raxgond on DeviantArthttps://www.deviantart.com/raxgond/art/The-Sound-of-Silence-274040430raxgond

Deviation Actions

raxgond's avatar

The Sound of Silence

By
raxgond
Published:
682 Views

Description

" 'Fools,' said I, 'You do not know,
Silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you.
Take my arms that I might reach you.'
But my words, like silent raindrops fell.
And echoed in the wells of silence."

-Sounds of Silence, Simon and Garfunkle

-----------------------------------

This was going to be for the Quote Me event over at Avant-Garde but I didn't finish it in time. I actually lost the inspiration to do it about 75% through the lineart stage and only just now decided to take up finishing it. The hardest part of the image? The writing on the ribbons. Oh man my arm is aching and my brain is too from trying to write sideways, haha. I didn't want to rotate the image because I've noticed that makes for quality loss, which irritates me... so sideways writing it is! And I will never do that again. That was a pain. At least I'm fluent in writing my own language, ha!

For the record, yes, the ribbons do say things. This is my character Iqumis; she is considered by all the vallens their deity and creator. I think that the quote was very fitting for what happens with the vallens from her viewpoint. You also probably notice the background - it's a photograph I edited of me writing in my art sketchbook that I never really use since I'm more of a digital artist than traditional. The "pen" is actually a turkey-feather quill I made myself.

I drew a picture of her some time ago but I don't think I remembered to upload it to deviantART at that time for whatever reason. This is not Iqumis' real form. In fact, she's not actually female. She does not have a gender, but she physically turned herself into another creature entirely (the form you see here and in the linked image). The blue bands found on each of her limbs are meant to depict that - that in a way, she is a slave to society for having to conform to it in order to fit in.

Anyways, I should probably save talking about her for her reference sheet, whenever that is. (Likely I'll have it done in another five years or so at the rate I'm going! -sigh-) Anyways, this was fun, if a bit difficult, haha. Enjoy! :heart:

:bulletpurple: For a translation of the text on the ribbons, click here.
:bulletblue: If you do not know the password, click here.

-----------------------------------

:bulletred: SEE RELATED
Image size
677x1020px 715.19 KB
© 2011 - 2024 raxgond
Comments10
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
Ribbontail's avatar
Ribbontail
RIBBOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNSSSSS. Haaah. <3

(...ahem mhmm I totally agree with you about drawing ribbons. I can say this as a very ribbony gal: they're tough as nails to draw. To position, to ink, to shade, to write on. TOUGH AS NAILS.)

Aaah now this is such a beautiful picture. The thumbnail really made it look simple, but in full view it's got so much beauty to it! The color choice is perfect, your lineart is neat (how do you do digital lineart with a mouse?!), the pose is great, and... and... and I LOVE the ribbons of course. Hahaha. My favorite part is the design of her outfit. It's simple, yet definitely godly. :nod: Iqumis sounds like an interesting "character", by the way, though up until now I had no idea the vallens had a deity. Do vallens often shift into bipedal forms? I'd imagine quite a few do, considering they're shapeshifters.

My critique for this picture is that you didn't touch on the theme of silence well enough. Everything is well executed, but it doesn't say "silence" well enough. A good idea for this would've been positioning her hands over her mouth or tying her mouth shut with ribbons. That way, the message would be loud and clear!

But overall it's a great picture, and you did wonderfully on it. In fact, I think it's one of your best so far. ;D