the Hefnerian quest for Harvey Dent artwork at New York Comic Con

[thehefner]

I was going to give the full Comic Con rundown, but I am exhausted, cranky from being on the bus, and in desperate need of beer. But for right now, I've gotta talk about the original art I got this time around.

Even if you're not inclined to read my long-winded ramblings, I urge you to at least skim this one. For the artwork alone.



My goal now is to commission artwork for the Harvey Dent novel, so that it'll hopefully give DC some idea of what I have in mind when I do make my quixotic attempt at publication. And I was nervous as hell, wondering how to possibly briefly explain what I'm looking for in a way that doesn't make me sound bizarre. At best.

So I thought about playing it safe and starting with something basic: a simple portrait of Harvey. In fact, I came prepared with the perfect idea. Ever since I saw this book cover...



... I wanted to see a really excellent artistic rendering of pre-scarring Harvey Dent in that pose. Maybe insinuate the coin up in the hand or something. Done well, such an image could easily be the cover of my book.

So to bring this to life, I went to Dave Johnson, the crazy-awesome cover artist of 100 BULLETS and the first half of SUPERMAN: RED SON. Great, great artist. Who better to bring my own cover idea to life, even if it's only as a convention sketch for $20, drawn on a drink coaster? Seriously, he was doing them on coasters. That's awesome.

I asked, "Could I please have a drawing of Harvey Dent--not Two-Face, I mean Harvey Dent--in this RFK pose?" And after a second, it clicked and he smiled, "Yeah, yeah, that sounds fun. I'll get on that now! Come back around in a half hour and it'll be ready."

So I did. And when I returned, he had the drawing ready for me. He handed me the coaster and said, "Here you go, man. This was offcially the weirdest request I've gotten all year. Is that cool?"






...

...

...

And at first, I just said, "Yeah, that's great," because taken on its own, it really is. And I should have just moved on and shrugged, "He drew RFK as Two-Face! How Hefnerian, wah wahhhh!" but he was a cool guy, and $20 is $20, so I figured I'd at least try to tell him what I'd intended. Even if I couldn't get a redo, we'd at least reach a rapport.

Very nervously, tripping over my words as I do, I blamed myself for not being more clear, thanked him repeatedly for what he did do, and explained what I was really hoping for. I then tried to explain a second time, but that blank, perplexed frown fixed on his face wasn't about to change.

"That..." he said, "... doesn't make a lick of sense. Why the hell would you want just a drawing of... I mean, you just want a drawing of a guy?"

And of course, I understood where he was coming from. There's no set image for what Harvey Dent as Harvey Dent looks like, although I'm rather fond of the YEAR ONE David Mazzuchelli style, which Tim Sale used for THE LONG HALLOWEEN (and which Rick Burchett followed in this very icon!). At the same time, there are certain distinctive Dent characteristics, but to really be identifiable, he has to be seen in some proper context. Like, in this RFK pose, having him holding the coin is the only way to really make him iconic as Harvey. But I didn't bother trying to explain that to Dave Johnson, at the risk of digging myself in even further.

Instead, I apologized again, doing what I so often do in such situations and shouldered all the blame. "Sorry, I should have been way more specific. It's totally my fault."

"Yes!" Johnson replied, still unable to wrap his brain around his sweating, bowler-wearing weirdo. "Yes! It is!"

Thank GOD I ran into theblackotter later, where I could run this whole misadventure by him. I dearly needed an audience to find the humor in the situation, and thereby validate my plight. Thankfully, he was exactly the person I needed to see at that moment.

"No, I get exactly what you mean! I think it's awesome! It's perfect! It's gotta happen! And that... ain't it! What you said seems totally straight-forward to me!"

My fragile ego, it was nursed back to health, and the event was salvaged.

But even still, I realized that a different tactic would be required. Thankfully, I thought to seek out dryponder, who not only knew about my novel and my passion for the character, but also is an awesome artist, one I've wanted a drawing from for years now. I knew he'd be the perfect guy to understand my quest for something like this:






Bruce and Harvey: BFF!

And that, furthermore, saved my day. Because... I mean, just look at them. These are two seriously disturbed guys, with a fuckload of pain in their pasts and futures. And yet, in that moment, they have forgotten to be angsty and miserable! For that brief second, they're inadvertently having fun! It's exactly the sort of thing I wanted to see more of in the comics, and thus why I'm doing this novel in the first place. And finally, it's the reason I wanted to get these drawings. To brings the intangible to life.

Summing up the courage for one last attempt, I scoured Artist's Alley to find the perfect artist for the perfect depiction of the one character I've been most anxious to see brought to depicted, as she's majorly different from her usual (and few) depictions in comics. Mine is the character as I've always wanted her to be, not just in terms of what she does for Harvey's character, but also as a three-dimensional stand-alone female character of strength and worth.

And so, taking bagelofdeath's suggestion, I wrote out a whole paragraph description--half an entire notebook's page!-of what I wanted in this drawing. And ultimately, I submitted this proposal to Rags Morales, artist of IDENTITY CRISIS, HAWKMAN, NIGHTWING, and more. A great artist, and I figured if anyone could do this, it'd be Rags. So determined was I to see this done right, that I actually agreed to spent $100 (!!!) for a full body sketch... even though it wouldn't even be inked!

"Nah, man, ink fades," was Rags' rationale. "I want my art to last for-evah."

In my defense, his hot ladyfriend (probably wife?) was dressed as the Baroness, so that probably clouded my judgment somewhat.

So I agreed to pony up the cash, and then began to fumblingly explain what I wanted. When he saw me go for the notebook and tear out the half-page, he laughed. "I love it! Usually, they just say, 'Yeah, draw whatever!'" But his smile faded as he read my chickenscratch ramblings. This is literally what I wrote:

Portrait of Gilda Dent-- imagine Rachel Weisz as a sculptor in her studio, wearing overalls and a bandanna/headscarf to keep her hair from getting in the way. She is not the wide-eyed mouse of THE LONG HALLOWEEN here, but a strong, sensitive, no-bullshit woman who understands Harvey more than he himself does. Her medium is clay, and so I'd like to have her in the midst of sculpting a bust of Harvey... one that's only half-completed. Worth noting is that she's also a haunted woman with a shady past, so there's a great deal of pain in her past, and will be in her near future. But there is also love, strength, and wisdom. So, uh, do whatever you can with that, please! :)

Yes, I actually drew a smiley face at the end. And I also came prepared with a couple photos of Rachel Weisz. Just in case.

Rags Morales frowned and said, "Uh... shit, man, I dunno. This is gonna take a while. Check back with me later. Way later." And when I did, seeking him out several hours later, he said--doubtfully and still frowning--"Tomorrow, man. Tomorrow."

Still hungover from my night out before, I checked back with Rags this morning, where he informed me that he hadn't even started the drawing yet. At this point, I was seriously getting bothered, as I kinda had to catch a bus that afternoon. bagelofdeath and beckara assured me that they could pick up my drawing for me, and send me a photo, holding it hostage until I made it up to Montreal Fringe. The little comfort that thought would have provided was soon dashed when I told them I paid $100 for a sketch. An uninked sketch. Their reactions--pretty much what your reaction would be, I imagine--were enough to nudge my already-fragile state into an all-out worrywart fretfest.

I started wondering if I made it back there in time, would I be able to get a refund and call the deal off? Hell, I figured, he probably still hasn't started! Just cut my losses and run! So what if every time I see Rags Morales' artwork, I'll feel that same twinge of shame that'll color every single time I'll see Dave Johnson's artwork henceforth? At least I'll have my hundred bucks back and not risk getting stuck with a drawing that--even if it's good--almost certainly can't live up to the intangible wasteland that is my imagination.

But when we got to his booth, I saw that my name had already been ticked off the sign-up sheet. The drawing was done. It was over. Rags was on a bathroom break, so the Baroness was there alone to hand me the folder with my drawing inside. Like a death warrant from Destro himself.

With a sigh, I resigned myself to my fate and opened the folder.










Jesus.

It wasn't just... relief that I felt. That I still feel every time I look at this drawing. It's something more, something deeper, something that I just can't put into words other than to stare at it and think... "It's her. That's... that's Gilda."

I waited for Rags to come back, to thank him personally, even if I couldn't quite make him understand just how important this was to me. Hell, I can't even explain it here to you guys, even though I'm sure a few of you already understand. Even saying that it was worth every penny doesn't nail it down. Looking at this, I just feel... fulfilled.

So yeah. For all the worry and the stress and the claustrophobia, dear lord was it ever insane... this was a good day, a good ending to a good weekend. For more reasons than just art, don't get me wrong! Expect a full rundown later. But for now, I hope this hits you a little bit in the way that it hit me.

And someday, I hope for that to be what people think of when they think of Gilda Dent. In that, hopefully they will be thinking of Gilda at all. In that, hopefully it'll be because of me.

Comments

[the-mithril-man.livejournal.com]

That story is pure you man, no one else would have that kind of day. And that sketch at the end...wow. Much better than Long Halloween Gilda. Just...wow.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

God, you're right. Knowing that is a dubious comfort. Never let it be said that I had a boring life.

As for the sketch, I know, right?! I wonder if I can get away with putting that on her Wikipedia page (of which I wrote about 75%)?

[nectarousness.livejournal.com]

That sketch at the end is beautiful. It almost makes me wish that The Long Halloween could be re-done with better art (and a slightly adjusted plot... :P).

I really want to read more of that Harvey Dent novel. It's killin' me inside. I've always been more interested in the life of Harvey Dent and not "Oh wow, Two-Face's fun antics... blargh."

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

And I, in turn, very much want you to read the novel! But right now, I'm in the midst of serious editing, trying to cut down some of the boggier elements in an attempt to make the whole thing as tight at that prologue I posted here. I've spent a could years editing that prologue, and so now I need to try to give the rest that kind of attention.

That said, if you'd really like to check it out and don't mind a not-final draft, I could e-mail it to you a bit down the line.

[nectarousness.livejournal.com]

I don't mind a not-final draft. All good stories have long processes and I like to see how things look before they're done. That way I can see how it's been changed or made better and it's exciting.

That and I'm aching for anything Harvey right now. He's like my drug or anti-drug or whatever.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Welp, drop me your e-mail address sometime, and once I get a couple nagging big revisions out of the way, I'll send it along! :)

[nectarousness.livejournal.com]

Awesome!

[gnort.livejournal.com]

For what little it's worth now, it's Johnson's fault. "Harvey Dent in this RFK pose" isn't complicated. You even specifically said "not Two-Face" and you got Two-Face, and he wasn't even really in the pose! I do have to give credit where it's due though; RFK as Two-Face makes for a pretty good Two-Face. Heck, it's better than some Two-Face as Two-Face drawings I've seen.

I also have to state how awesome that last sketch is. I know very little about Gilda from the comics, but damn.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

That's the funny thing, it really IS a good drawing! I've actually been doing a bit of light research into RFK recently, as there are certain characteristics he shares with Harvey. Heh, also, one person observed that he even has animated!Harvey's lips, to some degree.

There's not too much about Gilda in comics to say, sadly. Which is kind of the problem. But hey, if you're ever curious about her, I actually went ahead and posted the entire comic history of Gilda over at scans_daily. It's in three parts, all of which I've posted over at this entry:

http://community.livejournal.com/westillbelieve/31471.html

I get a little ranty in the last one, but then, this is me.

[karmaflouge.livejournal.com]

Shweeet.

You're back from Con! You now have no excuses! Respond to my email so we can set this trip up!

[darkestnova.livejournal.com]

It's gorgeous, wow. It's amazing. It's...yes. It's Gilda as I pictured her in my own (faily and unfinished) Harvey Dent origin. (Blah on that though. But not on yours.)

I'm not feeling very coherent. But your Robert Kennedy image (yours) is just perfect. Iconic.

We've been wandering around cemeteries and thinking of you. (We found the grave of the Harvey Dent of another century.

Also while watching Foxy Brown. Kathryn Loder's hair now makes me think of you and drag kings.

*pet pet*

Have a cookie.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

You tried your hand at a Harvey origin?! I had no idea! I hope you know that, in all seriousness, one of my goals in my revisions is to get you back into mine. I'm trying to get the pace tighter, and really find the ways to hook the people who've read Two-Face origins in the past.

You mean that RFK photo right there? Yeah, I really do want to see that done as Harvey by a great artist. That could easily be the cover of my book.

haha! I'm glad to live on in memory as a drag king magnet.

Cookies shall be achieved. Best on my word.

[darkestnova.livejournal.com]

It's not your fault I stopped reading. I will finish, I swear. I just can't seem to sit still long enough right now.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Okay, good. Well, not good that you can't sit still, but it's good to know. That said, I'm still blazing ahead and trying to get things tighter and better trimmed, to keep the flow smooth and unblocked by exposition, excessive description, and whatnot. I tried reading Part One aloud and got totally gunked up, and now I just wanna give the rest of the book the amount of attention and work that I've given to that prologue.

Awesome.

[american-arcane.livejournal.com]

I can see where Dave Johnson would have gotten confused. On the surface, it seems a straightforward enough request. But, as you later realized, there is no standard Harvey Dent headshot image.

My first thought was, "Yeah, that'd be really easy to do!" but, yeah, it would be "just a guy". I'd imagine Johnson's mind just automatically made the jump to "He must have meant Kennedy as Two-Face."

Net sketch, though. :)

And the Gilda one is just...wow.

Re: Awesome.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I'm totally sympathetic to Johnson, even though I'm equally embarrassed by the misunderstanding. I'd still love to see what a fully illustrated and colored Dave Johnson Harvey Dent piece would look like. It'd be fucking amazing. The guy does pure deco/noir awesomeness.

That's the thing, though. Some people see these characters as characters, whereas I see them as... well, people. I love it when you can recognize superheroes outside of their costumes. Like, check this out:

http://jhota.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/dc_babes.jpg

You can probably figure out who most of them are! It's so great. And I'm hoping that Gilda drawing is similarly recognizable to anyone with a decent knowledge of Harvey.

So with that in mind, that's all the more reason why I want images of Harvey as Harvey. Done right, they could be so much more striking and poignant than just yet another Two-Face.

Re: Awesome.

[american-arcane.livejournal.com]

I remember that DC Babes pic from a while back in here. I was stumped on a coupe of them, but that was only because I was never in the DC loop outside of my father's stash of about 100 Silver Age issues of Action Comics, World's Finest, Superman and Batman titles. :)

Each of them, though, exist as people well outside of their costumes... with at least some consistency of attitude and appearance. Harvey, it seems, has almost always been an afterthought--just a waypoint on the way to Two-Face.

And that's really a shame. (So we agree on that.) ;)

I'd like to see you write up a description of Harvey like you did with Gilda--except don't mention that it's Harvey Dent. Then hand that off to a good artist. I think that would get you the best "essence" of Dent... and something completely fresh.

(Of course, this all reminds me of the stable of my own characters that have been languishing for the illustration treatment for well over 15 years now...)

Re: Awesome.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the inclusion of Batwoman is totally unfair. She's hardly iconic, to say the least.

Yeah, exactly! You nailed it, man. Like he's just an afterthought, a waypoint to Two-Face. I've always been far, far more interested in Harvey than Two-Face, and thanks to THE DARK KNIGHT, I'm hoping (both as a fan and as an author) that mindset is starting to become more commonplace.

That's actually a great idea. It could be a somewhat risky experiment, but the reward could be awesome. See if I can paint an image of a person, capture his spirit in words, and have an artist bring that through. That said, he'd still need a little something, just as Gilda has the half-bust of Harvey. Something like even just the coin, to ground him from "a guy" to a specific person.

[treyhawk.livejournal.com]

Most of my comics expertise is with Spiderman, but that picture of Gilda is ... amazing.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Knowing that it'd hit even someone like you that way is immensely gratifying.

[bitemetechie.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'll admit it, the sketch of Gilda made me go all warm and fuzzy inside. She's the prefect representation of your Gilda. Honestly, that sketch has softened me up a little and made me feel that rush of warm affection for her character that I started out with when I first read her as you'd written her.

(Am I making sense? I think I'm leaning dangerously toward feverish at the moment and can't really tell.)

And I can definitely see the Robert Kennedy image being the cover for the Harvey Dent novel...maybe with shadows playing across the planes of his face where it would evenetually be scarred. An echo of things to come.

I'm glad you had a fantastic adventure at NYCC, even if things did take a turn for the Hefnerian. Then again, I'd have been mightily disappointed if they hadn't. It's the Hefnerian Happenings that make the adventures so you, baby!

Oh! And remind me to flail at you later, when I'm not feeling so icky, about how much I've discovered I really dislike Dark Victory. Also about the cemetery that Captain and I have to take you to, because there's a Harvey Dent buried there. Not in name, but most definitely in character.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Dang it, you're sick again? Stop getting sick! It's not good for your health!

Have you gotten any further in the book? I'm still itching to know what you'll think of Gilda down the line! It just... I've gotta know how you'll feel about her when all's said and done.

As for the RFK shot with the shadows, I agree... but here's the thing: ever since I saw the Harvey TDK poster with the button, I was thinking about how the side that's shown is actually the side that'll be scarred. Usually, that's the side that's in shadows, but not here. And as I thought about it, the more I liked it. Because that's the side that will be lost. That's the doomed part of him. So I actually think I'd like to have some of my Harvey illustrations with the shadow on the OTHER side. Take that echo of things to come, and turn it on its head, so to speak.

Expect a full NYCC report soon. Also, the new WONDER WOMAN animated film is fucking amazing. A must-see. Someone finally did her justice, and now I'm finally inclined to seek out WW comics.

Oh ho, you hated DARK VICTORY?? I will be most anxious to hear your rants! Y'know, it's funny, I've actually talked with several people who really prefer DV to THE LONG HALLOWEEN. They think it's an absolutely excellent story. Me, I'm guessing they feel this way because they're fans of Batman and Robin more than anything else, but I couldn't say.

And I was *wondering* about the Captain's mention of the graveyard. I expect a full report.

[bitemetechie.livejournal.com]

I'll work on it, but my immune system is notoriously made of suck when I'm frazzled.

I haven't gotten any further in the novel. I suck, I'm sorry, I'll make it up to you eventually! Things have just been all crazy with angst over the past few days that I can't focus on anything for any length of time without exploding into Bruce Wayne Brand Brooding (TM). If I even try to read the novel in this state of mind, I'm going to be unnecessarily harsh with the critique just because I'm so weary with stress and I refuse to do that to you; that's just not fair. After this weekend, though, I should be clear headed and bouncing with optimism again. I'll dive back in then.

Hmmmmmm. I like the idea of flipping the shadows to the 'good' side. Not only does it speak of how doomed Harvey Dent is to fall under Two-Face's shadow, it's a nice representation of the darkness (and self-doubt and angst) that creeps into Harvey that isn't brought on by the emergence of the Two-Face persona. Harvey and Two-Face are two distinct characters, after all, and Harvey isn't all shining, optimistic, idealistic perfection. Nobody is.

Don't do it. No. Trust me. Wonder Woman comics? Generally not worth the headaches involved with sifting through the mire. A friend of mine back home, her patron hero is star spangled panties; I've seen the look of shattered dreams every time she picks up a new comic and finds that yet again Diana's been given the short end of the characterization stick. The only thing more heartbreaking to watch is when she reads Supergirl.

I'm amazed she doesn't have a nervous fangirly breakdown every other week, really.

(However, Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia comes highly recommended. I haven't gotten around to reading it yet, but every hardcore WW fan seems to like it.)

I look forward to seeing the movie, though. Unlike most of the Marvel animateds that have been flooding the market lately, the new movies that are being pumped out by DC can do no wrong.

Dark Victory. I didn't...did I hate it? I didn't love it, but I'm not sure I disliked it enough to really hate it. It made me want to throttle Loeb several times (at various points I may have exclaimed at the empty apartment, "Damn it, Loeb!" and "You lazy sonofabitch.") but it made me warm to Tim Sale more. Since I used to absolutely loathe his art as a teenager, anything that reminds me why I started liking it is always welcome.

The cemetery story probably doesn't deserve a full report. We came upon the gigantic memorial of an attorney general who died at the age of twenty-nine and got, quite possibly, the most Harvey Dent epitaph in the history of epitaphs. It was just beautiful. Fitting, poetic and heart wrenching. It was blindingly obvious that he was a man of impeachable moral character and a good guy besides. Captain and I were on either side of it (it's massive, really) and, on reading my side of the monument, I muttered, "He was Harvey Dent."

From the other side, Captain said, "Hey! He was Harvey Dent!"

"Yeah, I was just thinking that."

Then, in unison we wistfully sighed, "I wish......."

There was a pause and then, also in unison: "DAMN IT, JOHN!"

[tragical-mirth.livejournal.com]

I wandered over here and read the full story - glad I did. Also, I applaud your love and defense of an obscure character. Reminds me of my own fool's crusade to defend the one that's in my icon (who is not quite as obscure) from writers and fans who would do her harm. ;) Must establish self as genre success and convince Marvel editorial to let me have her... That sketch takes on exponentially more meaning when one knows the back story.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Heya, thanks for coming over and reading! :) I considered posting the whole thing to scans_daily, but then thought better of it, much as I do agree with you that it really does give the drawings more meaning. Regardless, thankya!

Well, truth be told, it's more than just love and defense of an obscure character. I dunno how much you gathered from the above story, but for the past couple years, I've been working on a whole Harvey Dent novel (currently in its sixth draft!), partially to flesh out and explore certain aspects of his story that I've always felt were sorely lacking.

The biggest of these being Gilda. What you see above is the version of the character I've always wanted to see, the one I hope to bring to life if I can actually get DC to publish the book down the line. Meantime, I'm gonna collect drawings like the above so I can hopefully give DC some idea what I have in mind when the time comes.

With that long-windedness out of the way, I in turn applaud you for your crusade! She is indeed an awesome character who could use protection from fools and asshats. Hey, you should start a sister group for my own association-to-be, The People's Ethical Treatment of Scott.

[tragical-mirth.livejournal.com]

I did see that (about the novel). Again, admirable. With DC, you might actually succeed. I remember about 100 years ago when the Tim Burton Batman movie came out, DC put out several anthologies of Batman and Joker short stories written by popular SF authors of the day. I hope to get a chance to read yours someday.

Scott does need ethical treatment (sometimes from me, d'oh. *hangs head in shame*). I've come to terms with it, but every time we learn something new about his family, I just grooooaaannnn.

I am going to just friend you, if you want, because really, I think these traumatic tales need to be told to all. Or all on my friends list, anyway.

Also, your last post is from Rehoboth Beach, where I thought about going today (though I have never been) because I am working on a Jules Verne project, and I wanted to do it by the sea. That is just too weird. :D (I did not, however, go because I realized it was Valentine's Day (and also cold), so I decided to just hide at home with my stacks of books instead. Awesome.)

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I've been meaning to check those anthologies out! A friend of mine is exasperated that I've never read them, so I'm gonna need to track them down. I totally dig the Kyle Baker covers too.

Sweet! I in turn shall friend you back. Yay for friends!

Oh heck, we could have had dinner at the Dogfish Head brewery! Except you're not here and I think they're undergoing renovations. No lonely V-Day beers for me there!

[mellifluous-ink.livejournal.com]

The second picture needs this caption:

'...THIS man. This magnificent bastard right here...!'

I don't know what the hell else he's saying, but that is the point in the conversation where the picture was drawn.

Also, because I am basically doing some Dent art for ya, I want a little more clarity on why you picked the Kennedys. And I am talking about appearance alone, not personality similarities.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

It's hard to say why, as I haven't really delved too much into their stories. For Bobby especially, he was a crusader, perhaps the single greatest crimebuster mob-fighter of the 20th Century. One biography I read suggested that he had so much rage burning away inside him, threatening to consume him from the inside out. That is, until he found an outlet in the Law. He threw himself into trying to take down the mob, which some saw as his way of indirectly attacking his own corrupt father, who had mob ties of his own. Oh yes, major father issues with Bobby.

On top of that, though, Bobby was handsome and charismatic as hell. He was HOPE. If he hadn't have been killed (one of the final nails in the coffin of hope for a whole generation after Malcolm X, MLK, and JFK), he would have beaten Nixon, no question. He inspired great things in others, but had plenty of his own personal demons weighing him down. Just look at how much he aged in so short a time.

[mellifluous-ink.livejournal.com]

...That still doesn't tell me what appearance draws you, though. I'm talking about physical appearance.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Sorry, it's 3:45am, me reading not of the best me read gud.

Well, I'm just not entirely certain how to describe it then. Without all the character behind it, he could just be another bland handsome man, which is part of the problem I ran into with the Dave Johnson Kennedy drawing.

Actually, I should ask, you're doing Harvey post-scars or pre? I'm the kind of nerd who'd actually WANT a non-scarred Harvey pic. If post, my preferred style of scarring is like DARKMAN: http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=darkman&sa=N&start=0&ndsp=20. And this icon particularly is one of my all-time favorite Harvey images.

But any further description will have to wait till later. I'm fading hard and fast, and have a looooong drive ahead of me tomorrow!

[mellifluous-ink.livejournal.com]

Actually I was doing pre-scars. It interests me more. I need to be able to do pre-scars first. Being the accuracy geek I am, I looked up how Harvey got scarred and then started looking up acid burns. ^_^; Yeah I'm not squeamish.

Well, drive safe! I'll be here when you get back.