#i can't draw the shirt details tho (lazy)

[whooiew]

That bird Kafka Arknights

[munadrawson]

Commentary on the Beach comic

Here is the commentary post. However, I may explore this theme again because I want to tell cute beach scenarios, especially one with Deep Cut as a group being old farts even though they are in their 20s... That's what happens after college. After you graduate, one hot summer day after leaving the gym, you reminisce.   FYI: This is long AF. Also mention of colorism and misogyny at the final thoughts section.

Background:

As I mentioned, this fan comic was unexpected but had a purpose. I did not want to jump into the folk song fan comic until I ironed out the few doubts in my mind:

Which desi river folk songs do I want to use to tell this story? What would be the theme? What would Frye and Shiver wear? What would each of their hairstyles be? Location? Location? Location?

The body proportions between the two were also in doubt. So I took the opportunity of this being a learning experience.

It is difficult not to beeline and draw it when I cannot stop playing the scene in my head whenever I listen to the songs. I HAVE to let this story simmer. I know it won't be perfect, but I want to tell it right.

Set-up:

Initially, the comic starts with Frye bringing in the watermelon for the rest of the crew. However, the delivery falls flat since we know about Frye's antics.

Plus, as much as I love the yellow desi-inspired inkling, I want to give equal attention to the other two. The most difficult one to draw is SHIVER. I see too much myself in them, let alone the chubby square face shape with sharp eyes. Whenever I indulged in fanfic, I would react like, "oh noooo. What is up with these sudden attacks? I just want to read a cute story and not be CALLED OUT LIKE THIS." The game makes it worse, tho.

Anyway. I have trouble drawing Shiver and Big Man (easier than Shiver) and have yet to write a comic where the two would interact. The two are the comedy duo in this story, while Frye has no intention besides munching on some grub. Mood.

Design:

I wanted to approach this fan comic as lazy as possible, but it can't be helped. An overachiever perfectionist is in my bone. I'm already exhausted from designing a college mascot as my day job. I didn't feel like using my brain.

And yet, I drew details onto their swimwear. *cries*

I had been referencing writers' works in each of my artworks. For example, Shiver and Frye as gaymers. Multiple fanfics had them adorably playing video games together. Another example is The Big Comfy Couch. There are numerous fanfics where they would have Adult Fun Time on a couch, whether in the dressing room or at home, as if it were part of a mythos. Some fluff moments are on the sofa, but Adult Fun Time outweighs them. I'm not complaining! It is rather amusing.

Me: *Slaps an arm of The Big Comfy Couch* "This bad boy can support so many adult fun-time sofa scene fanfics on it. It's a staple!"

This time, I referenced the swimwear from chapter 6 of Girlfriends by IslandsChickenScratch, the mahi mahi resort scene. The foundation because, as I stated, I went on adding the details and the add-ons... Thank goodness these characters don't have mammal-like hair, or else I would spend days drawing each strain.

I'll talk about the least to the most troublesome I had when designing the swimwear.

Shiver:

The most challenging character to render yet the easiest to give them an outfit. The cool n chic masc energy, let's goooooo.

The foundations for them were swim shorts and a strapless bikini top. As well as the back tentacle pinned up. I added the bottom bikini or a g-string to emphasize their hips. They enjoy flaunting their hips. Also, it gives off that cutout design of their default pants without the actual cutout.

The design of the swimshorts is a combination of the "Chili Octo Aloha" button-down shirt with S3 sunken scroll ten sharks:

I also added the orange gills on the top bikini to break the solid blue. Before, I had flora patterns in mind, but then I remembered that I loved seeing other illustrators draw Shiver with scars. It truly embodies the shark-like energy—one true blahaj.

Gosh, I am so envious of their chest size. Sure, mine has gotten smaller thanks to the gym, where sometimes I see them as pecs. But dammit, it would be great not to deal with sports bras. *grumbles* Oh well, on the brighter side, they did get smaller. So, I'm happy with the result, lol.

Lastly, I added the octopus medallion??? Pendant onto the kanzashi but with no additional frills. Simple, the better.

I love seeing other fan creators incorporate those pendants with different outfits.

Big Man:

You would think drawing a triangular, ideal Doritio body would be easy. Nope. Not at all. Not one bit. The struggle is real. But I give my best.

His base swimwear was the diving mask with a snorkel. I opt out of the snorkel because… I was too lazy to draw it lol—also, the war flashback of drawing the slopsuit helmet on him. I can't.

However, after taking away the snorkel, he felt so naked. I know he's a nudist. Big man the truest punk who doesn't conform to societal norms. I fold it instead.

I added the garland, adored with Brazilian flowers. It looks adorable on him! It is not a lei. I'm connecting it to a queer animatic story that I came across on youtube, "Pritty" by Pritty Not Pretty. Queer black boys love story by the poolside. It is so cute that I watched it three times. I can't wait for the animation.

I've seen some fan creators depict humanoid Big Man with Afrocentric features. I ain't that creative, and I don't want to draw a humanoid version of him. He's a blessing because, sometimes, I don't wanna draw LIMBS. He is a nice break. Delta.

Despise the lack of ears; a necklace is always a great choice because he's pritty cute. *Frye's finger guns*

Frye:

She's the opposite of Shiver when it comes to drawing. She's more freeing thanks to her personality, but the damn outfits tho. The problem is that she can wear anything.

She wore a one-piece bikini with cutouts in that scene. So, I combed through a folder of old references I gathered I had saved for my project. I found this orange one-piece bikini with a sarong and sunhat. Sure, it is a more mature look, but it is hot. Hot cute. The sunhat adds the cute factor. Subjective, I guess.

Similar to Shiver, I placed her pendant on the hat.

I added additional jewelry because the girl is at the beach, and of course, there are some desi songs associated with the anklet, nupur paye, to a stream.

Unlike the gold bands where she wore one on each arm and wrist, I only drew one anklet. I connected to a Bangla pop song, "Ek paye nupur amar," by Anila and Topu. Gosh, the music video is so dated and awkward, but basically, the song talks about the two options of a relationship. Would you rather deepen the connection and jump on the ship with them or have it severed?

I signify that Shiver will always choose the anklet, the one by the sea. Although the sea can be unpredictable with it's rough waves and storms, they would happily take Frye to the next level, and Frye would happily agree to it.

Yes, this comically fan-comic was kinda deep lol.

*cries* Why can't I just draw Frye crushing a melon... Then have gay brain goes "brrr me totes gay." "OTL

Final Thoughts:

Whew, this commentary is getting pretty long. I learned a few things when it comes to coloring the environment. I hate being a colorist. It gave me a migraine for a few days. So, I'll do flat colors for the folk songs fan-comic except for the bonus part.

It will be a doujinshi length worth. Ohmigawd, my first one ever?! All this effort is going for a certain gay yellow desi-inspired squid? Yes. Why?

I could not abide watching from the sideline as I looked and read comments about Frye. Have her music be reduced to just "Bollywood" music. Look, I do listen to old movie songs, and I do enjoy them, but there are other genres...

And also, sigh. The blatant misogynoir. As an observer who witnesses colorism and misogyny close, approximately within and outside the family. I had to step in. It hurts knowing it hits close to home.

Me as Marie in January 2023:

"...I guess I'll step in. I don't wanna work. I just climbed out of the rabbit hole, battling my two years of depression, but as a light-skin desi with whatever art skills I gained over years, it is my responsibility to do something about this. I am a bottom feeder of an artist but, I DO have that privilege. SIGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh."

It does feel cathartic whenever I happen to draw Frye pretty. I usually announced it to my younger sister afterward, who always replied without a hitch, "Thank you."

It is a small step but a worthwhile endeavor. The duty of an older sister.

I'll continue to draw a small fan piece or two while working on the long-ass folk song fan comic. I want to finish the new fan comic before I go to Bangladesh in November.