Design of the Character's in the project: 1 Irene Adler

Section 1. The design process:

When i first started to design the character i was inspired by Selina Kyle's (Catwoman's) design in the animated movie "Batman Gotham by Gaslight".

My first design for the character was something that is politely known as borderline copying.

I even attempted to get the hat to be the exact same shape just because of how much i thought that the design suited the character that i was going for.

After the first attempt i realized that i am not yet experienced enough to draw a turned up head from this angle. I also attempted to make the design a little more original. Like getting rid of the necktie and replacing it with a necklace...brooch...thing. Whose exact designation escapes me at the moment.

Before making the second drawing i also consulted my Grandmother. I asked her if she knew any smart/sly looking but also conventionally attractive femele celebrities that i might take inspiration from in designing the face of my character. I was lucky because the first person she suggested was exactly the person i was looking for. Sophia Loren (Italian actress). This image of her in particular.

And so after attempt two i tied to follow her general facial structure in the drawing process. I don't know how much i succeeded but by attempt three i was happy with the design.

Section 2. Previous Characterization:

In most Sherlock Holmes adaptations Irene Adler is presented as a "Femme Fatale" type of character (i believe she may have been one of the originators of the trope) that represents a kind of intelectual match for Sherlock who is also a love interest who can't be with the titular character due to her own illegal activity (basically any of Batmans love interests).

She most often works for or is otherwise associated with Holmes's greatest enemy Professor Moriarty. She (in the Robert Downey Jr Sherlock Holmes duology) killed off in the beginning of the second movie "A game of shadows" by Moriarty. Permanently ensuring that the audience remembers her as a secondary antagonist that only really served the plot to elevate the two previously mentioned characters.

Section 3. My Version:

First off I got rid of the love interest thing. It not only strips Irene of her own potentially way more interesting character in favor of making her Sherlock Holmes's evil girlfriend but i find it much more logical and interesting to focus on how this character interacted with and was shaped by the world around her.

A woman who managed to climb the metaphorical social latter out of essentially nothing and somewhat get past the glass (more like bulletproof glass in 1880) ceiling would one: not "Fall For" anyone. And would not be at all romantically interested in a man defined by an idea of mental superiority like Holmes.

I am of course not able to cover all of her character nuance within my project due to the limitations of the 3rd person, newspaper type format that i am going for. This was just to help in understanding the ideas, thought process, and research that went into her design. And if i ever write this as a traditional story this is roughly what i would be focusing on with her character.