what novel is this from?

I'm sold on the book just from this one image!

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Aliens? Us? Is this one of your Earth jokes?

awesome artwork...love it...really emotional scene...

Wow, this is beautiful! I actually was afraid you two might have stopped posting here all together. I love this piece. It is so romantic and intense!

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I'm doing commissions - poor student with moderate prices If you're interested, just ask. Real Life, Sci-Fi, Fantasy... just send me a Note

Siyo Chayne, Russ,

I yam back and in time to see another amazing piece from you. I appreciate the difficulty of two artists working together. There is a desire to retain individual creative styles while producing something that is uniquely "together." I believe you two have accomplished a comfortable creative synergy that greatly enhances your individual effort. In your case the sum is indeed greater than its parts. Now, for my thoughts on this image.

Firstly, the composition suggests passion and tenderness. Masculine energy and power in the tats and armor -- very much "men" and strong men at that. The poses suggest these are bold, confident men used to standing on their own and getting shiznit done. The positions of the hands indicate strong sexual desire. These guys are majorly into each other. The stance of their footing indicates trust, even a willingness to give in to the other -- vulnerability but ONLY between them. Their backs face outward -- they are shielding each other from a painful world. Very emotional and compelling.

The wings are simply stunning. They look natural and combined with the armor, I get the "avenging angel" sense. The long hair continues the sense of an angel but the black hair symbolizes an angel that kills. An angel that kicks ass. The hair is flowing and soft along with the feathers. Kickass angel has a soft side -- gentle but don't mistake it for weakness.

Mesh shirts signify virility to me. I use mesh in my art to flatter sexuality and advertise it. So, that tells me that the short-haired figure is in some way cocky or a flirt. Suggestive or provocative in some way. Perhaps he baits the angel and the angel yields to temptation. The way he touches his lover's face indicates that the angel has him hook, line, and sinker. He craves his angel and doesn't mind showing it -- or he is too tired to give a damn.

The pants and utility belts again strike me as powerful and masculine, action-oriented, perhaps military or mercenary in origin. The clothing, poses, and subtle body language combine to tell a compelling story.

The quality of the art is clean. It is balanced and professional looking. The weight of your lines is balanced and confident. Your use of color is tasteful and measured. The background while simple draws attention to your center of focus. I have only one thing to bring to your attention.

Given the depth of detail the lack of attention where their lips meet strikes me as distracting and inconsistent. You can detail the glints of metal in the armor and the swell of muscle under the mesh shirt but not shadow the lips? Given the sheer emotion of the body language, how the entire composition seems to draw the eye straight to the kiss, it seems strange to me that the lips are nearly blank. All it needs is a little brown touch to the angels lips to give them more depth, I think. It is a small thing, a nitpick, that tiny little touch seems to me like it might make all the difference.

Overall, I add this image to my "Favorites." Your quality overall is outstanding and you have been for many years my inspiration as artists. Well done on another successful project!

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We are all leaves from the same tree whether we are green, yellow, red, or brown.