Burnside - Tumblr Posts
Originally posted to my Waterfall!
So let’s have a context-copy-paste from there:
(Done pre-Wacom tablet upgrade.)
Minor 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.
Now this is the point where I'd actually started to really question my sense of style.
In drawing, that is; but we've all had those moments, right? "What makes my art distinct? What sets it apart?"
And I realised, for me, it's the expression in the brow and eyes...and somehow, I don't think I'd quite been hitting that.
I was so self-conscious of being too stylised for some reason, I could never pin it down; was I afraid of my work being seen as too 'manga-ish?' Too 'feminine', too 'flouncy?' Especially if I want to work in mainstream comics?
But it's when I sat down and really looked at my work...I realised that, so what?
Babs Tarr is my favourite artist in comics...ever, and she got to fully embrace how she drew because it worked. You were drawn in by the expression and then stayed because her figures bounced so easilly from panel to panel.
And...that's just how she draws! And there's nothing wrong with that.
Now, I'm nowhere near as good as Tarr--but I want to improve and part of that is, just simply, accepting what I like to see in my own drawings. Specifically; large, expressive eyes and unapologetically illustrated faces!
It's a start and I'm proud of that.
...Now as for the backgrounds, yeah, those need work from the ground up!
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!
Originally Posted To My Waterfall
So let’s have a context-copy-paste from there!
one Post Wacom upgrade!!! I love working pen-pressure sensitivity!!
Copy and Paste(s) 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!
--
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 daringness behind those feats!
That translated really, really well in the old Bronze Age Batgirl comics!
--End Flashback(s)
So, bearing in mind the long exposition up there-- ^^^^^ --about costumes and feats? I think about that a lot when I'm ice skating.
I mean, it's a given I guess, right? When we watch skating on TV the first thing we see is the skater's costumes; that's usually what we use to puzzle out the tone and mood they might be going for before they even start to skate!
That reasoning was extra important in classic comic books; i.e, showing off these incredible gymnastic feats in just static images! Unfortunately, in modern times...especially for female characters...there's less emphasis on daring feats and more on the whole 'look.' Not even the fashion.
You know what kinds of 'look' I'm talking about...so I wondered; is that totally lost in modern comics?
I don't think so, not 100% because obviously we're still judging on how well fight scenes are choreographed and how these characters move around a page; but modern narratives mean we're more interested in the characters themselves than solely what they can do--and that is 100% a good thing!
That being said; I wondered if I could get some of my ice-skating moves to work for Batgirl?
What I'm figuring so far? Yes! I can; but it's all in the composition! Which, now that I think about it, is drawing 101 to a T, right? But still, I think it's important to experiment with!
So here's the start of an ongoing series; Batgirl on ice! I want to see how many poses I can frame in various tones/emotions!
The first; the Arabasque Spiral! (Leg up above hip-height.)
I've had a lot of fun with those bat-lines, specifically getting them to 'trace' the pattern my skates leave behind when I change edges in practice; I was surprised how much dynamicism it added to the overall poses too!
Now while I'm proud of my fully painted Classic!Batgirl there--I think the Burnside angle and posing is gonna be the most impactful one. But then, she doesn't have the cape obscuring most of her body; but I could not sacrifice the flow of that in two pictures so...here we are!