gymnopedie

sketches for the batch of commission i just put a notice out for last weekend.


http://fallenlights.net/WIP/magichands-handsface.jpg

not sure if it's evident in here what i'm thinking... but death/rebirth is where I'm going... might change things around, but yea...

so the other one isn'tw orking out at the ratio I started on paper, so it's a redo from start.



And to quote my husband after I whined about it still not working, he goes "So just do it 30x's over like you always do on your best pieces."

>_> I love that man to death!

I've now got three different sketchbooks going on. One for Arkadia (which I need to move all this fairy queen stuff over too, I suppose). My regular stuff sketchbook (finally full, new one will be broken in probably this week... have some dragons I want to draw.) and one for the childrens books. I feel slightly organized!

Got a filing cabinet the other night :D it TRIPLES as a countertop for Moo's other monitor, a book shelf (room for a whole box of books I bet) and has filing drawers, awesome :D Solid wood, all for like 450 + tax + shipping. Gotta love clearance sales at furniture stores for redmodeling.

Below the streets filled with noise and smell, deep under the tunnels where trains surged through, far below the passages that carried power and water and sewage. Deeper still, where rodents dared to not go unwillingly, grubs and earthworms feared for their lives. Trees refused to let their roots travel so far into the bowels of rich earth, dark with blood of lives stolen away. Where time had no meaning and those that did survive down there cared not for the workings of anything but their own devises.

Dark, damp. Sweet, sweet rot filling nostrils, the scent of roses wafting on the second breath, taken away swiftly on the third. Realizing with the pungent aroma was that of copper. Sharp tang that flavored all their food laid out upon monstrous carved tables, grinding of bone for spice. Never utterly silent, somewhere within the rooms that infested the earth was always a moan or a whimper, a scream of pleasure or a cry for more pain. Just under the humming of the earth itself, rumbling as it moved along through time, a deep base vibrato that could only be felt with fingers pressed deep into her soil.

Scurrying, chattering, bowing, scraping. All this was hers.

Well...

( further on... )

"So, this is what forever means," I said in a rasp to myself, hands running over my own naked body, seeking out the wounds that had been there moments before, feeling for the sticky warmth of blood, but finding naught. I turned to speak to the Queen as she lay there, quiet and still as if sleeping, yet there was something more. I leaned over, hand reaching out, but I needed not to touch her to realize that where I had held warm flesh moments before, there only resided a cold, marble statue.

Flesh turned stone, almost transluscent and glowing to the sun's rays that fought to get through the cannopy of the forest, as if only to caress this solidified flesh. I stumbled backwards, for a moment, blinking, frightened if only for a moment.

"I will walk this world forever, until I find the way to undo this, whatever I have done to you," I said, reaching forward to cup her cold cheek in my hand, shaking my head. I had no idea what I had done, and could only assume that we were in Arkadia, and that something had gone entirely too wrong. Still, I was not spitted upon an uncountable number of spears, and neither was she. Knowing her power was that over marble, I could only guess the backlash of power had somewhat to do with it.

I stood, back cracking beneath the movement, wondering what exactly I was going to do about being naked. It's not like there was a local Walmart in Arkadia. I wrapped myself in glamour as best I could, and found there to be no struggle to force it to my will. Instead, it almost seemed... eager... to do my bidding. Though the pants I wove would do naught being but illusion, it was enough. Looking to the Queen once more, I closed my eyes and concentrated, speaking to the very earth, it seemed. When I opened my eyes, the grass had grown, covering her form from any curious passerby. With that, I turned, surveying the area, looking for a path or trail.

(words by my lovely husband, siadhan)

I don't think the girl'll stay. no idea why she showed up. Was heading in another direction all together but it kind of took control.

next group...





( Bigger )

Tree of World WIP01 by ~shadowgirl on deviantART


not sure where I'm going with this yet.

neeeeeeext up

pinks and earthy colors.



Final lines, I know I've done a few WIPs for her already.

Silly me went and gave my sister this painting: http://fallenlights.net/gallery/traditional/butterflyqueen.jpg made back in 2002...

And someone wanted it. I forgot to take down the availablity of it...

So...

Will be painted.

Next commission lineart:





and many thanks for the suggestions/comments on the other piece:) Soon as my brain unfogs I'll dig through them. Just needed to get this down before I lost it.

...I should go back to school, if for the sole reason being to learn how to do more than 'simple' perspective.

I haven't the faintest clue how to use it past geometric shapes (as we'd done with very complex images in college, but they were all GEOMETRIC!), because I bet they were afraid we'd use it towards evil things... like illustrations :O No idea how to even piece together references so it reads 'overwhelming' or 'looming over'



wait... I think I might have this. Hmm.

minus a few tweaks...





And a silly little painting I did the other day while watching a couple of movies with Matt.




--
status of commissions:
still painting lay of luthien
breastfeeding, seen above, probably putting on watercolor paper today
starting character on illustration board
butterfly queen sketch in progress
tattoo commission, email phase~