Before publication of Traveling in Space, my publisher at Blüroof Press, Dave Doody, made an offer to forum members on various websites to give them a free PDF e-book of the novel if they would give us some feedback. Some enthusiastic people accepted the offer, including Nate Perigny on the Rapid Response Squad website. Nate’s rapid, and very positive, response was very much appreciated especially as he said about Traveling in Space, “This book is bloody brilliant!”
But we were even more appreciative — not to say delighted — when he emailed a sketch he did of the book’s heroine, She, Our Assistant Leader, or Sheila as she becomes known after her name metamorphosis. Nate was challenged by the idea that Sheila was not only an alien, but is, as the president of the United States says, “Fucking gorgeous!” This gorgeousness comes from both genetic enhancement by the alien’s Master Provider, who had a particular feel for aesthetics. Nate speaks to the details of his challenge below, but with no further ado, here’s Nate’s version of Sheila —
"You’re fucking gorgeous!" -- On the Drawing of Sheila
from Steven Paul Leiva’s Traveling in Space
by Nate Perigny
The idea of a genetically enhanced unusually gorgeous human had me intrigued, what would that look like? What would we look like after hundred thousand years or more of medical and genetic advancement? A hundred thousand years ago we looked very different. I imagine the look and proportions of such a being would be shocking to us, the same way a Homo erectus male would be shocked if he saw Anna Kournikova in person, his jaw would drop. Looking through the eyes of Homo erectus at Anna was the way I looked through my own eyes at what could be an enhanced human, and filled in the gaps. I wish I had more time to do a realistic portrait style and not a sketch, even with some colour but I’ll try to describe what I was going for.
The first thing I did was stretch the body, she has an extra 4-5 inches on her torso, 6 inches on the legs, 2 inches on her much thinner neck, all with an impossibly small waist in proportion to height and natural breast size. Very defined collar bone, shoulders, and cheek bone. Her eyes are massive about 35% larger than normal, and her iris is about the size of a quarter. The colour in here eyes would be so bright and layered, and so perfectly clear and reflective they would shine like headlights. If she looked directly at you, you’d freeze for a second. Her face is perfectly symmetrical with no lines, wrinkles, or blemishes of any kind. The curve of her body is impossible, only made possible by her advanced more concentrated muscle tissue. The woman in this drawing would be about 6ft 2-3, and wouldn’t weigh more that 115lbs if that, she would fall to the ground if she were human, but she is not human she is very strong and athletic. Her hair is layers of lights and darks, she grows beautiful highlights and layers naturally all the time as set in her genetic makeup. Her hands and fingers are longer and thinner with tiny wrists. When she walks, it is like she is floating.
The first thing guys say to this drawing is “she’s HOT, but she’s too bony,” and that is the point, her proportions are impossible and a little odd to us. They are from a scientifically advanced society with millennia of genetic enhancements in their past. They have slowly tweaked their look, and there is much variation in their species, but in general I would guess they would look odd at the same time as incredibly gorgeous to us.
Well, I tried to do the concept justice, although I think any illustration would fall short.
As a side note, take a look at Nate's portraits of some screen legends. I’m particularly fond of his Audrey Hepburn.
ALL DRAWINGS COPYRIGHT NATE PERIGNY.
Many thanks to Nate. I'm honored he was inspired and took the time to visualized a character I created. It's a great complement to receive.
