Way of the Warrior - Alexander 1 (Star Trek art)
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| Fan Art | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Alexander 1 |
| Artist: | Shelley Butler |
| Date(s): | 1993 |
| First Published: | |
| Medium: | |
| Genre/Style: | |
| Fandom: | Star Trek: TOS |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Alexander 1 is an illo by Shelley Butler.
It was printed in Way of the Warrior #6.
The title is a nod to Alexander the Great, a popular trope in Star Trek: TOS fanworks.
A companion piece is Way of the Warrior - Alexander 2.
Fan Comments
Kirk as Alexander (right before the first 5 year mission -- "What a marvelous drawing of a young Kirk! Those who have doubted that Shelley can do faces should check this out. So realistic, and designed to raise anyone's blood-pressure. This is the Kirk of the series in a face and bare chest view that makes one wish the artist didn't stop at the bottom of the page. This would have made one hell of a fold-out! How fortunate we are that Shelley has joined us. Her talent and enthusiasm have added immeasurably to K/S fandom." [1]
This portrait of a naked Kirk's face and torso is so extraordinary real that it breathes. The artist must surely have drawn this from a live model or else she knows anatomy extremely well. The textures of skin and hair are also very well rendered. You can even see the sheen of sweat on him. The expression on his face just shouts Kirk. It encapsulates his fiercely independent personality. This is a masterpiece!" [2]
Incredible! Rarely, oh so rarely, have I ever come across a piece of zine-art that made my jaw drop to the floor. This illustration did that and then some. Usually, at first glance, I can tell the medium used by an artist. But not here; was it pencil, charcoal, pastel or paint? It is just so sublime. The drawing is sharp and vivid, the draftsmanship perfect. Muscles, bone structure, sheen of skin are painstakingly delineated. Attention to subject matter is evident even in the minutest details such as the subtle shadowing of the white of the eye- and the soft line of lips. And most important of all, that face is Kirk and nothing but Kirk (well a young William Shatner if one wants to get technical about it). I have seen many 'realistic' portraits, and they were well done and sure they looked like who they were suppose to portray, almost a photographic reproduction. But they left one cold and unemotionally involved because there was no feeling to it..like a diamond; lovely, finery cut, but lifeless. This drawing fairly vibrates with life and warmth, the strength and character of the subject can be clearly seen and felt. Shelley you have a tremendous talent, to me it can compete with a professional illustrator's efforts any day. My one disappointment about the whole thing is that there weren't more illustrations by you for that story."[3]