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He's not the sharpest tool in the shed, but Clarence "Strings" McCrane is a sweet himbo who loved his Mama very much.
We first meet Strings just after he's learned of his mother's sudden death. He's holed up at a hotel, hiding away to lick at his emotional wounds as he grapples with the guilt of being briefly relieved to hear of her passing. The son of a man who ran out on his young family, never to return, Strings was extremely close with his Mama, though it wasn't always an easy closeness. She was the kind of mother who always wanted the best for her son, but who frequently and vocally disagreed with many of his life choices despite her pride in his accomplishments. For his part, Strings never felt he could live up to her expectations, no matter how big of a country western star and actor he became, and her constant criticisms of who he dated were abrasive and damaging to their relationship.
But for all of that friction, Strings truly did love his Mama. Her opinion, censorious as it seemed, meant the world to him; she was both a touchstone and his guiding light, and without her wisdom he feels lost and alone in the world.
This moment comes as he's attempting to process the shock of his emotions by dumping his thoughts on his loyal assistant, Jimmy. Even though his right arm isn't in the frame, we can tell that it's draped along the back of the couch because of how it's position pulls the folds in the drape of his shirt in a graceful arc across his chest, tugging on that brave button just below the guitar pick necklace. His eyes are glassy with a thin sheen of imminent tears, and his eyes have a mournful slant to them, the lids heavily hooded and his brows quirked a little upward in the center beseechingly. His lower cheeks are rumpled, not by dimples, but because his chin is tucked so tightly toward his neck as he turns his head, as well as how the corners of his mouth are pulled out and down. The pursing under his lower lip suggests that he's slipped the tip of his tongue over his teeth, and his lips are pressed together firmly enough to make a tiny wrinkle along the bottom edge of his lower lip.
Photo used for reference was an official "Hold On To Me Darling" promo taken by Julieta Cervantes during what I suspect was a dress rehearsal.
About 33 hours of painting time, plus some faffing about with color gradient maps for the color version. The shirt took a decent chunk of time to render, what with all the drama of the drapery and the detailing inherent to a proper western shirt, as well as those iconic three necklaces he's wearing. The title comes from the song of the same name by Lord Huron; I played the album "Long Lost" on repeat while painting this, and before you ask, yes, I have an opinion about which of the other songs is Strings/Nancy and which one is Strings/Essie.
We first meet Strings just after he's learned of his mother's sudden death. He's holed up at a hotel, hiding away to lick at his emotional wounds as he grapples with the guilt of being briefly relieved to hear of her passing. The son of a man who ran out on his young family, never to return, Strings was extremely close with his Mama, though it wasn't always an easy closeness. She was the kind of mother who always wanted the best for her son, but who frequently and vocally disagreed with many of his life choices despite her pride in his accomplishments. For his part, Strings never felt he could live up to her expectations, no matter how big of a country western star and actor he became, and her constant criticisms of who he dated were abrasive and damaging to their relationship.
But for all of that friction, Strings truly did love his Mama. Her opinion, censorious as it seemed, meant the world to him; she was both a touchstone and his guiding light, and without her wisdom he feels lost and alone in the world.
This moment comes as he's attempting to process the shock of his emotions by dumping his thoughts on his loyal assistant, Jimmy. Even though his right arm isn't in the frame, we can tell that it's draped along the back of the couch because of how it's position pulls the folds in the drape of his shirt in a graceful arc across his chest, tugging on that brave button just below the guitar pick necklace. His eyes are glassy with a thin sheen of imminent tears, and his eyes have a mournful slant to them, the lids heavily hooded and his brows quirked a little upward in the center beseechingly. His lower cheeks are rumpled, not by dimples, but because his chin is tucked so tightly toward his neck as he turns his head, as well as how the corners of his mouth are pulled out and down. The pursing under his lower lip suggests that he's slipped the tip of his tongue over his teeth, and his lips are pressed together firmly enough to make a tiny wrinkle along the bottom edge of his lower lip.
Photo used for reference was an official "Hold On To Me Darling" promo taken by Julieta Cervantes during what I suspect was a dress rehearsal.
About 33 hours of painting time, plus some faffing about with color gradient maps for the color version. The shirt took a decent chunk of time to render, what with all the drama of the drapery and the detailing inherent to a proper western shirt, as well as those iconic three necklaces he's wearing. The title comes from the song of the same name by Lord Huron; I played the album "Long Lost" on repeat while painting this, and before you ask, yes, I have an opinion about which of the other songs is Strings/Nancy and which one is Strings/Essie.
