Art for capt_facepalm: Remembrance Day

[methylviolet10b]

Title: Remembrance Day
Recipient: capt_facepalm
Artist: enname
Rating: G
Medium: Graphite
Character/s: Holmes and Watson
Summary: An illustration from capt_facepalm's Roll Call, for the following passage:

Some time later, a light tread on the floor tiles indicated someone’s approach so Watson recovered his composure as best he could. The slight creak as someone seated themselves in the pew behind him caused Watson to raise his bowed head in anticipation of unwelcome attention.
“My dear fellow, is there anything I can do for you?” a familiar, but unexpected voice inquired with great concern.

Author's Note: Please pardon any errors in uniform, rank or other matters historiographical in nature. The pews are correct from what I recall of the Reading Minster.

Comments

[tripleransom.livejournal.com]

Love the art, but could I have a link to the story, please? I don't believe I've read it and can't seem to locate it on LJ or AO3.

I'd love to know the background on this neat sketch!

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Dear Artist,
Thank you so much for this image!

You have captured the moment just before Watson realises that it is Holmes who has taken the seat behind him. Even though the rest of his regiment is gathered outside, Watson is still all alone with his grief. Holmes, who is not known for his sympathetic nature, nonetheless has a wonderful sense of timing.

Your faces are very compelling. Watson looks so... bereft (Poor Watson!), and Holmes seems willing to give him the time he needs. I also like the details you included like Holmes' pocket watch chain.

As for the historical details: It is all good. It is important that Watson is in uniform, but I have never been able to figure out exactly what that might look like, nor am I an expert on insignia. (And the pews are perfect: narrow with very rectangular lines.)

So, thanks so much!

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Hi there, I can supply you the link.
It is a story called Roll Call (http://capt-facepalm.livejournal.com/1734.html), and it was one of the first long (ie non-drabble) stories I had ever written.

[tripleransom.livejournal.com]

Thank for the link to this sombre and very moving story.

[fabelschwester.livejournal.com]

Everything about this picture screams grief. Poor Watson!
Thanks for sharing!

[methylviolet10b]

...and I will add a link in the header information post-haste. :-) Thanks for providing it!

[methylviolet10b]

Lovely work, mystery artist! Watson looks so pained and broken.

[hardboiledbaby]

Oh my, I can't stop looking at Watson: his expression, his posture, all so very telling of the turmoil within. Thank you for sharing this, Anon.

[stardust-made.livejournal.com]

Such beautiful, evocative piece of art. The moment is captured perfectly in the shading of the drawing, in their faces, in their poses. Both Holmes and Watson are so in character. Wonderful work!

[enname.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes, well that was embarassing! I would forget my head if it were not screwed on.

[enname.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Mostly though it was a pleasure as I really, really like your writing. It has been most frustrating combing through your work and not leaving feedback, but I thought that a spate of commentary on everything you wrote by one person involved in the same anonmous gift giving fest ...might just be a bit of a giveaway. So in due course I shall go and remedy that.

It is not quite the image I had in mind and the scan does no justice to Holmes (who has managed to get himself bleached out), but it is primarily meant to be about Watson. If there is one time to be bereft, it is when you are mourning the loss of the better part of a regiment. Timing and space have always been things Holmes is good at.

My not-so-inner-historian got a bit pernickety. Watson's uniform is correct to within five years - I could only find one dress uniform for the Berkshire's and it was a bit later (although handily that of a surgeon), when uniforms had undergone some changes. Same as ranking insignia - it shouldn't be on the cuffs, but eh.. hard to see his left shoulder.

[enname.livejournal.com]

Mourning the loss of one's entire regiment will do that to a person, methinks.

Not a problem. :P

[enname.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I though that mourning the anniversary of the massacre of your regiment will do that, so I am glad I suceeded. Grief should never be taken lightly, nor alone.

[enname.livejournal.com]

Ah.. and apologies. The giftee should not have to point out their own work. *head desk*

[enname.livejournal.com]

Thank you.

I attempted the moment before this, but it was just too much up close and would have to have been a long panning view from Holmes' perspective entering the church. Not quite what I intended and probably beyond my skill level anyway. Although I didn't really succeed with what I wanted here either. Oh well, c'est la vie. :)

[enname.livejournal.com]

Yet still beginning to pull himself back into one piece to continue with the rest of the service. Grief is never an easy weight to bear.

No problem. :)