Talking Bird, Singing Tree, Golden Water -- Parizade's Aunts

Elder Aunt

Younger Aunt

These two are Princess Parizade's Aunts, elder sisters of the Queen, wife of Sultan Kostouschah. In a game proposed by the eldest, each sister in turn declared who, if it were not for their impoverished state, they would marry. The eldest said she would marry the Sultan's chief baker, and eat delicious pastries all day long. The middle sister said she would marry the Sultan's chief cook, because in the palace the bread is common place, and she would eat the excellent entries all day long. The youngest said, if they were speaking of wishes, she would like to marry the Sultan himself, and bare him a son more beautiful  than ever seen. Unknown to them, disguised beneath the window stood the very same Sultan! Out for a evening stroll, the Sultan heard their wishes and decided to grant them!

Overcome with jealousy at their sisters elevated fortunes, the older sisters plot the demise of her happiness. The elder aunt is the more spiteful, full of furry and sharp words. She doesn't think of the future very often, but is quick and sloppy. Very vain, she squanders much of her money on clothes and the like. 

The younger aunt (and middle sister) is a glutton, and is forever wishing for more. She works slower than her sister, but her plans are more meticulous and can come to fruition years later. She harbors grudges well, and can account for every coin spent by everyone she knows for years and years. 

The Talking Bird, Singing Tree, Golden Water -- A Discussion Among Siblings

    

A scene from The Talking Bird, The Singing Tree, and the Golden Water. This takes place shortly after the departure of the Holy Woman. In this scene, the brothers Bahman and Perviz detect something is troubling Parizade. Questioning her, they discover about the talking bird, singing tree, and golden water that she has just learned about. She confesses to her brothers that she has an unreasonable desire for them, and feels that for some reason, she needs them.

I had set this piece aside for a while, because I wasn't sure how to proceed with the colors. Finally coming back to it, I'm really happy with the result that I've created after my long absence. Thinking on it, I do believe that the piece I would have made a month ago is different from the image I've completed today. I almost feel like there is a crossroads in time, and I wonder what the other piece would have looked like, but I am still pleased with this one.

Tim asked where I got inspiration for the wall patterns. (To see a process shot of the wall, click here) To that, I've been looking at a lot of Islamic Mosques. There is A LOT of pattern in the tiles, especially floral swirls and designs. But a good part of it was just what I felt like drawing at the moment. *grin* Please enjoy!

Talking Bird, Singing Tree, Golden Water -- Princess Parizade's Outfits 1

A new look at Princess Parizade's wardrobe.
a , e , f , h , i , m , t , s Are more of her warrior clothes.
j , n , l , q   Are her dolled up clothes
b , c , d , h , g , k , o , r  Possible more normal outfits
p   is her underclothes!
u - I'm on a horse

Talking Bird, Singing Tree, Golden Water -- A Plethora of Horses 1

Some horses for Princess Parizade and her brothers. Arabian horses is the obvious breed of choice, and so I did a little research. Small in stature, they are sturdy horses known for their strength, endurance, and speed. They can be easily recognized for their high tails and 'concave' faces

Talking Bird, Singing Tree, Golden Water -- Parizade Talks to the Holy Woman

In this scene Princess Parizade talks with a journeying Holy Woman. This woman tells Parizade that, while  the home she shares with her brothers is beautiful, it is missing 3 things. The talking bird, the singing tree, and the golden water.

This took longer than I thought it would, but it also involved a number of challenges. Like making the perspective (I'm not used to pillars in perspective) and trying to figure out what pallet to use. (This world is the cheeriest of the three I have) And I'm still cementing out the technique of layers and textures I use. But I'm glad with this, and I'm ready to make something new. Maybe another Parizade Image? I really have been flushing out this world a lot lately. 

Talking Bird, Singing Tree, Golden Water -- Background Sketches 1

 Some sketches for some layouts for the Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and The Golden Water. Made with ballpoint pen, and then shaded with photoshop

Image 1: The holy woman telling Princess Parizade of the Talking Bird
Image 2: Princess Parizade telling her two brothers about the objects
Image 3: Princess Parizade watching one of her brothers ride out

Talking Bird, Singing Tree, Golden Water -- Wife of the Sultan

Princess Parizade's mother, as a young woman and as an older mother of three. She is the youngest of three girls and when she married the Sultan, her older sisters became frightfully jealous. They ended up convincing the Sultan that their youngest sister gave birth to a dog, a cat, and a piece of wood. The perfectly healthy children were thrown into the river in baskets while the Queen herself was thrown into a prison constructed for one. As you can imagine, this gives her a pensive and solemn demeanor to her already quite nature.

Talking Bird, Singing Tree, Golden Water -- Sultan Kosrouschah

Princess Parizade's biological father, the Sultan Kosrouschah. While a very successful ruler, he is easily manipulated by his own fears. When it comes to matters of state he is able to step back and view the situation thoughtfully, he is more often rash and proud in regards to personal matters. He does not wish to appear weak, and will hide  or destroy his faults at all costs

Talking Bird, Singing Tree, Golden Water -- Prince Bahman

Princess Parizade's eldest brother, Prince Bahman. Prince Bahman looks remarkably like his father, The Sultan, but he is much more like his mother in demeanor. He is quiet and thoughtful, and much more reserved and calculating than his two siblings. He may have a dreamy look now, but one day he will become a great ruler of people

Talking Bird, Singing Tree, Golden Water -- Prince Perviz

Princess Parizade's Second Brother, Prince Perviz. He is the more reckless than his older brother Bahman. Despite his impetuousness, he is extremely loyal, never dreaming of opposing his brother, and protective of his younger sister. He has his mothers looks, but not her disposition. He has much more of his father's brazen attitude. 

I rather like him

Talking Bird, Singing Tree, Golden Water -- Buildings

Sorry updates have been slow, something is wrong with my knuckle and I can't hold a pen *sob* Some last little sketches before chaos hit me. Supposedly I just have to rest it for a few days, but its so hard not to draw.

Princess Parizade's foster father was the sultans gardener, as I mentioned before, so here I drew a few ideas for what that house looked like.

On another note, I'm looking for a third 'Princess'. I really want one from South America, but it is hard to find native stories to the region. This is because of the European invasion and systematic attempt to destroy much of the cultures that existed there. Since I can't draw, I'm spending more time researching

Talking Bird, Singing Tree, Golden Water -- Flowers

My first pass at some flowers in Princess Parizade's world. These feel like a first pass, so I hope to do more, although I enjoyed the later designs. Princess Parizade's Foster father was the sultan's chief gardener, or something of the like. As a result, he had beautiful gardens. That may be the thing to design next

Talking Bird, Singing Tree, Golden Water -- Trees

Trees for the world of The Talking Bird, The Singing Tree, and The Golden Water

None of these are the actual singing tree, just background foliage. But I had a lot of fun with these, and unlike the birdcages, I can have more than one! Hooray!

The Talking Bird -- Birdcages

Some studies for a birdcage. The story of Princess Parizade is actually called "The Talking Bird, The Singing Tree, and The Golden Water", referring to the quest for these three items she goes on. The other two items don't really amount to much, but the bird is crucial to the story. Anyway, she finds him at the top of this mountain in a birdcage, and as soon as she touches him, he gives himself up to her.

Princess Parizade -- Expression Sheet

Princess Parizade is supposedly a Persian tale (although its hard to tell, seeing as how a thousand and one nights is a collection of stories spanning a number of different cultures) , so I thought it important to give her persian features. She worried me at first, but I've really come to like her

Princess Parizade -- Color Keys

Princess Parizade, from the tale, "The Talking Bird, the Singing Tree, and the Golden Water", one of the stories from a Thousand and One Nights. She is a really interesting character, especially regarding the other stories of princesses found in the same collection. She is openly acknowledged as more skillful then her accomplished brothers in swordsmanship, horsemanship, archery, not to mention she is has a piercing wit, and can play the harp and dance like the best of them. She seems like someone who sees a challenge in everything, and isn't about to let it pass