2011 Judge's Choice: Ben and Billie

FFS Brassy American Ben and FFS White Hot American Gold, who stole my heart (and the Willow Run Judge's Choice) in the Willow Run Midsummer Draft Showcase 2011 with this stunning entry: (GO LOOK)

This... okay, not gonna lie, this is the one that held up the whole group I knew I wanted this exact composition from the time I first set out to do these prizes (you know, in 2011), but I just never managed to get it right.... I finally forced myself to do it after all the others were finished, using a solid reference and lots of digital adjusting (hence why this one is all digital while all the others are drawn and inked traditionally). It was a marathon, but I did it and I'm happy with it! I don't really have any experience with champagne colors, so I had to use a lot of reference, but I think it came out looking all right. I actually kind of like the blown-out highlights

Direct reference used for pose