And they prepared to die - lineart
Added 2019-01-24 09:30:45 +0000 UTCYou'll note that I changed Maedhros' pose considerably (many thanks again to my dummy for helping me visualise new, balanced, poses on the spot). It's partly because of a problem I have often encountered in my Silmarillion illustrations. By their nature, the Silmaril have to dominate every piece they're shown in. You can't throw them in as an afterthought. They need to bend the entire light situation to their presence. And many of the times I've depicted them in a scene, that scene wasn't about the Silmarils, so they ended up looking like an afterthought, dragging the piece down.
I also gave a lot of thought to the timeline here. Maedhros and Maglor steal the Silmarils, then prepare to defend themselves to the last (and I'm utterly convinced that Maedhros never intended to survive, though he probably didn't tell Maglor that), then they're allowed to flee, then they divide the Silmarils (sounding very coherent) and break apart, and then they're overwhelmed by pain. It makes more sense to me that they stole the Silmarils in something like a casket (which Maglor would be holding in all likelihood).
That allows me to make the brothers the focus, not the jewels. There is a piece I've been wanting to do (redo, really) with Feanor crafting them, but I've always been daunted by what sorts of stuff might be found in such a workshop).
Comments
Oooh I want to see you do the crafting of the silmarils piece!!! :D
Miranda Metheny
2019-01-28 23:25:51 +0000 UTCWeirdly, I never thought about what they actually took the Simarils in, but it would completely make sense for it to be a casket, as I can imagine that's what they were to be housed in for the journey back to Valinor anyway. I can't imagine them being wrapped in a sock for safe transport, for example!
Evelyn Maire
2019-01-26 09:57:34 +0000 UTCI'm glad you decided to "hide" the Silmarils. I always feel that they draw too much attention to themselves, what ruins pictures somewhat for me. I prefer the focus to be on people and not on "things".
Anjuschka
2019-01-24 17:26:27 +0000 UTCThis looks incredible. I think they stole a casket. Took a quick look to make sure it held the jewels then shut it for their escape. I think they truly thought this was their last chance to fulfil the Oath. I think they expected to die trying but that if they managed to get the jewels in their possession, even briefly, they would have satisfied the spirit of the Oath and kept their dead father and brothers (and themselves) from the Eternal Dark. It is a desperate measure. I love this family so much.
PL
2019-01-24 15:23:31 +0000 UTCI must admit I think both were probably done with living then, I like to think this was the act of two desperate survivors going fine, oath fulfilled, just end this. Even if it makes the Valar cruel for letting them live after.
Teresa Hearty
2019-01-24 14:50:52 +0000 UTCExcellent points, and I completely agree. I've always thought they stole a casket or something of the like, or they would have had their hands immediately burned by the jewels, and the story might have been slightly different (or not)... Besides, Tolkien wrote so many versions of those last moments that no one would blame you for adapting one scene to your art (and that makes so much sense tbh!) anyway, I already love this piece soooo much although I'm still crying over the fëanorians' fates!
Litsen
2019-01-24 12:15:06 +0000 UTCThis is looking beautiful! I love the Feanorians so much;v;
Lene R.
2019-01-24 09:35:22 +0000 UTCThis is already looking amazing. Problem is, I've run out of wall space. I need more walls.
Ninchen
2019-01-24 09:33:59 +0000 UTC
