Paperlegends Art masterpost - Ivy and Amaranth by xthursdaynextx
Title: Ivy and Amaranth by xthursdaynextx
Author: xthursdaynextx
Artist: marymonroe
Notes: This first and last Paperlegends has been one hell of an adventure; sometimes pretty rough, when the muse or the hand wasn't cooperating, but always exciting and challenging. It also gave me a purpose and distraction in a time I needed one and that was very welcome too.
I had set myself ambitious goals, to make six pieces all with a different medium. In the end, I only managed to complete two, plus a somewhat passable one. I am especially regretful about the gorgeous cover (at least I hope it would have been) I slaved on all of last night, but didn't manage to complete on time anyway :-/. All my apologies, xthursdaynextx; I hope you enjoy the pieces I did make! Your story was an artist's dream and made me travel beautifully at Merlin and Arthur's side. I consider myself privileged to have been one of the first to read it and been allowed to offer some input. You were a joy to work with.
Grateful thanks to skitz_phenom as well, for stepping in at the last minute with her Photoshop skills to erase the traces of a rookie mistake :). Traditional art is so unforgiving.
And of course, all the love for the_muppet, her dedication and mad organizational skills. becaue of you, there is much more Merlin fanfic out there and that makes me a very happy girl :-D. I'm so glad I could be part of Paperlegends at least once.
All traditional art, various media.
*whisper* And now, I can finally start reading Paperlegends fics too!
WARNING: The art, and the quotes that accompagny it, contain spoilers for the story. At your own risk! If you dont't want to be spoiled, the main pieces are all embedded with the story on AO3.
Merlin and Arthur having a private conversation before the fire with a glass of wine. Graphite.
Merlin sighs, tipping back his goblet and draining the lot. He's unused to wine, for all that Arthur seems to believe he spends all his time in the tavern, and it goes to his head a little. They sit in silence, Merlin mulish, Arthur eyeing him speculatively.
Knights setting out on the quest. Watercolor, some digital alterations in color and contrast. This one is... probably terribly amateurish, sorry. I'd never done watercolor before and it was more difficult than I expected.
The pass is every bit as unwelcoming as it seemed to promise. There are rocks on the path which have fallen down from the mountainside and the horses stumble often. On particularly treacherous inclines they have to dismount and lead them. The snowfall picks up steadily until it's hard to see more than an arm's length in front of their faces. The mountains loom above them on either side, but provide little protection from the wind which batters them constantly, head-on.
Forced cy circumstances to wear unusual attire, Merlin is not amused... Ink pens.
"And now, we must do something about your clothes. Two men on foot may steal a horse, but I think I have a disguise that will allow you to pass through Usk unhindered."
It takes Merlin a while to grasp her intentions, even when she emerges from a side room with armfuls of linen topped off with a lace cap.
"Oh no," he says, stepping backwards, because Arthur will never let him live this down, ever. "No, you can't be serious."
A color version of the latter. Color pencils.
Conceptual art for pieces not realized (for lack of time, not lack of want). I am still hoping to get back to those in a few weeks' time and update this post with pretty new art:
Cover in medieval illumination style, would be color pencil and ink. Uses a previous working title.
He conjures a dragon, soaring up with a crackle of embers from the fire, swooping and dancing in the air before settling in the shape of the Pendragon crest, making it clear who the display is really for.
Everything he does is for Arthur, always.
Planned charcoal or white conte and color pastels on black paper.
The bonding ceremony itself takes place at noon on the third day of the Druid visit, in a small grove not far from the castle, under a canopy strung between trees, decorated with ivy and amaranth.
Planned painting.
I hope you enjoy, and don't forget to read the fic! :)
Author: xthursdaynextx
Artist: marymonroe
Notes: This first and last Paperlegends has been one hell of an adventure; sometimes pretty rough, when the muse or the hand wasn't cooperating, but always exciting and challenging. It also gave me a purpose and distraction in a time I needed one and that was very welcome too.
I had set myself ambitious goals, to make six pieces all with a different medium. In the end, I only managed to complete two, plus a somewhat passable one. I am especially regretful about the gorgeous cover (at least I hope it would have been) I slaved on all of last night, but didn't manage to complete on time anyway :-/. All my apologies, xthursdaynextx; I hope you enjoy the pieces I did make! Your story was an artist's dream and made me travel beautifully at Merlin and Arthur's side. I consider myself privileged to have been one of the first to read it and been allowed to offer some input. You were a joy to work with.
Grateful thanks to skitz_phenom as well, for stepping in at the last minute with her Photoshop skills to erase the traces of a rookie mistake :). Traditional art is so unforgiving.
And of course, all the love for the_muppet, her dedication and mad organizational skills. becaue of you, there is much more Merlin fanfic out there and that makes me a very happy girl :-D. I'm so glad I could be part of Paperlegends at least once.
All traditional art, various media.
*whisper* And now, I can finally start reading Paperlegends fics too!
WARNING: The art, and the quotes that accompagny it, contain spoilers for the story. At your own risk! If you dont't want to be spoiled, the main pieces are all embedded with the story on AO3.
Merlin and Arthur having a private conversation before the fire with a glass of wine. Graphite.
Merlin sighs, tipping back his goblet and draining the lot. He's unused to wine, for all that Arthur seems to believe he spends all his time in the tavern, and it goes to his head a little. They sit in silence, Merlin mulish, Arthur eyeing him speculatively.
Knights setting out on the quest. Watercolor, some digital alterations in color and contrast. This one is... probably terribly amateurish, sorry. I'd never done watercolor before and it was more difficult than I expected.
The pass is every bit as unwelcoming as it seemed to promise. There are rocks on the path which have fallen down from the mountainside and the horses stumble often. On particularly treacherous inclines they have to dismount and lead them. The snowfall picks up steadily until it's hard to see more than an arm's length in front of their faces. The mountains loom above them on either side, but provide little protection from the wind which batters them constantly, head-on.
Forced cy circumstances to wear unusual attire, Merlin is not amused... Ink pens.
"And now, we must do something about your clothes. Two men on foot may steal a horse, but I think I have a disguise that will allow you to pass through Usk unhindered."
It takes Merlin a while to grasp her intentions, even when she emerges from a side room with armfuls of linen topped off with a lace cap.
"Oh no," he says, stepping backwards, because Arthur will never let him live this down, ever. "No, you can't be serious."
A color version of the latter. Color pencils.
Conceptual art for pieces not realized (for lack of time, not lack of want). I am still hoping to get back to those in a few weeks' time and update this post with pretty new art:
Cover in medieval illumination style, would be color pencil and ink. Uses a previous working title.
He conjures a dragon, soaring up with a crackle of embers from the fire, swooping and dancing in the air before settling in the shape of the Pendragon crest, making it clear who the display is really for.
Everything he does is for Arthur, always.
Planned charcoal or white conte and color pastels on black paper.
The bonding ceremony itself takes place at noon on the third day of the Druid visit, in a small grove not far from the castle, under a canopy strung between trees, decorated with ivy and amaranth.
Planned painting.
I hope you enjoy, and don't forget to read the fic! :)