De-lurking with Fanart

[otoshigo.livejournal.com]

Hey all,

I just wanted to say how awesome it is to see such a thriving community like this.  I only came into this fandom about a week ago, but already my creative juices are going on overload.  So I have attached a couple pieces of fanart I've done for USUK.  The images are much bigger than the preview versions, btw.

Title: I want a victory shag NAO
Artist: otoshigo 
Rating: G (though suggestive so maybe PG)
Summary: England is rather elated that WWII is over, so elated in fact that he believes that he's earned himself a reward.  America is.... confused.



Title: Steampunk Pirate Captain Kirkland (wow that's long)
Artist: otoshigo 
Rating: G
Summary: England being his bad-ass steampunk pirate self.  Okay, maybe this doesn't exactly belong here since it's only England (no America), but enjoy anyway.

Comments

[scribblefish.livejournal.com]

Welcome to the fandom and the usxuk comm~!

These two pieces look pretty good, I like how you used one color theme for both pictures. America's adorable blushing, confused face makes me laugh. Oh, he has no idea what's in store for him, does he? xD

I have to say, though... the first piece's England looks very similar to drawings I've seen by PM4:00. Not that there aren't a lot of artist who use the "England tugging a glove off with his teeth" pose [and why wouldn't they, it's so damn sexy~ xD] its just that I automatically thought of her work looking at it. Did you reference her?

[otoshigo.livejournal.com]

Haha, indeed I did. ^^; Man, caught already. Yeah, I got my drawing kink in per se when I was perusing her site. There's just something about slightly-evil/bad-ass England that makes me shiver (in a good way).

Probably because the only way that USUK works in my mind is if England takes control. I mean, in the webcomic, England gives America (more than) enough chances to step up and close the gap, but then America acts like such a punk to him. (Probably because he's embarrassed.) Which wouldn't happen if England asserted his *cough* authority a bit more.

[scribblefish.livejournal.com]

Haha~. Her work is very inspiring, especially because it's such a drastic contrast to the was England is usually portrayed in the fandom. I think that he's way more badass then what doujinshis usually allow him and that's why I was able to recognize PM4:00's work so quickly.

I totally agree. America is canonly "unable to read the atmosphere" which I think mostly pertains to the romantic side of things. England also knows what he wants and isn't someone to just sit around and wait for something to happen once he knows America feels a similar way but isn't acting on it. British Empire anyone? That's why I really dislike it when England is portrayed as this crying, helpless uke that America basically rapes. It's completely ooc, IMO.

Anyways, rant aside, it's fine you got inspired by her, I like the results. I just know her art pretty well so when I vaguely saw similarities in your work I had to ask.

Any art of badass/seme!England I can encourage, I will. xD

[otoshigo.livejournal.com]

Oh wow, that's exactly how I feel! Somehow a weepy uke England just makes me cringe. Though you can't really blame fans of that entirely, since England IS a bit of a weepy drunk... ^^;

Sadly, I think the major reason for the popularity of England's uke status is his height. Somehow in doujinshi and in manga it's always height that plays the deciding factor in a relationship, toppling age and experience (and sometimes personality), which makes little sense to me. I know plenty of short people that can kick my ass - my Japanese teacher being one of them. (He's a black belt in Karate AND Capoeira. It's scary!) One would think that for being rather short themselves - and I don't mean to rag on Japanese people's height, but they ARE shorter than most Americans - they wouldn't discriminate like that. But alas, maybe the mangakas have just developed some kind of height complex instead.

Anyway, sorry for my own rant, but I'm just giddy that my first reviewer is on the same wavelength as I am. XD

[scribblefish.livejournal.com]

But the thing is, canonically England isn't that much shorter then America. Their heights are listed as 177cm and 175cm respectfully. Its fans who make the difference more dramatic then it is... *grumble* Someone doesn't have to be ultra short to be cute/uke, nor does someone have to be tall and aggressive to be seme.

In my mind, they switch off equally. They both top roughly the same amount.

*thumbs up* Rant away. xD

[sephydark]

Your Englands are pretty hot. For some reason I find that your pictures look much better in full view than the previews... perhaps it's your details? I also like the colors you made them a lot, especially the first one. I hope to see more art by you soon!

[otoshigo.livejournal.com]

Yaay~ thanks! ^__^ Yeah, I noticed that too. I think it's that I use textures/filters on my pics. For example, if you didn't full view with the pirate one you'd never be able to tell that it has a canvas texture on it. I should put just a FULL VIEW PLZ warning up somewhere I think.