Pirate empress Boa Hancock

Fan art is, I think, always a difficult category to critique, because of the tension between the artist and the creator of the franchise. That is why I think it’s nice to see a work such as this, where the artist has made an effort to independently re-imagine the character in their style, mixing the charm of the creator’s original and the artist’s own vision.

What I like most about this painting is its warmth. The colour palette is very well considered and sets a magical, soft mood through its warm luminosity. The contrast created between the overall palette and Boa’s icy blue eyes is very powerful and gives wonderful expression to the character’s arrogance and strength. Her pose aids in this characterization, the languid hand gesture and sharp look combining in a regal sense of entitlement as she scrutinizes the viewer.

That said, I believe there is a problem with the composition. The central position of Boa is well done and, in combination with the brightness in the centre of this piece, makes her the focal point of attention. The snake’s head, however, disrupts the balance of the picture, and its coils seem to be positioned at random, rather than used to create flow and guide the viewer’s eye. Additionally, the cool hue of the snake’s mane is in discord with the overall warm palette.

Furthermore, I think some aspects of this painting are ‘too perfect’, both in terms of texture and in terms of shape.
With regards to texture, certain areas are too smooth. The skin in particular is lacking texture, creating an airbrushed effect. The same happens in the fabric of her clothing. On the other hand, I think the snake’s skin, Boa’s epaulettes and the pink petals of her sleeve show much more lively brushwork.
Some shapes, then, are in my opinion oversimplified and would be more convincing if they were more realistically portrayed. Her clothes, for example, lack creases and folds, and thus depth and realism. The same happens with the epaulettes, where the loose cords are aligned perfectly without overlapping or tangling. The cartoonish skull and simplified scales of the snake could similarly have benefitted from a touch of realism, to fit in more harmoniously with the overall weight and seriousness of the painting.

Overall, I’d conclude this art work is very well executed and conveys both mood and character very well through use of colour, light and detail. Even though it has its flaws, I still consider it a very successful work of art, because it captures the character and her identity without sacrificing the style and identity of the artist herself.