Sk8r Grrls Extra Content
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Extra Content
Sk8r Grrls Ch 01 a : Character Profile - Mary Holmes
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| Everything you ever wanted to know about Mary, but didn't think to ask... | |
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Sk8r Grrls Character Profiles by Edeyn Hannah Blackeney Mary Holmes (Art by Heather Rose Brown) |
Mary Holmes, the taller of the two blondes, and the second tallest Sk8r Grrl, is one of my favourites to write.
Some basic facts about her:
- Her family is pretty much loaded. Upper Middle Class at the least, more likely Lower Upper or Middle Upper.
- She takes ballet classes.
- She doesn't want her friends to know that she enjoys the ballet IMMENSELY.
- Thin, but not scary-skinny, strong and lithe build.
- Has a punky-gothy "look" most of the time.
- Is the best on a board of any of the Sk8r Grrls.
Now, Heather Rose Brown and I discussed the look of all the characters, and I was ecstatic with her take on Mary! Here are the sketches that she gave me of Miss Holmes as the conversations progressed:
First Rough Sketch:
Here, she's stretching before hitting the ramps in the Skate Park. Her right arm is pulling right leg in a stretch, very girly and ballet-ish, so to compensate she's glaring at whoever it is looking at her. Using the fence to balance, her things in a pile at her feet. That's a rough pose for anyone, but... in combat boots? She just oozes awesome. I know, right?
Second Iteration Sketch:
Some clothing shading detail was added here to come more in line with the character's personal style, her hair and face defined a lot better and you can just FEEL the malice in that glare now! Notice the little skull on the choker?
Third Iteration Sketch:
Details, details, details! The fence wire filled in with enough detailing to provide a backdrop, the board and backpack shown better, the overall defining lines cleaned up, and the cargo pants made camouflage.
Final Sketch:
Final revision, with more board details added, and notice the little white pupils in the "eyes" of the skull crash helmet.
So this is just a basic profile on Mary Holmes, more to come on her and both basic and more coming for the other Sk8r Grrls!
Sk8r Grrls Ch 02 a : Character Profile - Jenni Orliss
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| Everything you ever wanted to know about Jenni, but didn't think to ask... | |
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Sk8r Grrls Character Profiles by Edeyn Hannah Blackeney Jenni Orliss (Art by Heather Rose Brown) |
Jenni Orliss, the shorter and goobier of the two blondes, and the most laid back Sk8r Grrl, is based a lot more on certain real-life people than some of the others.
Some basic facts about her:
- Her family is one of those "wrong side of the tracks" families that everyone in town likes ANYWAY. They're just a bunch of sweet and nice folks.
- She takes martial arts classes.
- She is the most likely to try to cheer someone up by clowning around, or maybe even a practical joke.
- Medium, lean build, and exceptionally fast reflexes to go along with better balance than anyone else but Mary.
- Has a personal style that's loose and free-flowing natural fibers. Not because she's a hippie-type, but because she values the freedom of movement.
- Is the most daring on a board of any of the Sk8r Grrls, and the most prone to injury because of it.
Now, Heather Rose Brown and I discussed the look of all the characters, and I admit at first I didn't like her take on Jenni. But with just the first revision, I realized that she knew art better than me. Heh. Here are the sketches that she gave me of Miss Orliss as the conversations progressed:
First Rough Sketch:
Okay, so I could see Jenni clowning like this, but she just... didn't look right. I almost told her to scrap it and try something else, but instead pointed out some things that didn't work for me, like the blonde afro and such. Though she did get the wardrobe dead on.
Second Iteration Sketch:
With the addition of the curls, it looked so much better! Unruly hair instead of an afro, but there was something wrong with the face... oh! She looked too pudgy. Martial artists aren't pudgy (despite what Chris Farley would have you believe)!
Third Iteration Sketch:
Alright! She took away the chubby cheeks, and even gave her head a slight rotation so that it looks like she's working to pull off the balanced board. The slight droop to one eyelid suggests she just finished winking, instead of being cross-eyed, which also was inspired and way better.
Final Sketch:
Final revision, with the bench finally fleshed out and giving more of a feeling of spur of the moment to her antics. Rather like she just leapt upon the bench and began acting out to get a giggle from whoever her target may be.
So this is just a basic profile on Jenni Orliss, more to come on her and both basic and more coming for the other Sk8r Grrls!
Sk8r Grrls Ch 02 b : Discussion # 01
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| Sk8r Grrls - SURGE project, Extra Content! Reader Discussion Number 1! | |
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Edeyn Hannah Blackeney's Sk8r Grrls Extra Content Reader Discussion #1 What is Annie's Full Name? (Art by Heather Rose Brown) |
Alright, it has come to my attention, thanks to a few querulous readers that Annie doesn't have a name.
That is, 'Allie' is short for Allison, and 'Andy' was short for Andrew...
What the heck is 'Annie' short for?
Please discuss and suggest! Reader input is a good thing!
Sk8r Grrls Ch 03 a : Character Profile - Andy Wilson
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| Everything you ever wanted to know about Andy, but didn't think to ask... | |
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Sk8r Grrls Character Profiles by Edeyn Hannah Blackeney Andy Wilson (Art by Heather Rose Brown) |
Andy Wilson, the boy-type alter ego of one of the two Wilson twin sisters (and ostensibly, the main characters), and the most tragic Sk8r Grrl character, is an emotional thrill ride to write.
Some basic facts about him:
- His family is new to Constitution, Tennessee -- himself, parents, twin sister, and older brother.
- He is a young transgirl, not out to his parents or brother, and the community only knows his alter ego self (Annie).
- He wants to be allowed to be the girl he knows he is, but is frightened of peoples' (especially family's) reactions.
- Thin, but not scary-skinny, typical girly or geeky (or both) build.
- He's into typically geeky things like anime/manga, and appears to be a bit depressed most times -- spurring his parents interest in his joining SOME type of extra-curricular activity to make friends.
- Is the best at grinds of any of the Sk8r Grrls.
Now, Heather Rose Brown and I discussed the look of all the characters, and her take on Andy is the most recent! Here are the sketches that she gave me of the boy Sk8r Grrl in progression:
First Rough Sketch:
Here, he's leaning against a comics/magazine rack, to himself probably having to be Andy because the parents are around. His nose in a manga, very geeky and typical, though unconsciously standing kinda femme, anyway. Notice the long hair.
Second Iteration Sketch:
Cleaned up the general lines, the hair is a bit too-neatly kept for a boy, and in general looks like a tomboy more than a boy. I know, right? You can now make out some of the manga detail, but not enough to identify it. It's likely one with a transgirl main character, though!
Third Iteration Sketch:
Background added to make the bookstore as a locale for the scene more obvious, the manga being only part of andy's interest in being there.
Final Sketch:
Final revision, with more background details added, and lots of general cleanup notice the enthralled expression on his face.
So this is just a basic profile on Andy Wilson, more to come on him and both basic and more coming for the other Sk8r Grrls!
Sk8r Grrls Ch 03 b : Andy to Annie - Windowbox
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| Heather Rose Brown's awesome moonlit windowbox illustrations | ||
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Sk8r Grrls Concept Artwork by Edeyn Hannah Blackeney Annie / Andy Wilson (Art by Heather Rose Brown) |
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Andy Wilson, the boy-type alter ego of Annie Wilson -- the main character of the series, more or less.
I asked Heather Rose for a very specific pair of drawings. Everything the same in them except one was to be unhappy little boy Andy, and a week later a much more contented Annie. Both were to be reading while sitting in the windowbox seat of her/his bedroom. The passage of time shown by the movement and change of phase of the moon. I even sent her storyboards. She gave me an amazing piece of work in return. What a difference a week makes! Here they are:
Moonlight Andy
Moonlight Annie
Sk8r Grrls Ch 03 c : Opinion Poll # 01
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| Sk8r Grrls - SURGE project, Extra Content! Reader Opinion Poll Number 1! | |
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Edeyn Hannah Blackeney's Sk8r Grrls Extra Content Reader Opinion Poll #1 Which name fits Annie Best? (Art by Heather Rose Brown) |
Now I'm gonna ask you kind folks to vote on it!
There have been many suggestions, in both public and private, for what name Annie should be given as a long-form name. That is,