The Bear King: Vidar

This is Vidar, a Fossengrimen (or Nix), a magical water creature with exceptional musical abilities. Legend has it that they appear in the form of beautiful young men, or horses, or cats, and if you are kind to them, one of them just might teach you how to play an instrument as beautifully as they do.

During her stay at the Bear King's Castle, Lene goes wandering about the grounds one day and meets Vidar in a magical grove of willow trees. As a Fossengrimen, Vidar cannot leave his waterfall, but this does not stop Lene from befriending him. Eventually, he is the one who gives her directions on how to find the lost Bear.

Traditionally Nix play violins or lutes, but I wanted Vidar to date back a little further. Instead he plays a seljefløyte, a Norwegian Willow Flute. These flutes are made out of willow bark, but can only be made from a Spring Willow, one that is still full of water. Normally, the flute will slowly dry out, and you have to wait until next season to make a new one. Of course, as a water spirit, Vidar has an everlasting seljefløyte. 

You can listen to the seljefløyte sound here!!

Vidar also serves as a foil to The Bear King. Where as the Bear, we find out, is a human trapped in a fae world, Vidar is a Fae that is, in a way, trapped in a human world. Forced from his home in the South generations ago, Vidar is incapable of leaving his waterfall. He must wait for salvation to find him, where as the Bear goes out seeking it himself. Vidar appears human, but isn't, while the Bear appears inhuman, but is. 

The Bear King: Willow Trees

More trees for the Bear King. Specifically, these are for a character that will be introduced soon. He lives in a small wooded area, made of nothing but willow trees, by a waterfall. In this area, it is always spring or early summer.

Remake: Water

Before I show this, let me explain. I've seen a few people do this before, and I thought it would be fun, that is, remaking an old piece of artwork. And I went back, oh my did I go back. Please enjoy, and I only hope you laugh at least half as hard as I did, because this is truly awful.

I don't know what I was thinking. But it is also interesting to see that I have always had an obsession for pattern and clothes! I just really had no idea what I was doing... Here is a step by step for the remake!

Initial Sketch. I like to keep it really loose, compositional decisions are made here. but otherwise I want it to be freeform 

I lay down all the main shapes, after this point, I throw away the sketch, I don't need it anymore

Shape Refinement. Here I break up shapes, like the rocks, the fins, and the sky.

Pattern Placement. Here I just start going crazy with the patterns and gradients. I just keep doing this until I'm done!

The Bear King: The Winds

East Wind

West Wind

South Wind

North Wind 

The Winds

When Lene looses the Bear King, she goes on a quest to find him. All she knows is that he is East of the Sun, West of the Moon. Asking about, she is finally greeted with the East Wind, who says that, while she doesn't know where the Bear King is, perhaps her sister the West Wind will. Lene travels with the East Wind, West Wind, South Wind, and finally the North Wind who is able to carry her to her destination. 

Although they are a relatively small part of the story, I still was eager to design the Winds. They are ideas personified, and are in some way minor Gods, while at the same time more physically represent Lene's real dive down into a mystical realm. Before that, Lene lives with the Bear King, who is trapped halfway between the Human World and the Magical. But with her pursuit of the Bear, she leaves the Human World behind entirely for the sake of her quest. Plus they are cool.

I really wanted to make them look human-like, but also otherworldly. I don't want them to be mistaken for actual people. I hope you like them!

Just For Fun

I visited Providence this weekend and had a lot of fun! I made this in homage to that! (Oh yeah, I was all about the Karaoke)

The Bear King: Some Nisse

Thinking about the story The Bear King, one of the key (but of course in the fairytale-glossed over) factors is that the Bear takes Lene to a magical castle where all of her needs are taken care of. But who, or what exactly is it that does all of this?

Let me introduce the Nisse. They are a miniature magical race of beings that are revered and feared in Norway. A farmer who is favored by the Nisse finds that his cows are plumper, and small chores have been done for him during the night. A farmer that does not leave out the proffered porridge may find himself the victim of many a mischief, or worse, beat to death! For despite their diminutive stature, they are known to be terribly strong.

Traditionally they are depicted as old men with long beards, but I fiddled with that a little.

Which ones do you like?

The Bear King: Nighttime

Another image from The Bear King. Here, Lene has arrived at the Bear King's home, where she is well taken care of. However, each night, after all the lights go out, something climbs into bed and sleeps beside her....

Wow! It's been a while since I did one of these 'landscapes'. I actually started this one, probably 8 months ago, but I've only finished it now. I decided to make the bed really wide, the emphasis being that nothing untoward is happening. The 'being' is defiantly staying on its side. But I still want Lene to be suprised, without actually fearing for her well being.

You are gonna wanna zoom in on this one.

Snow White Concepts

More Concepts for Jessica. This time, it's Snow White!

Sassy Bitch

Just for fun. I hand drew the background with a couple of brush pens, then scanned it. I thought is would be a nice contrast to the more graphic image placed on top. Have I mentioned? I love fashion Illustration

Little Red Concepts

So Jessica Herron and I got talking about a project we might have fun doing in our free time. Basically it gives me direction to make a lot of concept art. *laugh* This is, as you might have guessed, some concepts for a Little Red Riding Hood character.

Which ones do you like?

Corgi's For a Friend

My friend Amanda is constantly sending me images of Corgi's so now I give her this.

The Zodiac

Just for fun. My parameters were they should somehow incorporate the imagery of the sign, the symbol, the color, and the flower associated with the sign. I also hoped to capture at least a little of the personality that is supposed to be dominate in each sign too. Enjoy

For Fun

Just for fun, less than an hour. I really love using only 2 colors and trying to articulate everything with shapes! Maybe I'll do some more.

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!