SE1 – Getting Steamy

“SE” Series = Sapphic Encounters

So I made a deal with myself: if I’m going to keep buying new outfits for V4, I have to start using a few of them in renders! I came kinda late to the V4 game and only started using her in 2016 (before that, I was all about the toons). But in the past 4+ years, I’ve managed to accumulate a tremendous amount of content for her, most of it deeply discounted. At first I only bought apparel I thought I could use for the cast of characters in my graphic novel (a young adult fantasy set in a magic academy, so nothing overly skimpy). But when I gave myself permission to take a break from the novel and just play around with making art and learning more about what I could do in Poser, I found myself intrigued by all kinds of outfits — although, still, nothing overly skimpy, as that’s just not my thing. 

When I started having V4 try on various outfits, I discovered that I’m not very good at coming up with “portrait” scenes, as I can never figure out what the character should be doing or what kind of backdrop to use. This process made me admire those of you who are excellent portrait artists all the more! So I started thinking about how I might have two V4’s interact, and, given my own sapphic inclination, that got me thinking in a fairly specific direction. I ended up deciding to work on a series of “sapphic encounters” with V4s wearing outfits that matched in theme (steampunk, fantasy, tough girl, historical, fairy, etc.), and this render is the first of that series. 

I have several more steampunk-themed “encounters” nearly ready to go, but I have many more scenes still at the very early stages, as I’m finding the process quite a bit more challenging than I’d originally anticipated, and definitely more challenging than the kinds of scenes I typically share. But I’m also learning a lot from the process, and that’s always a good thing, no matter how many hairs I want to pull out along the way!

And as a bonus, I’m also getting to use some of the many fabulous props and sets I’ve accumulated as well! I feel like I’m still just “getting to know” my runtime, and I hope we have many happy years together! 🙂

Rendered in September 2020 in Poser Pro 11 Firefly at 3200 × 1800 pixels, using direct lighting (3 inverse-linear spotlights and an IBL light). Postwork in Photoshop. 

SCENE CREDITS: DM’s Clock.
CHARACTER CREDITS: V4 left: 3DS Nomi skin; Angie Lee Outfit by Val3dArt; and Goldtassel Jonnia Hair. V4 right: DM Brianna skin; Clockwork Heart outfit by Propschick; and Hr-193 hair by Ali.