Spider-Woman by Steve Leialoha

This is a nice  little sketch, isn't it? A very nice pose, not typically used for pinups. Great body language!

That swoosh does add balance to the composition.  It also breaks up the parallels of the shoulder line and tangents with the web by going perpendicular to them.  Leialoha gives her an old school feel with those steady inks and her original offbeat disco era style costume.  As you said, the hand gestures add to unique character of Jessica Drew so she wasn't to be seen as just a Spider-Man derivative.  Just a joy to behold in every way.  Your logic to get this makes perfect Spidey-Sense!

He captured a great motion moment here. It feels like she's just landed in full action mode, or is making her way to the edge of a building to jump off. It feels like a real moment he saw and captured, which makes it special to my eye, too. Her confident look matches the confident rendering, as you said. That swoosh was straight peacocking. :) Great commission. Congrats!

Your second paragraph is spot on. The struggle is real lol! I would see Steve at conventions for years and I never worked up the nerve to ask for a Spider-Woman sketch. Good on you for picking this up.

This is really great, and the write up captures it well. 

Super write up, F M, to this VERY splendid piece; you hit the bullseye with every point, imho.  As you pointed out the 'construction' of the piece is SO solid - love the pose (which reminds me of a Paul Smith commission in its "off the beaten path" but expertly realized execution), love the swish, love the everything.  Ms. Drew has been a favorite of mine forever and I sometimes wish there were more commissions of her, but then the ones that pop up from time to time might be less special...?  Don't know, but yours is killer: the layout is solid and the inks are just as beautiful and accomplished as you would expect from a talent like Mr. Leialoha.  I hear you, man: I try to stick with published pieces, too, but every once in a while a commission really commands your attention and you have to respond to its call.  This is one such piece and no one can question your choice!  Awesomesauce, pal.  Congrats!

It is truly beautiful!

Beauty.