. Aikida is 20, and should look a bit like a kid still.
January 30th, 2009 at 8:25 am
I’m not really that fussed because the story is great. I’ll be happy to let everyone else debate the art.
If Aikida turned into a 70 year old man with one arm from the French province of Ardeche *then* I may object but right now I’m not bothered.
January 30th, 2009 at 9:03 am
Fenris, I was going to agree with SATS (which is actually why I came in here) but he was far more eloquent then I could have been.
If she’s 20, then that’s cool for a facial design, but she also looks a bit skinnier than I would have liked. IE: you couldn’t have made that Jessica Rabbit joke with any of the strips in the last few days. Granted, I haven’t got the donation yet, and she IS wearing a winter coat, but the womanly shape hasn’t been conveyed.
I was just hoping you weren’t taking her in a skinny-beanpole-tomboy direction. I preferred the shapely-hot-tomboy :D
January 30th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Akida seems very used to these kinda questions.
February 1st, 2009 at 8:06 pm
First time poster long time reader (like since the very very begining) and gotta say. The new art style isn’t working for me. You have taken what was your own distinctive style and joined the anime gang and it really doesnt work.
I am happy that you are making regular updates now…I have high hopes that will continue because I think you are an very talented writer with some good yarns to spin.
February 1st, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Yeah no kidding. ;)
February 2nd, 2009 at 5:35 am
So say we all!
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