First off: One of the Questions that *can* plague the thoughts of artists and writers: "Why do you create this stuff?" I get this particular one a lot in my email; a lot sounding like outrage. Sometimes, it can get tiresome, even fearsome. I get this a lot; in some ways, they do have a valid point. I don't get any money off of this. I don't expect Disney or it's people to call me saying they got a job lined up just for my skills. In fact, I tell some people that I do this to pass the time. Why? Because there is nothing noteworthy on TV anymore. Except "Fraiser" and "Stark Raving Mad". And the occasional "Voyager" ep.

But the real answer: "Because I love doing it."

Well, for a long time, I loved the "Lethal Weapon" movies, expecially the first two. The clashing of personalities and habits are one thing that I enjoyed watching. Riggs'(Mel Gibson) suicidal problems and his "hot-dog" attudes colliding with Murtah's (Danny Glover) desire for peace and conformity.
When I created this pic, I've had those two in mind, as well as Meg and Jane. In my mind, Jane would make a good "Murtah" role. Family person, peaceful. Probably always playing the "safe" role.
Meg is more of the "Riggs" role, IMO. I can picture her with jeans and boots. (I can't picture her dislocating her shoulder though. ;-).
If we're on the subject of weapons, then I gues I can picture Jane with a old Webber 45. (they were classics of their time, and still is, IMO. I think they're still in use around India, but I'm not sure...). Simple, elegant, classic, I guess.
Rigg's Beretta 92 would make a nice match for Meg, I think. A "hot-dogger" gun, I'd think. So seeing her with such a gun is not out of place for me. (one might ask about the relationship with Belle and the Pulse Rifle, if that was the case *LOL*).
I thought I did some good work with this one. Jane's shorts were "colored", by me. It was orignally a maroon red; but I changed it to look like "jungle fatigues" (Or a shorter version of it ;-). The skin tone was also altered a bit. All I did with Meg was color the hand with her skin tone as well, to make it more realisitic. I hate it when the skin tones clash. Like if I see a line where the two "layers" met. It's almost like a horrible scar, IMO; Once you see it, it's hard to take your eyes off of it...
A trusted friend noted that the expressions were "dead on". I thought it fit well also. I've always liked "Strong" women. Those that can hold their own in almost any situation. Women have always played a strong role in human history, IMO. Pioneering Frontier America, for example. Posing as male troops to fight in the Civil War (I think that Disney should a make a movie about that as well; "North and South" mets "Mulan". ;-). Building planes and ammo for the war against Hitler. So I tend to think that it's insulting to assume that a woman cannot fight as well as a man.
I might do another one like this some time in the future, so who knows...

"Dark Enchantment 2". One thing I always wished that they do with sequels was make them more "epic". More grander, probably; ading on to the original story, rather then making it just a continuation. Or totally destroying it (We can use "Highlander 2" as an excellent example in this case.) "TLK II" was along those lines, I guess. But deep down, I was thinking of sometihng along the lines of "Babylon 5" or "The Star Wars Trilogy". It would've been wonderful if BatB was not just one story but a part of an even bigger story alltogether.
There was something...appealing when I started on this pic. I was orignally playing around with some effects on certain "Textures": Stars, wood surfaces, water surfaces, even some fire. Soften, sharpen, warp, distort, et al. As well as some "depth" effects. For over an hour, I was fussing with the texure of a brick stuco wall!
And then, I found this nice "warping" effect on a starfield and started to work on it. Nothing serious, but like the first "DE" pic, I had no idea how it would end and what turns it might lead to.
At the same time, I was working on a Aerith/Belle pic as well. Another "template" to be used later on in the future. She stiull had that battle staff and that was about it. Then somehow, I decided to devote more time into this. The "doorway" is from the "Anastasia" CD cover; which I scanned about a month ago. The fire I captured from the "Terminator 2" DVD for another failed pic.
I think the hardest time I have with this one was the "shadow" effect for Belle. I couldn't figure out the controls too well. It was hard doings but I think it payed off well. Everytime I look at this, I come up with a new interpetaion of the scene. Weither she is emerging from the doorway, or guarding it, I cannot truthfully say. Probably both.
I think the doorways were mostly inspired by "The Dark Tower" books by Stephen King. IMO, the books are something that would make a good Disney movie. Most of the cover art and some of the "Special Editions" have done some fantastic artwork with such themes.

Well, this about it for me. I hope you found this reading to be enguaging, at least. Or something to past the time between TV programs. <G>. And you want to watch something worthwhile; check out "Stark Raving Mad". Long Live Ian!! ;-D

Until Next Time,

HoTT