I think this was my first outing in gouache. I just love some areas of the skin tone- immaculate and white like porcelain, just how I wanted. I really liked how the brushstrokes worked to "sculpt" Venus' facial features. I totally lost my touch with the hair though- yuckorama!
The main image was of course stolen from Botticelli's famous "Birth of Venus" artwork. He's one of my favourite Renaissance painters, his works just reek with classical beauty. What I've always liked about his Venus in particular is the beautiful, graceful neck.
Another thing... I've always maintained that Quistis from FF8 has based on Botticelli's Venus. She has such a perfect Maddonna face, framed with beautiful golden hair... I drew the sketch of Quistis above at school one day, based only on Botticelli's art. See? SEE? They look similar... don't they?

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