Romance Needs Changing, Love Isn't All Roses, & Affection Is Just As Important

[NOTE: Comments I was about to post on IG & decided these words better served on this blog] 

[DISCLAIMER: Some of the original texts has been changed in order for the post to make sense. Have also added more] 

As a consumer of Romance media - whether by books, through TV, via films, etc., I'm trying to change some of these more harmful tropes in my own stories: in my Rom-com/Slice-of-life webcomic WIP, the relationships are healthy and the comedy comes from situations the couples end up in. You know, Sitcom's Original Definition and Full Name: Situational Comedy. 

I do have a few 'enemies/bullies-to-lovers', but I do not show the relationship while one side is a bully/abuser. By the time I'm highlighting the relationship, both characters have changed or are willing to change for the better. 

Also, I realized I'm not a fan of 'Love Triangles'. I never understood this kind of "comedic dilemma". I hated love triangles in media growing up because someone HAVE TO MAKE A CHOICE AGAINST THEIR HEART. I now have OCs who are polyamory, so no more 'picking' sides! You can have more than 'one love of one's life'! 

I have 'Second-chance Love' too, with mostly older couples as well as a few of my younger pairs.

 

Last but not least, a few of my  Ace (Asexual) sex-indifferent/sex-repulsed OCs who end up with their 'found family' of friends and they are living happily ever after, because Romance isn't for anyone, Love can be for everyone, but Affection/Attachment is still very much valid in this world and I want to reflect those aspects of life as well.

"Grace & 'Slash'"

And while we are on the subject of couples, please know that my canine crime boss is very much a lady's man!
Grace and 'Slash' Castellano met at a casino and have been together for 5 years. Of his many girlfriends, she's his favorite.

"'Slash' & Stacey (embrace)"

A coworker's first words to me about this sketch (paraphrased): "Aww..She feels so safe in his arms. He looks so strong, as though he will protect her always."
That statement stuck with me.
When my coworker said that, it gave me new appreciation for this rough sketch.
Oftentimes, artists, we meet people who GET IT. Who GET our art. Who GET our meaning, what we were trying to say in a particular piece.

Since I write other stories besides this WIP, I have my favorites. These two, since I envisioned them in 6th grade Summer School (it seems I thought up a lot of stuff in Summer School!), are one of my favorite couples!

"Children Isabella & Giovanni ages 8 and 9"

Sometimes, you get an image so perfect, so right, that you really don't want to redo it to final form. This rough sketch is one of them.

I'm not saying that, as an artist, I don't think it needs improvement or refinement. It most certainly does. What I mean is the spirit of the draft, how both characters' personalities shine through, at least, to me.

Isabella and Giovanni grow up together. As adolescents, they become lovers. They break up, each going their separate ways. She marries respectively as he grows into a life of crime. In spite of this, the childhood sweethearts still keep in touch on occasion.
Even in this picture, circa 1914, as they walk side-by-side, they appear to hold hands.

There are several periods and/or decades that are my personal favorites. While I often mention the 1940s being my earliest love, I was especially fond of the 1880s - 1900s, what would be quaintly named 'Turn-of-the-century', or the more aptly historical 'Industrial Age'. I especially like drawing Isabella's pinafore (I believe that's the 'apron' or 'smock' that went over most girl's dresses at the time). They wore these during school and house/yard work, and almost never in church or special occasions such as house parties.
Notice the laced up boots both genders wore. I like drawing these. Also, I have Giovanni in knickerbockers.
My dad once mentioned he wore these as a boy!
I LOVE History.