So….you really want to know what I think Jamie looks like, do you? [g]
Well, Hoang has been doing wonderful stuff on the artwork for the graphic novel; amazing action, terrific characters, beautiful color and composition—just marvelous. And I love what he’s done with Claire ( yes, her hair is somewhat wilder where it ought to be—as when freshly emergent from a gorse bush—but certainly not ringlets, good grief), Murtagh, Dougal, Jack Randall….
Now, Jamie has been a little more problematic, simply because everyone has such a well-defined (if not well-articulated) notion of what he looks like. The descriptions of him are more detailed than those of other characters in the books, because we’re looking at him through Claire’s eyes, and she’s paying close attention. [g] But to take those details and come up with a gestalt that embodies the whole…harder to do.
The consequence of this has been that Hoang’s been working with Jamie in different aspects, looking for a good “look” for him that can be used throughout the graphic novel.
And the poor artist, of course, has little to go on other than my rather fumbling feedback—”Well, this one is pretty good, but the jaw is too heavy…. that one’s nice, too, but he seems kind of thuggish…and that one’s a little too soft, too young-looking, but the hair’s great!” sort of thing.
Well, in the preliminary shufflings to and fro, I’d collected a few photos of assorted actors and models who had slanted eyes of an appropriate sort—and many thanks to all the kind people who sent me their favorites (and isn’t it a good thing for the men of the world that women have such diverse tastes…)—which I’d sent on to Hoang to add to his mental compost pile.
Among these was a photo of Gabriel Aubrey, and I’d mentioned in re this photo that Mr. A. did in fact have a strong resemblance to Mr. Fraser, in terms of facial physiognomy. So yesterday, an enterprising person named Grace who inhabits one of the “Outlander” discussion boards evidently came across my idle remarks and decided to see if she could make something of them. So she dragged Mr. Aubrey into her PhotoShop for a little revision, and….
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v514/aag567/Role%20Playing/?action=view¤t=Jamie7.jpg
(sorry; I tried to make a link for this, but it wouldn’t show up in the post, don’t know why. You’ll have to cut and paste the URL, unless somebody else can fix it for me.)
OK. Yeah. That’s very much what he looks like. In case you were wondering. [g]
[I’ll venture out on a limb and make a small prediction here: to wit, that half the comments made here will be along the lines of, “Well, that’s not what I thought he looked like! I thought he looked like Josh Holloway/Sean Bean/David Cassidy/etc.!” [wry g] To each her own, as I said. But do remember that I can see him.]
Diana,
Yeah, that confirms it… Jamie’s HOT! I love to see Mr. A in the Macy’s commercials! I must admit, every semester at Purdue I look for students who look like the characters in THE BOOKS. I haven’t found Jamie yet. I thought I found Claire, but the hair was too curly. I did find someone I thought looked like ‘Leghair’ and we currently have a Hort major who looks like Frank to me. I have to make sure I call him Greg, not Frank! ; )
Thanks so much for sharing!
Vicki
He is even better than I imagined!! So rugged and sexy…and those eyes!! Just thinking about him say “slippery as water weed” gives me the chills! Love it!
A most excellent visage.
Now, we need to *hear* Jamie. 
Do you think you might consider having a Jamie Doll made? Nothing life size…hehehe. But maybe something like the Hula Dolls that bounce around? If so, I’d buy a dozen…One for all my vehicles, my desk and definately my nightstand!!
Very nice! I have to admit I see Jamie’s hair as a little longer in my imagination – but it’s the eyes that count the most!
Well done, Grace, and thanks for that clickable link, Karen H!
That’s the closest I’ve ever seen to my mind’s eye young Jamie. Wow.
Oh, yeah, oh, yeah, oh, yeah! I can’t imagine it any better than that! Foirfe!
Debbie in San Diego
Thanks, Diana…I am a happy camper with that visual [g].
By the way, a few weeks ago, after leaving my last born at the University of WI at Madison, my husband and I drove down to Chicago for some much needed R&R. At breakfast one day, I spotted a tall man, very nicely built [g] with long red hair, a straight thin nose and slanted cat eyes. He was quite the hunk and looked to be about mid-40ish – my perfect "Voyager Jamie." I don't recall what I ordered or what I ate; I was too busy staring. Hubby was quite amused. [g]
Oh my! I feel faint. It’s quite like I would have imagined him, and he bears more than a little resemblance to my own red-haired Viking (my husband!). I guess I chose well!
Och–My goodness! I am the Grace who is mentioned by Diana. Imagine my utter delight and shock in seeing myself referenced here!
But–but I am *not* the person who did the Photoshop “magic” on Gabriel Aubry’s picture. I merely provided the original picture. Another person, Max, gave that picture to a friend, Amie–and it is Amie who should get proper credit for the “Jamie-ized” version of Mr. A’s picture. Here is the original picture that I provided:
http://tinyurl.com/5w3nek
Another group mentioned that the beard should be red and that he should be wearing a white shirt. So, Amie made the changes:
http://tinyurl.com/5zeqv3
By the way–the first time I saw Gabriel Aubry’s picture–I did think it was Josh Holloway. [grin]
Thanks for this 15 minutes
of “fame”,
Grace
Gee, no hardship imagining him as Jamie….other than making a better match of his hair and beard color, I wouldn’t touch a thing! (Well, actually, given the chance I probably WOULD touch, but not in the sense of changing anything…)
Dear Melanie–
Actually, red-headed men often have dark beards; my husband’s beard is very dark auburn–or was, before it began to go silver!
Hi I’m the Max who was the go between for Grace, who provided the original picture of Aubry on a discussion group, and Amie, a friend of mine, who is the person who Jamie-ized it for us. Amie is only vaguely familiar with the first book Outlander. She was just having fun and isn’t a part of the discussion group so with her permission I shared her creation there, where it was picked up by Susan and kindly forwarded to Diana. Amie and I are quite thrilled that Diana likes it. Thank you! – Max (who still prefers Dougal over Jamie *hehehe*)
PERFECT!! No, really
That’s a great Jamie!!!!!!! Mmmmm Jamie.
*looks bashful*
Oh how fantastic!! There were slight differences in my head, but only very slight. I can’t tell you how wonderful a treat it is to finally see them as you, the author, intended! I’m so excited about this graphic novel! I can’t wait!!! Between ABOSAA and the graphic novel, I am positively beside myself with anticipation!
DAMN! I didn’t think it could be done. Someone hit a home run on Jamie. I was afraid I would have to read two-hundred different descriptions of what people thought he looked like. If he looks like this at twenty-two he’ll only get better with age (if that’s possible).
Just thinking about the hair. My husband had blond hair but his beard was red. Now it’s pretty much all the same color(gray).
Oh, I’m so out of the loop… didn’t even know who Gabriel Aubry was so after clicking on the photobucket link, I Googled him. Tough job, but someone had to do it…
This is for Vicki. I gave out a snort when I read your blog calling Loahaire– Leghair. I’ve missed pronounced half the names in the books. Even if I have learned the proper annunciation I till revert back to the way I originally thought.
Oh yeah, JUST LIKE THAT!
Mitzi I am LMAO at the thought of bobblehead Jamie’s but I’d buy one too
I’d prolly buy the lifesize one first though ROFL. xoxo melzie
PS I could discuss Jamie and this stuff all day. Is there a 12 step program?! Nevermind I don’t really want to be cured