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Description
So, this is actually my VERY first attempt at doing lineart digitally. It was done using the Path tool in Gimp, and, by God, an awful lot of fiddling around with the eraser. Practice is what I need.

I realize it's not shaded. That is partly because the characters are actually rarely shaded in the show, and also because I haven't done proper shading in years and kinda want to do a seperate piece to practice that on. I didn't want to ruin this otherwise fine drawing of Pearl with shoddy shading.

And oh yes. This is Pearl, from the Cartoon Network show, Steven Universe.

Those that know me probably know that Steven Universe is my favorite currently running cartoon. I love its setting, I love its art style, I love how colorful, fearless, funny, action-packed, violent, heartbreaking, heartwarming, adorable and all around fantastic it can get at a moment's notice without ever trying to push upon you that it is attempting to be some kind of big cartoon epic. I love that Steven acts like a real child ,and that for once, the Kid Hero is a genuinely good (if still occasionally obnoxious) kid, who is honestly loved and adored by those he goes adventuring with.

I love the characters - and I love Pearl especially.

I've really tried to think of why that is, and I think I've reached them. It's not just her design (although I lovee her lanky built, and the fact that she looks like she skipped straight out of a Tove Jansson book). It's not just how motherly he is, no matter how endearing I find it, or how neurotic she can get, which makes her absolutely hilarious and puts her motherly qualities in contrast and make them even nicer. I think one of the biggest reasons I love her is her femininty, and how it is never portrayed as a weakness of any kind.

Let's be honest - when female characters are called 'strong' today, we're still sadly very often talking about a woman behaving like a man, or at least being able to do so. To suddenly kick a lot of ass, take no shit and mop the floor with anyone who gets in your way. And of course that's great. Nothing wrong with women having stereotypically manly qualities (or men having stereotypically womanly qualities). But we still end up seeing it as negative if a female character acts 'too feminine'. Not Pearl. Sure, she can fight with the best of them - she's quite awesome at it - but she'll do it to the tune of a prim and proper piano piece all while incorporating elegant ballet. She'll dote on Steven, pick up his messes, scold Amethyst or be generally overbearing towards Steven - and instantly tear right into any kind of monster that gets near him. And none of this is ever portrayed as negative, unusual or wrong. It's who she is, and she owns it.

And I think that is what I love about her.

TL;DR version - Pearl is awesome, she's my favorite Crystal Gem, and this drawing was a blast to do - and not a half bad first attempt at digital lineart, I like to think.

Description
So, this is actually my VERY first attempt at doing lineart digitally. It was done using the Path tool in Gimp, and, by God, an awful lot of fiddling around with the eraser. Practice is what I need.

I realize it's not shaded. That is partly because the characters are actually rarely shaded in the show, and also because I haven't done proper shading in years and kinda want to do a seperate piece to practice that on. I didn't want to ruin this otherwise fine drawing of Pearl with shoddy shading.

And oh yes. This is Pearl, from the Cartoon Network show, Steven Universe.

Those that know me probably know that Steven Universe is my favorite currently running cartoon. I love its setting, I love its art style, I love how colorful, fearless, funny, action-packed, violent, heartbreaking, heartwarming, adorable and all around fantastic it can get at a moment's notice without ever trying to push upon you that it is attempting to be some kind of big cartoon epic. I love that Steven acts like a real child ,and that for once, the Kid Hero is a genuinely good (if still occasionally obnoxious) kid, who is honestly loved and adored by those he goes adventuring with.

I love the characters - and I love Pearl especially.

I've really tried to think of why that is, and I think I've reached them. It's not just her design (although I lovee her lanky built, and the fact that she looks like she skipped straight out of a Tove Jansson book). It's not just how motherly he is, no matter how endearing I find it, or how neurotic she can get, which makes her absolutely hilarious and puts her motherly qualities in contrast and make them even nicer. I think one of the biggest reasons I love her is her femininty, and how it is never portrayed as a weakness of any kind.

Let's be honest - when female characters are called 'strong' today, we're still sadly very often talking about a woman behaving like a man, or at least being able to do so. To suddenly kick a lot of ass, take no shit and mop the floor with anyone who gets in your way. And of course that's great. Nothing wrong with women having stereotypically manly qualities (or men having stereotypically womanly qualities). But we still end up seeing it as negative if a female character acts 'too feminine'. Not Pearl. Sure, she can fight with the best of them - she's quite awesome at it - but she'll do it to the tune of a prim and proper piano piece all while incorporating elegant ballet. She'll dote on Steven, pick up his messes, scold Amethyst or be generally overbearing towards Steven - and instantly tear right into any kind of monster that gets near him. And none of this is ever portrayed as negative, unusual or wrong. It's who she is, and she owns it.

And I think that is what I love about her.

TL;DR version - Pearl is awesome, she's my favorite Crystal Gem, and this drawing was a blast to do - and not a half bad first attempt at digital lineart, I like to think.