Aperitif

Fan Art
Title:	Aperitif
Artist:	Shelley Butler
Date(s):	1995
First Published:
Medium:
Genre/Style:
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
External Links:
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Aperitif is an illo by Shelley Butler.

It portrays Spock and Kirk from Star Trek: TOS, and was printed in First Time #42.

It is a companion piece to Champagne Wishes.

Fan Comments

1995

It's hard to keep coming up with superlatives when describing Shelley's art. These are simply stunning. The front cover shows Kirk imbibing a glass of something alcoholic while Spock watches. In the background stands what looks to be an unopened bottle of Vulcan champagne. (There are beautifully done Vulcan letters on the bottle.) The back cover illustrates what happens when the bottle is finally opened. The textures are so finely drawn that one can almost feel the satin of Spock's dress uniform, and the bubbles that fill the bathtub. No one does texture better than this artist. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the touches of green added by the editor to both covers and on page 45. Lovely, and such an original idea. Done individually and by hand.

Forty-two issues of First Time, and the covers just keep getting better and better. These are definitely my favorites, perhaps because these pictures are far more than just portraits. Together they tell a story, and each picture has its own composition that invites the same kind of analysis as we would give to a story.

I actually had the privilege of seeing these covers in the original at Shore Leave, and I deeply envy the person who managed to bid high enough in the auction to buy the front cover, and the lucky K/Ser who walked away with the back cover during the private showing of K/S art.

On the front, the impression is that the two men are in some sort of public setting, perhaps a diplomatic reception. Kirk is sipping champagne while Spock, in his dress uniform, watches. And boy, is he watching, every line of his body showing intent regard for his captain. The fact that Kirk is not obviously aware of his first officer's look, he is looking down, adds mystery to the picture, and makes the observer wonder what exactly is going on between the two men.

In the background are some flowers, stems delicately colored with green, and a champagne bottle. I can only assume that Robin did the shading, which was a great idea, and another example of the lengths that this editor will go to showcase K/S. One of the flowers is reminiscent of the pod from This Side of Paradise, so a sexual connotation is immediately apparent. The two flowers, one behind each man, are quite different, but flourishing strong and tall and, ahem, erect. Maybe, after noticing that, the observer isn't wondering quite so much what's going on as she had been before. Gee, lots of pollen in those flowers.... And that champagne bottle is standing about waist level right between the two men.... Shelley, what kind of mind do you have?

[...]

I think the front cover is just about perfect. (I really like the fact that Spock is taller than Kirk, and this is one of the few pictures that not only reflects but accentuates that fact.) It was sinful to break up these two pictures to two different buyers as they are definitely a matched pair. Some of the best work Shelley has done, with a great deal of thought behind them.

The front cover; Kirk savors a sip of champagne, undoubtedly made more delectable by his first officer's presence, while Spock simultaneously savors with his eyes that which is infinitely sweeter to him...his captain.

2008

Graphite. My other favorite zine artist, who did many covers for the series First Time, Within the Mirror, Naked Times, Charisma, Beyond Dreams and more. This specific cover made me add the zine to my wish list before I even checked the stories listing. Here we have Spock looking dashing in his dress uniform, half-turned towards a contemplative Kirk sipping from a champagne flute, a wonderful scene of Kirk and Spock in a public setting. The shapes fade out at the edges and there is little background besides Butler's custom ornemental flowers . It gives the image a dreamy feel I just love. Exceptional likeness and quality of drawing with well-rendered textures, like the silk of Spock's jacket.