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.]
Sharaf,
I know her name is L’eery… but I always like “Leghair” for her name! : ) I know some on the Ladies of Lallybroch boards call her “Logwhore”!
Glad it isn’t my name! : D
Vicki
I must admit I really do like that rendition of Jamie, but in my own version, he’s a little less pretty boy and more rugged, if you can get more rugged! The eyes are PERFECT, though and yes, the hair is a little bit too carrot for me as well.
Did I miss links somewhere to the other work from the graphic novel? Images of Claire and the rest?
I must admit that I was confused when I saw the image and then had to read the context behind it. Indeed this is very much like the Jamie in my head…the young Jamie. Because I’m reading DOA at the moment, my vision of him is slightly altered at the moment. But for Outlander, this is brilliant. (I suggest that his brows and beard colour be changed to match as others have said) I might add that I have had a strange reaction making the connection with a real picture instead of the one in my head.
I like how you see Jamie. I like it very much.
Kelly
Laura,
Check the posts… there is one with an adjusted image. The beard is darkened and he is in a white shirt. Much better that the first one! : D Still yummy!
Vicki
To those of you who think Jamie’s hair in this picture is “too carroty” [g], I would say based on my own experience that we’re only going to see that in outdoor scenes in the GN, in full sunlight. My hair does the same thing – goes from orange-red in sunlight to dark auburn indoors.
Diana can confirm this, of course, but I would think Jamie’s hair will change color based on the various lighting conditions.
Karen
Ah, Monsieur Aubry….nice to see Canada recognized for something besides snow, maple syrup and hockey. (g)
I think he looks amazing as a model for a young Jamie – handsome, slightly dangerous, intelligent, and that nose…oh, that perfect nose. I can hardly wait to see what the (equally amazing) artist does with it. What fun you must be having with this!
Pam
There is a certain picture of Liam Neeson in character as Rob Roy; I have it for the wallpaper on my computer. He is kilted up and holding a sword, probably a claymore. He is “red-heided” and -bearded, and he looks exactly how I imagine our older Jamie (after Claire comes back) looks. I don’t have a link to the photo, but it was pretty popular in its day. Being a gal of a certain age myself, I am much more attracted to this more mature Jamie. But of course both of them work for me considering the span of years. Debbie in San Diego
Well…not the usual controversy here. I too think it is close to perfect, and do often imagine him with hair a bit longer, however, he did have it cut short on a number of occasions and so this could be one of those times when it had not quite grown out yet. I also imagined his eyes a little more intense blue.
Overall; I loved it!
Dang… I think I just drooled all over my key board…
*schlup*
Max and Amie–
Thanks so much!
That is how i imagined him!
You’re very welcome, Ms. Gabaldon! It was my pleasure, I loved working on Jamie, and as Max can testify I welcome any reason to tinker in Photoshop LOL. And without Max and her input and the photo of Mr. A that Grace suggested, I never would have made the pic, coz I had given up trying to make Jamie pics without a model, although I’ve made plenty of pics with Max’s model for Dougal (Kevin Smith – Ares on the Xena TV show).
And I have to say that I do love your choice for young Jamie! I’ve always thought Gabriel Aubry a hottie too. [g]
Barbara mentioned the eyes not being intense enough (I agree), but I can make the color and brightness of the eyes anything the author specifies. Sapphire blue, cerulean blue, sky blue, slate blue? While waiting for your direction, here is Jamie14, with eyes brightened up a little [g]:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v514/aag567/Role%20Playing/Jamie14.jpg
You’re welcome from me too! It was a lot of fun and very exciting that it met with your approval. – Max (who is now thinking about starting a petition to raise Dougal from the dead … Just kidding!)
“Verra decorative” as Jared Fraser would say. Yummy!!
Saundra
Kirsten asked for the link to Claire’s picture. It is under the Jan. 11, 2008 announcement on Diana’s website.
http://tinyurl.com/3mj27c
I liked version 12 of Jamie.
http://tinyurl.com/5zeqv3
Thanks Diana for such beautiful images.
Natalie in SC
Diana,
I love the fact that you can see Jamie, that’s what makes you the most amazing woman in the world! You “created” him!
I totally adore the image!!!
While I’ll always prefer the image created in my mind by your writing, this is a pretty yummy attempt at bringing Jamie off the page and into the flesh. Great.
Delicious. Perfect. Need I say more?
I think that is even better than I had Jamie pictured in my head. I loved Jamie/Claire before this, now I love them even more! hehe