Before Dawn - ch.3 pages 12-13

[saraste_impi]

Have fallen behind more than I'd like. Kinda have the rest of the chapter in thumbnails, though. It's the last two pages which shall be murder to draw.

These pages are way too sappy. Also, we get to see Gwen's vamp!alter ego (the creepy lady who's her negative, I really need to think on her appearance)... Stuff with her is always tricky, would be

Comments

[sweet_gardenia]

I rather like the juxtapositioning of her vamp doppleganger trying to tempt her into nomming on baby sister. And the widened eyes panel is quite effective! Also this isn't sappy this is HIGH DRAMA :D Will she give in to her vampire nature? Will little sister be turned? Or will she control herself in the nick of time? keep the pages a-comin'. Even if you don't make the goal, keep pushing yourself and tell yourself you can do it :)

[saraste_impi]

High drama? *giggle* You flatter me!

[bob_artist]

I wouldn't say sappy; I think this type of drama is fitting for the vampire theme. Now I'm worried for what's going to happen on the next page! And by the way, I love Gwen's hair. :)

[saraste_impi]

Thank you! I think I've now gotten the hang of doing G's hair, so it's nice to hear that. ^-^

Drama is a staple in vamp fiction but I've rarely come across vampire-sibling drama as in in a vamp-prey setting. (Believe me, I'm doing a thesis about 19th century vampire lit, have read my fair share on them.) And now I wonder why that is? Possibly because the sexually toned vampire-prey/love thematic is more enticing?

[bob_artist]

I do think that it would be interesting to see more of family-type drama going on with vampires. I wonder what it would be like for them to have to leave their families behind, how they would grow apart from each other, how they would keep their secret, etc. And that makes your story unique, because you're right that no one is really exploring that!

[saraste_impi]

There is actually some vampire-family interaction, to a degree, in some of Anne Rice's books. There's Lestat with his mother and then in one later book this one boy, Quinn, and his interaction with his family after he was made vampire. Apart from that there really isn't any. That in itself is rather odd since in vampire folklore (I'm versed mainly in East-European vampire lore) there is a recurring theme of a vampire returning to his loved one's and family. In those kinds of stories there isn't even always any drinking of blood from the family members/wife/or beloved.

If I ever get to finish BD in any shape (I'm currently thinking it would be easier if I just finished it as prose) it'll end somewhere around the year 2008... Which means lots of family-related drama for Gwen.

[kineko]

Aw the second panel on page 13.. it THE moment I was waiting for, the moment when they look at each other for real. (English is hard...) I mean the moment when they're not only looking each other but really... I don't get the word. It's like they are seeing each other, not just being face to face but in a more emotional way.
And then creepy lady broke the moment.
For her design, maybe you can start with Gwen overall look (bun with stray hair, ears pendant, and twist the detail (negative color of Gwen, barbed or broken ear pendant) the curly hair look nice, but it doesn't help acknowledging the doppelganger as Gwen's. She look like a whole another character. You can also tried to make her ghost Gwen movement and position, and twist her expressions, it can turn really creepy to have a mirror image not entirely true...

[saraste_impi]

I know what you're getting at. I'm rather fond of that panel myself, and I'm glad I was able to convey that feeling.

You're right, the dobbelgänger needs a redo. Her design worked when Gwen had her hair open, but as she held onto her bun... I'm such a bad comic-designer!