A softly lit watercolor painting of three panels, bordered by intricately painted branches of pomegranate and orange trees. The first panel, in the top left corner, shows both men kissing with one pressed against an intricately tiled wall in the Alhambra palace. One man has rich, warm brown skin and a turquoise headwrap that falls down over his shoulders and coat, which is decorated in intricate golden swirl patterns. The man kissing him has richer cooler-toned dark brown skin, with a white headwrap clipped together with a golden pin, wearing a white robe with intricate gold and red-gem inset details. Both have facial hair. The central painting, the largest panel, shows both men sitting in a public bath, although they are alone, gazing closely at each other, looking like they're about to kiss, arms resting on their legs as they gaze softly. They both have small, damp fabric around their waists, the colors matching their respective outfits. The man in the white cloth has braided cornrows, in a traditional Amazigh style. The man in the blue cloth gazes slightly down into his eyes, with his leg extended over the ledge of the bath, showing intricately painted and extensive burn scars including contractions. A cane rests on the shadowed wall beside him. The bath room itself is a pale yellow stone, shadowed in purple washes, with a central inset section bordered by a pattern of turquoise, dark blue, green, and red diamond tiles, interspersed with white tiles. The central inset part has the same pattern, but far smaller and more detailed. The final panel, in the bottom left, shows the turquoise and indigo robe of one of the men as he walks, using his cane, with his lover's hand holding his back for support. The blue robe has even more intricate swirling gold patterns, with a red sash and gold metal piece tying it together at the waist. A washy watercolor part hints at a garden in the background.
I can finally share my full illustration for @taplingzines.bsky.social 'We've Always Been Here' art book!
It's of two Muslim men bathing in Medieval Al-Andalus, a very accepting time for queer people~ ✨
More details about the illustration and story below~
#SaplingArt #Watercolor #QueerArt
