cowboy hitman apologist

Besides being the first full art piece I've made in maybe 7 years ?? I'm incredibly proud of myself for thinking of the concept and not being afraid to try and fail in executing it. There was a lot of trial and error, a lot of taking my own reference photos, and utilizing all the posing tools I could find.

Details I'm especially proud of:

Mac's rosary was a fun detail, I had flashbacks to nuns coming into my Catholic elementary school to teach us how to use them. Remembering details like bead placement and the number of beads per section sent me way back, I felt connected to Mac's religious background and it's changed a lot of how I perceive him as a character.

Mac's outfit came out so much better than I thought it would. The stole (I just learned the word for that) was very nostalgic to the priests I remember growing up. I was interested in trying to incorporate some Irish-Catholic designs into his outfit, but didn't have much luck finding anything. Maybe in another priest Mac drawing, I do so enjoy drawing priests...

Dennis's outfit and design was so much fun! Honestly, I still can't figure out how to draw that man's face, but oh well. I wanted to depict him as a demon, or anti-Christ (not far from the truth), but I didn't want to be too on the nose about it. The upside down cross is iconic, but I still wonder if it's a little too blatant. Then again, I'm realizing more Catholic things that are normal to me are completely unknown to other people. Dec 19 wordle 'myrrh' wasn't all that confusing to me, y'all weren't singing What Child is This every Christmas?? Originally, he was going to wear cross earrings as well. I cut that, thought it was too much, but the pointed devil ears still made it through.

While I was researching outfit ideas for the two of them, I came to really enjoy the idea of Mac in a more typical priest outfit while Dennis's was more costumey. I think it speaks to their individual levels of interest towards Catholicism, and in this depiction emphasizes just how fake Dennis presents as a priest.

Their poses ended up fairly different to how I first envisioned them. I drew Mac's outline first, and had to base Dennis around him. I was absolutely in love with Mac's base, and refused to change it. Getting back into drawing in eons, I had to really be patient while I figured out realistic proportions based on their heights and theoretically how tall Mac would be on his knees. Originally, Dennis's right hand was supposed to be on his bicep as if he was pressing Mac against his body and his possession over him. I wanted Dennis to be looking over Mac in a way, along with Mac seemingly not paying attention to him, showed him as an untouchable control to Mac's handle on his faith. I can't dwell on the terrible things that happened to them growing up that influenced who they became, but I wonder how much less of a bad person Mac would've been without Dennis's influence (and manipulation); more closely embodying real Catholic values. I really enjoyed making Mac's desperate pleading face........... who knows what he's praying for. To be desperate to know why he's facing these un-Christian thoughts and desires, to be freed from this control.

These projects often make me reflect on my relationship with Christianity...

Finally, the rendering!!!!!!!! I am so so so super proud of this. I have NEVER been able to render fabric before. It was such a disheartening thing I couldn't figure out, being afraid of failure made it incredibly difficult to follow through with art. I followed references, and had to take many reference photos of my own. So much of this are references I made!! Dennis's hands, Mac's entire outfit (for rendering purposes), Dennis's face (facial feature positioning), and parts of Dennis's outfit as well.

What I Would Improve On:

I wanted to do a background, but I thought it would be better to keep it uncomplicated. In the future I'd like to learn how to make more simple but detailed backgrounds to make the drawing feel more complete.

Dennis's face and hair, I just can't figure out how to draw him!! I think it's easier to make Mac identifiable because of his eye shape and beard (s18 Mac bring back the beard PLEASE) so I need to figure out how to make those features on Dennis. Also I think his left hand was a little small, oh well.

I do like how Mac came out, but I prefer how I drew him previously. I'm trying to figure out how to draw him without recreating a reference 1:1 more... draw people like that in general.