I MADE A THING!

I’m so excited right now!  (not to mention my neck is sore and my hand is cramped) but LOOK!  I MADE A THING!  I’m so proud of myself!  *dances around, pointing enthusiastically*

This is a post-card sized gouache painting in medieval illumination style. Original artwork. © Eliza Murdock 2013

This is my first attempt to do a picture after the fashion of medieval illuminations, such as these.  I gotta admit, I’m hooked!

The figures are Odin with his two ravens, and Frigga shown spinning. The runes are transliterated English, and are a paraphrasing of a verse in the Norse Edda (the saga myths). It says “Hail the Gods and Goddesses, and all the generous earth.”

Odin, Frigga, and the overall layout are entirely original, but I did base the ship on this carving:

Found here: http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/manufacturing/text/norse_ships.htm

Except for the border lines, I did this all free-hand.    Here are my ‘in work’ sketches

Pencil sketch of Odin

Pencil sketch of Frigga

Finished sketch

And when I went to ink in the lines, I realized I didn’t have a fin enough tipped pen to do it!  This is post-card scale, remember, it’s very small.  Though hey, I’ve finally found a USE for my insanely small doddle skills!  Anyway, so I had to get out the finest liner brush I had and painted the outlines in.

painted outline

As you may be able to see, some of the details were added after the sketch, such as the extra detail in the waves, or even while I was painting, with the carvings on the ship prow and stern.

 

And now… I’m going to go take a nap!

When I wake up, I’ll make apple soda!  Seriously.