Drawing meme: #3

[hrymfaxe]

binkaslibrary asked for Thingol/Melian and Silmaril. I have seen several of those of you who have done this meme writing drabbles complain that it is hard to stay within 100 words. Well now even I fail at brevity! I had to do a little comic to get the idea in my head down on paper... I also wanted to try out my new watercolours, so I'm afraid you are all now subjected to my experimentation. It didn't go quite as well as I had hoped, but neither was it quite as bad as I had feared. I might redo this idea at some point when I master the media better, because I still think it is quite neat. :D I hope you like it, my dear Binka! 
(Full view please!) ;)

Comments

[binkaslibrary.livejournal.com]

Oh dear! Do I like it? I think it's exquisite! And I'm glad that you decided to make a little comic of it. :D

The mood, oh yeah: disappointment, a touch of angst, desperation, the influence of the Silmaril (damn that stupid jewel). Elu is deaf and blinded by the light.

Excellent job, Hon!

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

I'm really happy that you like it! :D This comic insisted on being made, and I was happy to comply.

That story is so sad - how such a love as the one between Thingol and Melian could become second in his mind to that accursed jewel! Poor Melian. And poor Thingol too, here on the cusp of his doom.

Thank you so much.

[binkaslibrary.livejournal.com]

It really seems illustrating the following bit from "Written in the Starlight":

“It would not tell you anything good, my lord, even if you could cast a silent spell on it,” Melian said from the doorway. Upon entering the treasury cave, she had spotted Thingol sitting in the darkest corner and watching the Silmaril, which was lying on a velvety pillow in a small chest. When she had spoken the quiet words, Thingol closed the lid with a startled, vehement movement.

“What do you wish of me, my lady?” Thingol asked, annoyed that his wife had caught him off guard.

Perfect!

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

OMG! I didn't consciously decide to illustrate this, but it must have been in the back of my mind when I received this request from you. Either that, or great minds think alike! ;) It really is perfect. :D

[rhapsody11.livejournal.com]

When I saw it, I had to think of that too!

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

I know! Isn't it perfect how those two scenes matches? Only in mine he is a little further in the grasp of the Silmaril and she can't reach him...

Nice drawing

[whitewave16.livejournal.com]

The way Elu looks at the Silmaril reminds me of how Feany must have looked.

Re: Nice drawing

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

Those dratted Silmarils! They ensnared all on their way. Thank you for stopping by and commenting. :D

[lethe-lloyd.livejournal.com]

Aww, why are you nervous, hun? I think it is amazing, I don't know how you capture so much movement and emotion in a few drawings, but you always do, and it's wonderfully atmospheric!

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much - to me watercolour is all about atmosphere, so I'm glad you think it is achieved! It is always a bit unnerving to start out in a new medium; I really appreciate your wonderful feedback.

[lethe-lloyd.livejournal.com]

Well, I would not have known it was a new medium for you, to be honest, you put so much into a character, their body language and emotions, I never know how artists can achieve such things, but you definitely do. It will be great to see your further art using watercolors.

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

Thank you again! :D The problem is of course that I'm comparing myself against those artists who have been working in the medium for years and seeing the room for improvement. I love watercolour work, and there will definitely be more.

[lethe-lloyd.livejournal.com]

No, never compare yourself, every artist and writer is unique, and it's fantastic that you will be doing more in this medium!

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

Yeah I know.. But sometimes it is hard not to. ;)

[train-lindz.livejournal.com]

I have no clue about what fandom this is or what this scene is about, but I love the look of your comic. It's dark and haunting and beautiful :)

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I guess I could have been nice and explained a little better: it is from the Silmarillion by Tolkien and they are a married couple, only he has been ensnared by the Silmaril (the jewel in his hand) and this will eventually lead to his doom. :D So the mood you are picking up is entirely fitting, and it is wonderful to hear this, because it is always hard to know how much people read into a thing when they know the backstory.

Thank you again for your comment. :D

[rhapsody11.livejournal.com]

Oh my goodness, I love the composition, the colourings and the emotions that just jumps off the screen. Especially the last frame is just wow!

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! :D I'm so thrilled that you get all these impressions from it. And the last frame was the one I was completely sure of - she should be left almost bare and all alone, poor Melian...

[lissas-elves.livejournal.com]

Lovely, Hrymfaxe! I particularly like how the emotions come through so well.

It must be a challenge, using water colours. Must say that I love your drawings, too - have been lurking since you came back ;-) - what a wonderful talent to have!

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! :D I'm really happy you like it.

Watercolours take so much planning ahead that I'm not used to - not to mention the whole deal about using colours instead of greyscale... And thank you also for taking a look around! :D

[duck-or-rabbit.livejournal.com]

I don't know who these characters are but I assume they are 1) elves and 2) somthin' bad just went down.

The colors are dustily elegant. Quite like the watercolor, actually. All the right shapes are there, even if you claim having not mastered the media.

Go make more art.

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

You assume correctly!

Aren't the colours beautiful? This is why I love watercolours - you almost cannot fail at getting those. But there is still so much to learn, which is not at all a bad thing! There is nothing like a challenge.

I'm on it! :D

[shimotsuki.livejournal.com]

This is so powerful! I think my favorite part of the composition is the way there is a different perspective or angle for viewing the characters in each panel. Poor, poor Melian in the last panel -- such palpable despair. (I see she makes an excellent icon, though. ;> )

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

Oh thank you so much! I always try to make the panels different so make them more interesting to look at; it makes me really happy that you mention this aspect.:D

Isn't it a sad story? For all their legendary love, even he is ensnared by the Silmaril.. (she does make a great icon - though pobably I should only use her for sad posts, which luckily don't happen very often ;))

[pandemonium-213.livejournal.com]

My apologies for the tardy comment...

This is just fabulous, hrym! I love your distinctive style -- there's more than a touch of impressionism here. The use of watercolors is particularly effective, and you'v depicited "movement" in the figures well. The shift in perspective/emphasis really tells the story of this visual vignette.

Really plays well into the theme of the possessiveness the Silmarils provoked. I've always seen strong parallels of the Silmarils to the One Ring in Tolkien's themes, and this captures it.

Very well done.

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

Hey no wories about tardiness. ;)

Thank you so much! I was very happy with how the watercolours worked (once I got over the fear of committing colour to the page that couldn't be erased) and I'm very pleased that you were guided through the story by the changing perspectives.

I've always seen strong parallels of the Silmarils to the One Ring in Tolkien's themes, and this captures it.

I agree very much with your idea here, and I really wanted to show Thingol enthralled. I'm so happy it worked!

Thank you again. :D

[javidan.livejournal.com]

I'm again impressed with your composition---the arched window leading the viewer's eye downward in the third pic---perfect!

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

Oh thank you! I was very conscious of the composition in this because you have to entertain the viewer and lead them safely through the images. :D I really like the third one as well.

[clodia-metelli.livejournal.com]

All of your art is lovely, but this one really will stay with me for a while. The shadowyness and the brevity works so well. Thank you!

[hrymfaxe.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your kind words! It makes me really happy to hear that my art had an impact on you.