The Masked Shrike

A belated happy birthday to you!

Ah, lord knows I've gotten enough love around here. I apologize for whining. I blame modern air travel! At least the water was free

Okay! I finally got my computer back so I could load up CoH again! (Two hard drive deaths in less than two weeks, I swear it's gremlins...) I am *so* sorry it's taken so long to get to this, so I decided to try two concepts.

I was paired up with Power Stream who selected his cool-looking character Propellant. I was really inspired by the second costume there, though they are both very nifty. Power Stream did a great job on the Shrike, and I hope this is at least interesting. We had no theme so I just went on my own whims.

Chrysopoeia aka Lady Michelle Jette, was a lady-in-waiting to Elizabeth I. Athletic and outgoing, she was known as an enthusiastic huntress and falconer, and was much admired by other members of the court. It was to Dr. John Dee that she gave her own attention, however. She became fascinated by his studies in alchemy and Hermetic philosophy, and before long, had become his student. She had a natural talent for understanding the esoteric disciplines, and it seemed that she might surpass her mentor in the search for the Philosopher's Stone and the Elixir of Life.

In fact, she had been so deeply engrossed in her experiments that the Queen chided her for her bookishness and her unhealthy complexion, strongly suggesting that Lady Michelle would do well to get some fresh air. A ride into the country nearly proved disastrous when Michelle was caught in a freak blizzard. Luckily her entourage recovered her and transported her back to court, where she was nursed back to health. All marveled at her swift recovery...and they marveled more still when her new abilities manifested, nearly scorching the hair off Dr. Dee himself. He concluded that her alchemical mixtures must have transmuted her body into something more pure and perfect.

When Lady Michelle awoke, she was confronted by a most insistent Lord Walsingham. At the Queen's behest, he persuaded Michelle to become England's secret weapon against her enemies. Secretly schooled in the art of swordplay, and with her new fiery gift at her fingertips, Michelle was immersed in a life of peril and adventure at the Queen's command.

Yet as all around her aged and died, Michelle had to admit to herself that her experiments must have indeed yielded the Elixir of Life, for she herself never aged. So began years of subterfuge as she created new identities and new lives over the years, moving around the world to conceal her nature. Now, in Paragon city, she fights evil and injustice while searching for the key to her immortality.

And, just because I had to:

PropellAnt was known as Nigella, warrior in the service of Queen Molesta of Nest Invicta, greatest nest of all Tribe Solenopsidini, the feared Fire Ant civilization far beneath the Earth's surface. None of their enemies could stand against them--that is, until Pseudacton, the Decapitator, came among them. Nest Invicta was wiped out, but Nigella somehow survived. After pushing her way out from beneath a mound of the dead, she found her Queen, who lay dying. Before she expired, Molesta issued one last order: Nigella must track down Pseudacton and destroy him.

Armed with her natural fire powers, Nigella hunted the Decapitator to a nest of humans called Paragon City. Though their ways are strange, she has at least found a place among their society as a 'hero' as she continues to pursue her prey.

Simply gorgeous. The colors *really* pop. That is one piece to be super proud of. So dynamic, I expect her to move.

*keeps fingers crossed that she's still on Doug's list*

Looks great, you two! Eddy is just going nuts with the colors these days, very spiffy!

And I read LJ's post as 'You two should strip for the Scoop.' Now that was an interesting image.

But where is the nekkid version?

Woot! That's the way to hang in there, LJ

Very cool! I love group pieces, and this was for a very worthy cause.

Thanks for sharing, Bill! I love seeing collections. That's some mighty fine work you have there.

Ooh, very nice, great colors! Love the action pose. And another artist that's new to me Thanks!

Thank you so much for all the hints and tips (Nike IX, that was great stuff!) which I've printed out to take along. The artist recommendations are especially helpful since there are just so many.

I just wish all the Art Forum gang could be there. Then again, that would mean longer lines for art Nah, it'd be worth it. I'll be looking out for those who are attending, and missing those who aren't.

OK, the DA sub has been given to a very deserving fellow, all-round 'good bloke' Eddy Swan. I'd like to point out that Eddy was nominated by the sharp-eyed EnnVee

Chain chain chain...chain of looove...

Well, I am artistically talentless, so I'll have to resort to other methods. I'd like to offer up a subscription to DA for anyone who is in need of one. Just get me your DA name

A beautiful and generous gift indeed.

Nice piece of...tail

July birthday babies are just that good.

Happy birthday and have a great and decadent day!

Ha! That's pretty frakkin' amazing. And cute. And evil. And evilly cute.

Yee-haw! Happy birthday, may it be filled with goodies!

Woot! Congrats! Does this mean you are now going to Funkytown?

Very cool screenshot. Great name, too.

I'm attending SDCC for the first time and I am so excited! Are any of you Arty folks going to be there too?

If so, what art-related plans have you made? Any particular artists in Artists' Alley you are going to see? What characters are you going to have drawn? Or perhaps some of our artists are going to be setting up shop? Any panels on your agenda? I'd love to hear what other folks are looking forward to--I know some of you have gotten gorgeous pieces at the con in the past.

I'm going to try and enter the drawing for a David Nakayama character sketch. Otherwise I will probably just sort of drift around and see what's what. So many artists, I feel overwhelmed already. I'll have a sketchbook and some screenshots just in case. Probably will bring references for Shrike, PinUp, and maybe one or two others.

Of course I hope to attend the CoH panel.

I'd love to see some of the forumites in person. If you see an old lady dressed like the Shrike walking around, it might be me

Happy happy birthday you! Hope it was a great one and perhaps even art was had?

And also happy Bastille Day!

Thank you so much, LJ! The Shrike would be honored to be included. Can't wait to see what results.

OK, the Shrike sez:
"My perfect summer vacation would be in Berlin doing major damage to Hitler's noggin with Gray Huntress (she's a good kid) and all the other swell heroes around here, while we enjoy a refreshing Coke and a few soothing Chesterfields! (Remember kids, smoking is good for America!)"

Very nice, love the angle and their expressions. What a lovely gift!

(And happy birthday Bill! You have excellent taste in birthdays, fellow Bastille Day baby)

*rolls laughing at the cat* Thanks for the good wishes, everyone.

And holy cow, that's awesome, Projectionist, thank you! My first chibi. Love it!

I'm SO doing this. What a great idea!

Very nice, EnnVee. Though that may prove distracting enough that no work gets done on that computer.