This is an observation, not a solicitation. For the record.

[demiurgent]

One of the things I often think about, when I'm writing a story, is what the lead character looks like. And I'm often tempted to commission a portrait from someone over it. This is especially true when I'm writing superheroish stories.

I almost never go on to commission, mind. It's an idle thought at most.

My lead character is a forty-two year old woman with a normal human body who wears normal clothes while she goes around the country interviewing people.

As God is my witness, I have no idea who I would even contact to do that. It's not like most working superhero artists have much experience with that sort of thing.

EDIT: Okay, let me be blunt. Blunt clearly works better.

"Wow. I'm writing a superhero story, but the lead is someone who isn't often represented physically in mainstream superhero comics, in as much as she A) looks her age and B) isn't a physical ideal of any kind. I find it interesting that there are not many examples of this type at Marvel or DC, where a 42 year old is either depicted, generally, as 22 and hot as a supernova or 64 and decrepit. As a side note, she also has normal proportioned limbs and shins, which is not always seen in comics either."

Better?

Comments

[wednesday]

Terry Moore, if you don't mind Generic Terry Moore Face, or any artist who worked on an issue of Sensational She-Hulk with fortysomething Weezi in it.

[lurkerwithout.livejournal.com]

If only you had access to some kind of pseudo-community filled with artists...

[pvenables.livejournal.com]

So what you're saying is that you think it might be hard finding someone to draw a normal-looking person?

man, you aim too high.

[mephron]

I don't want to sound rude but I had an excellent commission done by someone else I know, who's on LJ as ninjahijinx.

This here is the picture he did, of a superheroine. I think you might like his work.

[scarfman]

You may be making the same error an editor once observed many prospective superhero artists make about drawing superhero comics. You don't just draw superheroes. You have to be able to draw the world they live in too. You can't just be able to draw Superman well, you must be able to draw Clark Kent well. And Lois Lane, and a tree, and a skyscraper, and an orange juicer, and a spaceship, and ...

Pick your favorite superhero comics artist. It'd be an insult to assume s/he can't draw anything you want.

[jeriendhal.livejournal.com]

I know you're just editorializing, but if you really want to commission something like that someday, I'd recommend my friend chaypeta, who draws the sci-fi comic Terinu (http://www.terinu.com/). She actaully does draw female humans, even young ones, as human beings. And her older ones look like their age without being grotesque.

[ryanestrada.livejournal.com]

I hear there's this website cartooncommune.com where you can have commissions done. I mean, that's the rumor on the street.

[roniliquidity.livejournal.com]

You can borrow a photo of my Mother in law? She's a little older but close.

What I often do it look to pictures of friends, family, stock photos whatever to get a basic starting reference. It helps with the concrete details.

[(Anonymous)]

Hey --I'm 43--and I think pretty normal looking--okay I color my hair, but not too far off my old color



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