Art for afrogeekgoddess: Anniversary

[holmesticemods]

Title: Anniversary
Recipient: afrogeekgoddess
Artist: numberthescars
Characters/Pairings: Holmes, Watson, Mary Watson (nee Morstan)
Rating: PG
Warnings: discussion of canonical character death
Notes: Many thanks to mamishka for her stellar beta skills and to afrogeekgoddess for her wonderful prompts. Credit for reference photos must go to the Granada series, in particular Jeremy Brett and David Burke, as well as to 123rf.com andshutterstock.com. Finally, Watson paraphrases a sentence from Arthur Conan Doyle's story The Man with the Twisted Lip in his description of his wife Mary, and Holmes' "literary" quote on death is from Michel de Montaigne's Essays. Afrogeekgoddess: I know this is a bit grim for the holidays, but I hope you like it anyway! :)

*image is large, it may take awhile to load or make slow connections cranky, below the cut

Comments

[saki101.livejournal.com]

This is melancholy and lovely. The line work and the blend of the drawings and words flows beautifully and the expressions are very affecting. Thank you.

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It's wonderful to hear that you liked it. :)

[tweedisgood.livejournal.com]

And a little story to go with. Very touching and in character, lovely work.

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

Glad you think it's in-character, that was something I definitely struggled with in the design phase. Thank you! :D

[falling-voices.livejournal.com]

This is utterly gorgeous — the art as well as the story it tells.

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!

[mundungus42.livejournal.com]

This is such an extraordinary work that I'm having difficulty putting my deep admiration into words. It's entirely fitting that Watson visit both graves on his day of mourning, since he lost them both in such a short amount of time. The selection of flowers for Mary and Watson's fond remembrance are lovely, as is Holmes's gentle remonstrance for visiting the empty grave. I love Holmes's words of comfort to Watson about the inevitability of life's end and smiled at Watson calling it bloody morbid. That exchange just so perfectly captures the pair of them! Holmes's tribute to Mary brought tears to my eyes. This is every inch the Brett Holmes that I first fell for all those years ago: brilliant and unique, but also capable of such a romantic gesture, half honoring Mary and half apology to Watson, in such a way that neither will ever know. Your visual storytelling is as beautiful as your text, with instantly recognizable versions of the Granada pair in a world of flowers, gravestones, and Victorian flowing script. I am absolutely floored by this incredible piece. "Thank you" feels insufficient. "Bravissiima!" seems too flippantly happy. Can I just hug you? *enormous hugs*

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

I can't thank you enough for your thoughtful comment. I remember I was having a pretty rough week when this was posted, and reading your comment really cheered me up. :) I'm especially glad to hear you liked Holmes and Watson's little exchange (I went back and forth on the "bloody morbid" bit, wasn't sure if it was in-character enough) and Holmes' tribute to Mary. Thank you again for all the wonderful compliments! And of course: *hugs back* :)

[rhuia.livejournal.com]

This is so beautiful. I love how Holmes's face changes in the last few frames, it's so softly and subtly done. Gorgeous work :)

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

Wow, good to hear Holmes' face works in those last few frames - 'cause I've got to say, Jeremy Brett had the most annoyingly mobile face on the planet. So difficult to draw! Thank you very much for the compliment. ^_^

[bootsnblossoms.livejournal.com]

Absolutely gorgeous, both in content and execution. Fantastic work!

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

[solrosan.livejournal.com]

This is beautiful! The way you combined your drawing and story with the ACD quotes and, well, all of it. It’s really wonderfully done!

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you! I'm glad you think the quotes and canon hints work well. :D

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

That's wonderful. I love the conversation between them, and the bit at the end with Holmes is perfect.

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

:) Holmes and Watson banter is always my favorite. Thank you so much for the lovely compliments! ^.^

[what-alchemy.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous!

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :)

[holyfant.livejournal.com]

This is one of the most beautiful pieces of fanart that I've ever seen. I love the colours, the composition, and the placing of the words. For some reason the fact that your speech bubbles are black makes me like it even more.

Really, really gorgous.

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much dear! The speech bubble thing - you know, I didn't even think about it until you mentioned it. It just seemed like the right thing to do at the time, to balance the frames...but honestly, I have no idea what I'm doing half the time, I've never taken a comic art class in my life. ^.^ Glad you enjoyed it, and a very happy new year!

[augustbird.livejournal.com]

this is utterly gorgeous <333 the lines here are free flowing but restrained, lending a wholly organized yet organic look. the story that goes with it is genuinely touching as well. brilliantly conveyed <3

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Yeah, I didn't want this to look to regimented, so I only used formal "panels" in a few places. Good to hear that it works well - and thank you so much for the compliments. :) Best wishes, and a happy new year!

[cathedralcarver.livejournal.com]

This is very moving and gorgeous and lovely. Wish it had gone on much longer. Well drawn and well written. Beautifully done.

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Gosh, I wish it could've gone on longer too...but to be honest, it was a stretch just getting thing much done, lmao. Comics are so much work! I'm very happy to hear that you enjoyed it though. :)

[teahigh.livejournal.com]

This is painfully gorgeous. The expressions are amazing, and all the little intricate details. Just. Gah.

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear that it was a bit painful, but given the subject matter...I guess it was inevitable. So I'll take it as a compliment. :) Thank you for the sweet comment, and happy new year!

[cellar-door-lj.livejournal.com]

This is so gorgeous! Love your style.

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

[draloreshimare.livejournal.com]

Utterly fantastic, and left me teary. I love your style, and the flow of the piece is excellent.

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, it does seem to have caused a lot of tears! Not my intention, but I'm glad to hear you liked it anyway. Thank you so much for the lovely comment. :)

[afrogeekgoddess.livejournal.com]

*squealing excited kitten noises*

Everyone above me who has commented has already expressed all of my emotions about this piece. So I'll just say this: it's lovely, truly lovely. A touching, thoughtful, fine tribute to Mary Morstan Watson, and to the relationships among her, Holmes, and Watson. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the wonderful prompt! When I read it, I knew immediately that I wanted to do something with Mary to examine the dynamic between the two most important people in Watson's life. How did Watson interact with each of them? How did they interact with him and, by extension, each other? I don't think it could have been an easy relationship all the time, but I felt that something of a mutual respect and understanding existed between Holmes and May: a recognition of the other's importance in Watson's life. I'm very happy to hear you liked my (short!) exploration of these three characters, and I hope it lives up to your prompt. Best wishes and a very happy new year!

[fabelschwester.livejournal.com]

Ooh, amazing, amazing!
I don't even know where to start, but:

- such a touching and heartfelt story, told in such pretty pictures!

- you totally captured Brett!Holmes and Burke!Watson

- your way of shading is brilliant

- I really like how you change from dark text on white background to white text on coloured bg, I think it not only adds to the composition, I also find it easier to read if it doesn't stay the same all the time

- you neither shy away from backgrounds nor hands... take this artists medal of bravery

- honestly, you're either a genius or this took an insane amount of time

- the flowers ♥

Great work!

[numberthescars.livejournal.com]

:D Wow, thank you for all the wonderful compliments! Lol, I will definitely accept your artist's medal of bravery, though in my personal opinion backgrounds and hands pale in comparison to drawing Brett's nose. That man's face defies illustration! It was incredibly frustrating. :) Aha, and I am sooo not a genius! This DID take a ridiculous amount of time. But worth it!

[sra-danvers.livejournal.com]

OMG So beautiful, the story and the art. And they really are them! Awesome!

[roane.livejournal.com]

This is one of the most gorgeous things I have ever seen. Incredibly moving.

[bergamotandbone.livejournal.com]

Absolutely beautiful!

[mildred-bobbin.livejournal.com]

Lovely and poignant!

[peeveee.livejournal.com]

This is absolutely gorgeous. Your style is so beautiful, and the piece is really just full of quiet emotion. Really, really wonderful.

[cleflink.livejournal.com]

Lovely and poignant. Your style is lovely and the narrative was wonderfully loyal to Watson's voice. The idea of Holmes' grave still being there is interesting and quietly profound and it breaks my heart to know how that grave - and all it stands for - affect Watson. The ending was perfect.

[impulsereader.livejournal.com]

This is utterly gorgeous and amazing. I feel the need to gush excessively in an attempt to make you understand how wonderful I think this is.

The visual of Holmes beside Watson in the frame as Watson leaves - their two faces side by side, looking at one another but not. That is gorgeous. I join the others in loving the fact that you switch the text black on white and white on black. That effect is glorious. This whole piece has such balance between the positive and negative space - it really is breathtaking.

The story is, of course, amazing and touching. You've done such a wonderful job of creating a Victorian-era graphic story - just - there really isn't enough gushing possible to do your work justice.

I'm so very, very happy that this prompt found you and you were inspired to create this. It is so, so wonderful! Much too wonderful for words. (But I tried!)

Happy Holmestice to you!

[innie_darling]

This is beautiful.