Alecto Kiss Concepts (TLT) // Sketches (Patreon)

Since I've been occupied for a long time (and sick), I thought I'd give you a second bonus this weekend.

In January you guys voted for the Alecto/Harrow Kiss idea and after a while I mentioned that I'm unhappy with everything I sketched out and would (at least for now) have to scratch that idea. But I also mentioned I'd at least give you the ideas I had and some concept WIPs and the ideas behind.

The idea was simple: I wondered if Harrow's body still regenerated the same after the events of Nona the Ninth, and if not, if Alecto's "kiss" would leave a scar. And if it does leave a scar - Kiriona would probably be unable to look away from it, right? Lots of complicated feelings both about Harrow, herself, Alecto... I wanted to take this all into an art project of maybe 1-3 pages.

This was the very first sketch/idea:

 Usually I get really rough when I'm just exploring ideas. It's more about placement of elements and what to include. People usually do small thumbnails but that rarely works for me. I always need a bit of detail to work with.

I really liked Kiriona's stance in the above picture. I kinda wanted her to be surrounded by the memories she had of Harrow and herself. The Alecto kiss had to be part of it (since that had a painful impact on her) and I really wanted to include the pool scene (for obvious reasons), nude bone nunlet Harrow after the Avulsion trial reaching for Gideon, and Harrow's smile during the final fight (because it distinctly stayed with me how Gideon described her smile at that time).

I wanted something more artistic and with more panels. I wanted to include a close-up of the scar, Harrow noticing Kiriona's stare, and Alecto. And I ended up with this:

 I liked the idea of making it more like a comic page. I wasn't really sure how to place everything though. It didn't really fit that well together as I wanted it to. It also didn't really capture the emotional storm that was going on in Kiriona, that I wanted to get across, so I scratched this one too.

I still really liked Kiriona's pose and added John into the mix. I assumed he'd have a big impact on her as well, since Harrow wasn't around for long:

 I liked the idea of John and Alecto being sort of shadow figures, looming over Kiriona. And a close-up of Harrow's lip and scar being at the top front, basically staring Kiriona and the reader in the face.But even though I kinda liked this, it still felt empty and I couldn't figure out a second page and how to fill it all in.

In the end, I ended up with the final concept that I actually liked:

 As is often the case, once I truly scratched everything (sorry my Kiriona doodle I loved so much) and started with blank pages, I had a creative flow to pick up new ideas. I really liked this whole setup. Harrow and Kiriona are set up as opposites to each other.

Harrow is dressed (and colored) in black. Kiriona in white.Harrow shows her back in a slouched position. Kiriona in front, with arms tightly crossed.Harrow is surrounded by white, positive memories Kiriona has.Kiriona is surrounded by black, negative memories Kiriona has.The first panel focuses on Kiriona's intense gaze. The close-up panel of Harrow ignores her eyes and focuses solely on her mouth.

In the background the significant memories (some now seen in the books). The most important ones on top: the pool scene and the Alecto/Harrow kiss (because I thought that would haunt Kiriona).

Other scenes:In white: Kid Harrow doing necromancy // Harrow putting on face paint on Gideon // Harrow's smile during the finale // Kiriona looking up at "Harrow" after their kissIn black: Tiny Gideon grasping the bones hands of her skele-mom // her view of the bloody pole after her sacrifice // Kiriona walking through the cohort being saluted // John being an inadequate father and doing the circle game (O with his fingers) // optional memory of friendship bracelet braiding with Ianthe

References I wanted to include:The Kiss was supposed to be the inspiration for the pool scene. I wanted it to be implied or unsure if there was a kiss with them in the pool.For the Alecto/Harrow kiss I found two great references for the brutal way Alecto kissed her.

In the end, I got a bit too tired with this project. I think I took too long to figure out a nice composition and idea and probably just got fatique. Looking back I really like the final concept and maybe I might even pick it up again to finish some other day.

Hope you enjoyed the insight! Questions are always welcome if they arise.

<3 Chim