beyondjupiter

CANCER Sketches

Added 2020-07-03 11:48:34 +0000 UTC

Now I share with you the sketches I made for the Cancer art of the COSMOS Project.

Cancer was one of the reasons why I gave up the idea of

merging the pictured boys with the iconic characteristics of the symbolic creatures of the Zodiac... because in the Cancer's Case, it would be the emblematic Claws of the Crab, or even their Carapace.

The image of a boy with huge Chelas, could appear more aggressive than I would like... And in fact, I wish I could represent Cancer's delicacy and care.
(Not that crabs are not delicate in their movements, because in fact, they are a lot. But because of what it would imply for the observer to see Claws instead of Hands...).

Having overcome this conceptual obstacle, I must admit that Cancer ended up being one of the quickest sketches to be conceived, because right from the beginning I fell in love with the idea of

his gesture.

The idea I had was to position his hands in the shape of a shell, to mean protection, home, affection and care (all very important concepts for Cancer), as well as playing with the silhouette of the crab's chela.

In one of the old sketches, as you can see, it is still possible to see the idea of

a carapace on the skin (...* sigh *...) as well as a more restrained and protected posture.
But, since Cancer is a Cardinal sign, I decided to leave his posture a little more upright, suggesting readiness.

Still, I wanted to play with gestures that presented a balance between shyness and the desire for involvement.

While for Aries I thought of a figure mixed between Mexican and Spanish, for Taurus a Maori, and for Gemini two Afro-descendants, for Cancer, I thought of a more Mediterranean aesthetic.
And if Aries and Gemini have more athletic and lean bodies, the idea here is to present Cancer with a slightly softer body...

I hope that the sketches please you, and just wait a little, for soon I will make the Art Finalization of this Illustration