Originally Posted To My Waterfall!

Originally Posted To My Waterfall!

So let’s have a context-copy-paste from there! 

(Done pre-Wacom tablet upgrade.)

Copy and Paste for Context:

Originally, Batgirl as an identity wasn't meant to be a side-kick (that was a 1990's post-zero hour retcon! And a messy one at that!)

Batgirl was basically meant to stand on equal footing with Batman; she was an ally, not a copy. Inspired by but not working for nor under. That was pretty much established in her debut episode, in fact! She loved what he stood for, but had her own way; a much more empathetic, working-with-the-people approach!

That carries on to the current run today! So, wheras Bruce nowadays is happy to inspire fear and act as a semi-urban-legend, Barbara wants to be right on the street with the people--using a combo of criminal psychology with the most updated tech!

It's fascinating really!

--End Flashback

Ok, so, my last post? About accepting how I draw? Yeah; this is where I really started to take my own advice.

Or, more specifically, I started to have fun again in my work and actually work on the backgrounds! But although those doneed work, that wasn't the point of this little series;

See, when you design super-hero costumes, you have to take into consideration why they are the way they are.

So; the trunks on the outside? The bright colours and capes? Those are all influenced by the 1930's strongman acts! Early circus performers and gymnasts; the tight spandex was meant to really accentuate the body and show the daringnessbehind those feats!

That translated really, really well in the old Bronze Age Batgirl comics! ...But since, let's be honest, most artists have sort of 'forgotten' showing off the daring-ness of the pose and...well.

But that's why the Batgirl of Burnside design was so refreshing! It went 100% against the grain without sacrificing any of those early influences! In fact, it used it for the better; Babs Tarr and Brenden Fletcher utilised character design 101, aka, "What does this say about this character?"

So the wide eyes in the mask: designed so people might better meet her eye and empathise, gain her trust essentially,

The bold purple: a colour that carries connotations of independance as well as royalty!

But the design itself? All practical. The perfect marriage of old and new, essentially!

So I wanted to learn from that...so I decided to have a go at imagining what I'd do if I ever got the chance to design a Batgirl outfit.

Obviously, I'd keep Tarr's influence of practical-theatrical; but I think one of my favourite things about Batgirl is her love of her motorcycle. Hence; motorcycle-gear! I actually really loved getting creative with where I'd place the black contrast panels--supportive, but as a visual nod to the fact that, yeah, she has been paralysed and she has recovered mobility--which further translated to the contrast underside of the glove!

I think, also, using the stark blue for the cowl gave me a chance to play with really identifying that it's a helmeted piece...or, ok, that was the goal. I still need practice!

A Tribute

Yvonne Craig passed away today. As the original Batgirl actress, she was the first female hero on screen, introducing the idea of superheroines in a fun way just as feminism was about to become a greater part of the culture. She even used that platform to star in a Department of Labor Equal Pay PSA! (Watch it, I’ll wait here…) Followers know I love Craig-inspired Batgirl art and the Batman ‘66 comic version of Batgirl, also based on her portrayal.

I’m part of the BTAS generation, but thanks to reruns, my childhood composite image of Batgirl was heavily influenced by Yvonne Craig as well. And while childhood me already loved anything Batgirl and had a thing for purple, I can now see elements to Yvonne Craig’s performance that my adult self still looks for in favorite female characters.

The show was fun and delightfully campy, of course, but Craig’s Batgirl was also the super smart librarian who often figured out some crucial piece of information and foiled the villain’s plot. Being smart was shown as a superheroine’s real power- a power that could best both male physical strength and material resources.

She took part in those “boom! pow!” fight scenes, too, but it was very graceful and ballet-like, as were many of Craig’s movements on screen. Before becoming an actress, Yvonne Craig was in fact a professional ballerina with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. (The ballet training currently in canon Batgirl’s background is a lovely nod to the actress.)

You would never confuse Craig’s Batgirl for one of the guys. She would never make you think being graceful was something to be ashamed of. One of the enduring things about every version of Barbara Gordon as Batgirl is that she is unapologetic in being both an intelligent and a feminine character, even during times when that combination is unpopular in media. And for that, our original thanks should go to Yvonne Craig, who so charmingly managed to show both. 

A quick intro from me and what I’m about! May as well get it out the way and get to the good stuff quicker, eh? 

Oddworld: The Promised Neverland homage (pt.1)

‘Kay, so I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole that is Oddworld lore…and I was *already* a big fan of the whole concept thanks to “The Promised Neverland.”

Surely this has been done before, but I couldn’t help paying some homages to the series—especially because it fits so damn well for obvious reasons!

And honestly…this is the most fun that I’ve had with my art for a long, long time. It’s like I remembered what I love about creating, and even *how* to do it. I remember loving symbolism and the significance of imagery…like here? I loved having the plates act as a kind of sick, ironic commodity: like the Glukkons absolutely would sell off “authentic” style dish wares with which to serve their workforce up on.

And even though I’ve only been able to play both the New n’ Tasty re-release and Soulstorm, I had a lot of fun trying to kind of reconcile the designs some for Abe and Alf? Alf especially; I liked the idea of him wearing his overalls down 90’s-ish style because it kind of acts reminiscent of his old loincloth, but still keeps him as visually distinct as Abe or Toby.

I’ve opened a redbubble shop! And just in time, in fact, to debut my new design sets “Figures”--a series of prints and paintings inspired by the graceful art of figure skating! 

Come check it out; at the least you might get some gift ideas! 

Done for-fun as part of a mini twitter contest thing; I’m actually really proud of this one, if only for the chance to experiment with a different stylisation! 

Also available for sale, too, if anyone’s interested!