open log

[neverfinishanyth]

Who: Leonardo and YOU
Where: Goldenrod
When: August
Summary: Care to sit for a picture or two with a little known artist named Leonardo da Vinci?
Rating: G for Good at Drawing
Log:
He made a little post on the network asking for volunteers, and now, over the course of August, those volunteers might finally get the chance to fulfill their end of the bargain. Some of the drawings might happen outdoors, or in hotel rooms, or rooftops, or anywhere the inspiration strikes him. These sketches may not result in masterpieces, or even finished works, but they certainly will result in pen and ink being put to paper.

Comments

in some kind of private place because jean likes to take his shirt off

[angewiesen]

[It's not impossible to rent out studio space, right? I'm going with it. Jean's not really that wary-- He could probably beat the shit out of Leo, and had a full team of battle trained, level 100 Pokemon with him-- so he felt safe basically anywhere.]

Am I in the right place? Modeling job?

[Since he'd just followed the directions on his 'Gear to get here.]

[neverfinishanyth]

[Yes, they've rented out a small studio. It's already gotten a bit of general artist clutter spread out across a desk, and some chairs set up around a table. The table's got a wide variety of pens, pencils, charcoal, and paper spread out on top of it.]

Ah, you found it! Good! [Leonardo wanders over from his seat to greet Jean, shaking his hand excitedly.] Take a seat, if you like.

[angewiesen]

Hey. It's Jean. Jean Kirstein.

[Despite his usual attitude, Jean kept up an air of respect around Leo. It was a military thing. When it came to art, he was outranked.]

Did you want some kind of pose or something? [His eyes wandered over to some of the sketches already on the table in appraisal.]

[neverfinishanyth]

Hmm. [Leonardo flutters around the room, fussing about his materials and the lighting.]

Perhaps, if you could stand or sit by the windows?

[He wonders what the shadows would look like when they scatter across Jean.]

[angewiesen]

In the light? Sure.

[Jean obliged without protest. He was wearing tight clothes (the hussy) and shadows fell across him at sharp angles. He really was all corners and lines-- nothing soft about him at all. I bet his buttcheeks are like razorblades.]

[He put one hand in his pocket in a casual pose, with his cheek turned towards Leo. He'd spent the better part of an hour on his hair just before this, it better be good from this perspective.]

[neverfinishanyth]

Excellent! You do not need to hold that pose the entire time, but this should do well for a start.

[And with that, he picks up a pencil and starts marking out some lines on the page. Very thin, very precise ones. Glancing up at the light that filters in, and how it catches on Jean's hair. The angles are sharp. Good. He could work with that.]

[angewiesen]

Sure.

[Jean couldn't really see how Leo was drawing from where he was standing, which was a bit of a shame. He was interested in seeing the technique of a professional.]

What kind of world are you from?

[Might as well make small talk in the meantime.]

[necrodentia]

Rainer had volunteered to model for Leonardo mostly for a laugh, but the closer their agreed upon sitting came, the more Rainer was beginning to look forward to it. She hasn't sat for a portrait since her dad commissioned one from one of his more hand-eye-coordinated minions who had been a painter before he died.

Finally, the day is here, and Rainer welcomes Leo into her hotel room, which she has rearranged with the help of some of her larger, stronger Pokemon into something more akin to an artist's studio. The bed has been pushed over into the corner, and the curtains have been pulled back from the window, letting lots of light into the room, mostly focused on the fancy armchair Rainer has positioned herself in.

"I'm excited about this! I hope you don't mind if I sit here... It's more comfortable than the powered chair, and it reminds me more of my chair back home."

[neverfinishanyth]

"Oh, no, make yourself feel at home. This could take a little while, so I'd much rather you be comfortable than otherwise."

Leonardo's got his sketchbook sitting on his lap, and he's holding a pen in his left hand, careful not to make any stray marks. He looks up at the light filtering in through the window and the soft beams it makes through the dust in the air. Yes, he thinks this might work.

"Don't worry, you don't have to hold still the entire time." This is just a study, after all, he'll have plenty of time to fine tune it later. "If you could turn your head a little? A view from the side creates some more interesting shadows."

[necrodentia]

"Oh! Like this?" She turns her head to the side as indicated, eyes flicking back towards where Leo is sitting, before moving back to look straight ahead towards the wall.

"It's been a long time since anyone drew me like this. It's exciting!"

[neverfinishanyth]

"It's also exciting for me, believe it or not. And yes, that's perfect!"

He picks up his pencil - left-handed as always -- and begins to lay out a few initial lines, just to get a feel for the lighting and the shapes he will have to make later.

[necrodentia]

She settles into the chair, getting comfortable so that she can hold the position for as long as possible. Even if he's just sketching instead of doing a formal portrait, she wants to make it easy on him and not move too much.

"Is this something you would do a lot back home?"

[neverfinishanyth]

"Oh, yes. I greatly enjoy doing these little studies -- more than the actual paintings at times."

Actual paintings have deadlines, after all.

[epitaffio]

A karaoke booth is definitely not the type of venue Doppio was expecting, but... it's probably as safe as anything else? The door has a lock, and the window is frosted, so... it works.

"Thank you again for this, Mr. Leonardo! Um," Doppio starts as he sets his bag down, "Sorry if the, um... My superior at the Legendary Seekers - I'm sorry if his demands are a little complicated."

Yes, he's sticking with that story.

[neverfinishanyth]

"Well, let me hear these demands before I decide how complicated they are."

He's standing by the karaoke machine, fiddling with the touch screen as he speaks.

[epitaffio]

... They're not actually going to sing, right? Doppio didn't think he'd signed up for that. Unless... Leonardo da Vinci's genius extends even to the vocal arts...?!

Anyway! Demands! Doppio nods and reinforces the Business Face he's had on since he greeted Leonardo today.

"Like I mentioned, the client has agreed to two pages, one for him and one for you to keep. But he's asked that you do not include certain identifying features in the page you keep."

And then he relaxes, at least as much as one can relax in the presence of a national hero.

"So, um, you just have to make me look a little different, I guess."

[neverfinishanyth]

"What sort of different would you like?"

He does caricature drawings every so often, just to experiment with face shapes and tones, so this isn't too far outside the realm of possibility. The trick is figuring out what sort of changes are welcome, and which are not.

[epitaffio]

"Actually, I'm not sure. And the... the client didn't really specify either. But if I had to think about it..."

The first, most identifying feature that comes to mind...

"What if... you didn't draw my tattoos? I mean, not that you have to draw them anyway! They're kind of elaborate? But if you do, then maybe you could just... not do that for your sketchbook."

[neverfinishanyth]

"Alright, I'll remove any tattoos I happen to find. In my drawing, at least."

Sounds reasonable enough to him.

"Now, would you prefer to sit down for this drawing, or remain standing?"

[questioneverything]

[The fountains outside the Global Terminal, with the sea beyond them as a backdrop, provided a lovely place to sit and sketch some Pokémon. Romelle had brought along her shiny Raticate, as requested, and her Galarian Rapidash, who desperately wanted to be sketched. The Rapidash had also managed to insist that Romelle dress in the cute outfit from the date auction in case they wanted to do a pose together or something.]

[neverfinishanyth]

[Leonardo grins when he sees Romelle and her entourage approach.] Let's see... oh, I know!

[Leonardo offers the Raticate some berries, and then waits to see what sort of poses may ensue.]

If you could kneel by your pokemon? I think it could make for an interesting pose. Just try to act naturally, that's the key.

[questioneverything]

Oh. Ah... [Romelle was about to say she could stay off to the side, but her Rapidash was having none of that. Family portrait time! The large horse-like Pokemon nudged her closer. She gave a nervous laugh as the Raticate returned with the berries.

Well, she supposed this was okay. She kneeled carefully, sitting back on her heels and took some of the berries in hand.]

Like this?

[neverfinishanyth]

Exactly like that!

[He picks up his pencil with his left hand, and begins to put down lines, breaking the drawing into segments and chunks, easy shapes.]

Now, you do not have to stay perfectly still. But try to stay kneeling, if you can.

[His lines are thin, accurate, precise.]

[questioneverything]

Of course. [She didn't mind sitting this way... though, since her physiology had basically been turned human on arrival, her legs would likely tire faster than she was used to. Still, she didn't bring that part up. She'd just mention it later if she needed to stretch.

Raticate, in the meantime, had been carrying a little bag, and produced some of his homemade poffins as well. He was quite willing to share.

Rapidash, on the other hand, stuck to the berries. She also carefully knelt down, folding her front legs underneath, and then laid on the ground next to Romelle in case she wanted to lean against her if her legs got tired from kneeling.]

[neverfinishanyth]

[Leonardo will end up helping himself to some of those poffins -- they're just as good as advertised! But, more importantly, drawing happens as he does so. Yes, there may be some crumbs on the page when he's done, but that's a small price to pay for the artistic vision.]