Valjiir

[Mylochka]

Ah.  This is a central point I don't think you've ever made before - the brash kid is a dumbutt, and that leaves you cold.  Interesting.

You need to reconcile the dumbutt in your head, clearly...

Yeah, that's it exactly.  I don't like the dumbutt aspects of the brash kid character.  I guess I soften those edges.

[Buster's Uncle]

Lovely job with her chest.  I highlighted there, but yours is far more accomplished.  It may be my rotten eyesight, but did you do much of anything else?

Instead of just using the dodge tool, I also used the smudge tool to soften the lines.  I lightened inside the irises to make her eyes look more grey. I changed the shape of her lips a little, then highlighted her hair and added a little more saturation to it. I highlighted areas on the dress and added some "twinkles" to the areas where she's got jewelry to make them stand out more.

Put your glasses on. It looks nice!

It does.  I can see the changes once you point them out, and you've added a lot of depth.

[Valka]

This improved Jilla is gorgeous!

I just had a look there to see if I could flange up anything that would look remotely like Ruth, but can't even get past the skin tone. They don't have anything there that's right! My attempts kept coming out too brown or too yellow, or too orange...

There wouldn't be a problem with costuming, though... lots of choices of halters and shorts on that site!

[Mylochka]

I can fix the colors. Go ahead and try a Ruth picture.

[Mylochka]

Here's a couple pictures of the girls from me...

[Mylochka]

Still working on "Old Fashioned Man" -- Look out, Surak!  There's a crazy Vulcan behind you!

[Mylochka]

Before I can go any further with my "Old Fashioned Man" illustrations, I had to stop this morning and figure out how to costume some Non-Reformed Vulcan Clan Warriors.  The description in the story is as follows:

"They were dressed in body armor of a deep green color that moved with them like a second skin. Helms of the same color covered their heads. Each wore a brightly colored sash of copper that seemed somehow incongruous with the rest of the uniform: it was an obvious place for someone to grab. There was a long strip of leather coiled about each figures' left forearm, and each carried a long pole weapon with a curving, crescent blade on one end, and a heavy cudgel on the other. Wide, metallic-looking cuffs, like ancient Terran Medieval greaves, covered their forearms, and carried a device that could be weapon, communicator, recorder or something else entirely. They stood, surveying the landscape for only a moment, then one, the obvious leader, signaled and the helms were drawn back. They hung from the collars of the armor like hoods. Hair that was below shoulder-length, braided, and black as night was revealed - as well as upswept eyebrows, olive skin and curving, pointed ears."

I haven't got the greaves or the hood, but here's my version of the body armor.  What do you think?

[Buster's Uncle]

I think it looks great - too great, not like armor.  This may not be a problem in a Valjiir story by and for women, though.

[Valka]

Just a comment about the text - and this is something that occurred to me the first time I read the story - greaves are worn on the legs, not the arms. Medieval and classical-era fighters wore bracers on their arms, and the two are not interchangeable.

[Valka]

Here is my Zwinky attempt at Ruth (yes, I realize her guitar seems to be floating in midair):

[Mylochka]

Yep.  You're right about the greaves.  I'll pass the correction along...

[Mylochka]

Very cute!     Let me see if I can add a strap for that guitar...

[Mylochka]

How's this?

[Buster's Uncle]

 

What about that other thing I suggested?

[Valka]

How's this?

Beautiful!