#hera design

I was SUPER particular abt her design, I was super proud of that drawing of her [the 1st one] when I made it. I still am when it comes to drawing her features, though I'm not as much a fan of that original drawing anymore.

Anyways, I based her face shape & structure on that of a cow, in fact I refferenced a very specific cow breed- id have to go find my sketchbook where I wrote it down to be sure, but I think it was the Agathonisi? There were reasons, though I don't quite recall them rn.

Anyways, The reason I chose to base her features on cattle in general is because their associations to her, and that she has the epithet Boṓpis - which I adore as a word and also means "cow-eyed". I swear she's also been described as "cow-faced", but I can't refind it...

[Also, I can't remember if I made her eyebrows that shape in the same vein or if I decided I just Liked Them cuz I think it was at least a mix lol]

But! Although she's mostly cow-like in features, I did include peacock elements. Her little hair strands at her cheeks, for one. Her body type is also a merging of a peacock & a cattle- I think her leg shape is also mixed? You can see it clearly in the 7th image. Joints wise its closer to cattle, but I think there's peacock influence in there as well.

Sloping shoulders was also an intentional choice, related to both the animal anatomical inspiration and small details to help her look more maternal.

Her hair is generally brown, coppery? but glints this gold color in the light- you can see how I tried to shade it in the digital. I think it's partially because at the time, I was used to picturing Hera as OSP draws her- all Golden, w/ golden hair. But she's mostly depicted w/ dark hair, [plus this is a more realistic design] so.. boom. Golden glint. I think that's also part of the reason I gave her a yellower undertone?? Plus Ichor being gold so yknow. In a similar vein I also recal partially lamenting limiting her skin to something paler in accordance w/ her "white-armed" epithet. [I imposed this on myself. You can tell no one else was going this deep.]

Abyways, The way her hair swirls is meant to partially imitate a peacocks tail feathers!

Oh, her eyes- dark & cow-like in shape! But also, I designed them to look a lil swirly/scribbly, pupil-less- "if her eyes were any lighter you could see the madness swirling inside them" I think was the phrase I liked using.

Now she didn't wear her usual clothes in the campaign as it was set modern era- but there was thought in there too! [Refferencing the 1st drawing again]

Pomegranate pin bcuz associations, she has lil cattle horn detailings on her diadem/polos [I intentionally designed it to be a mix between the two style-wise, idk if it gets across tho lol]-

She has elements of ancient Persian clothing, notably the cloth pinned w/ the pomegranate & I think the sash? [I'll find the real names l8r]- that's cuz apparently the peacock was also called the Persian Bird in ancient Greece, and I think that led me to finding some stuff abt her having some origins or associations w/ Persia? Id have to refind it all, but yeah. And lastly ofc, the most obvious, big peacock train!♡

Ok thats all I can remember rn- if you've got questions abt anything or.. well literally anything idk feel free to say lol-