The Noble Ladies Beifong

"I don't know if that's necessary, mother. Lin sounds pretty cultured to me."

Three generations of Beifong ladies in traditional chinese costumes. Partly inspired by *shoomlah 's historically accurate Disney princesses - that's some amazing work there, if you haven't seen.

Headcanon is that Toph eventually reconciled with her family but obviously they'd never really understand the lifestyle she (and eventually Lin) adopts. Of all the prissy upper-class activities, I think music lessons for Lin would be the only acceptable compromise for the blind bandit and her family. And I bet Lin will take to it like earthbending hahahaha. Especially since it's an art form her mum can actually praise her for since Toph can't see her kiddy pictures.

But really, this is just an excuse for me to draw elegant ladies in traditional Chinese costumes. Poppy's in Tang dynasty wear... I referenced it off several paintings, particularly one of Lady Yang. Toph was a hard one because I didn't want to stuff her in something that wasn't in character... but I think this Qing dynasty changshan worked out well. Referenced from period dramas. *shame* Lin was the easy one - 1930s Shanghai qipao just goes with her hairstyle sooo well. Referenced old Shanghai posters and movies like In the Mood for Love and Everlasting Regret for this. Motifs: peonies for Poppy, lotus for Toph and bamboo for Lin. I took a long while considering the symbolisms and stuff, and I'm really pleased with how appropriate they are. The peony symbolizes wealth and honor, the bamboo for resilience. Fairly obvious. As for the lotus... well... 出淤泥而不染 (to emerge from the mud unstained).

And musical instruments are badly drawn. Was trying to merge the Shanghai deco style into the instruments but I dunno... Whatever. Look at the ladies!!

Awful lot of work for fan art. But hey, it was fun, especially since I've been doing hardcore life drawing in uncomfortable tropical jungles and parks for the past week. I deserve to indulge in guilty fan art pleasure.

Edited; So several comments have said that Toph looked too manly. I don't know about that - to be honest I don't really see it. But since I was editing a bit of Poppy's dress that was bothering me (bad line art), I tried to edit Toph's face and neck a little to be more feminine as well. The problem, I suspect, may be in my attempt to age her... she's supposed to be in her mid to late 50s in this picture since she gave birth to Lin in her early thirties. Not sure... it looks a bit better to me, what do you think?