JCC [Image heavy]A thread for art: See note on page 776

MikeBock: Pumyra

https://www.deviantart.com/mikebock/art/Pumyra-Pumara-588377937

 

https://www.deviantart.com/nesskain/art/Symmetra-stone-by-stone-cover-861494311



https://www.deviantart.com/nesskain/art/Symmetra-Stone-by-Stone-2-861494584



https://www.deviantart.com/nesskain/art/Symmetra-Stone-by-Stone-3-861494662



https://www.deviantart.com/nesskain/art/Symmetra-Stone-by-Stone-861494745

 

M-Mannering: Disney Wizard of Oz

https://www.deviantart.com/m-mannering/art/Disney-Wizard-of-Oz-552886527

 

https://www.deviantart.com/rtradke/art/Stomped-2-Live-on-Kickstarter-857151483

Spoiler

The 2nd issue of my kaiju anthology comic is now live on Kickstarter. We have several reward tiers that include original art!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/r…

Issue 1 is available digitally from Gumroad and print copies can be added to any tier for the 2nd issue Kickstarter
gumroad.com/rossradke

Thank you for your support!

https://www.deviantart.com/rtradke/art/Stomped-1-Available-Now-on-Gumroad-857151803

Spoiler

The first issue of my self published kaiju comic anthology Stomped is now available digitally through Gumroad.
gumroad.com/rossradke

The Kickstarter for issue 2 is now live!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/r…

https://www.deviantart.com/rtradke/art/STOMPED-Stretch-Goal-859098450

Spoiler

Final week to back the 2nd issue of my kaiju anthology comic STOMPED on Kickstarter!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/r…

Print copies of STOMPED #1 can be added to any reward tier as part of the new “add-ons” feature. This option shows up after you select a tier.

We are close to hitting our first stretch goal at $4k. If we hit it, I will draw a new 6 page story that serves as a follow up to BOTH stories from issue 1. That’s right - if we hit our goal, Kim is taking on the Madrid Mantis!

As always, thank you so much for your generous support during these uncertain times. I’m so glad to have all of you as fans and to be in able to collaborate with some amazing artists to bring this world to life. Hugo, Guy & Matt all did incredible work and I know Hass will give it that last magical touch with the lettering. Please share the Kickstarter link one more time this week to help us crush all the stretch goals!

 

https://www.deviantart.com/zededge/art/Lockhart-859263773



https://www.deviantart.com/czepta/art/Tifa-859481978



https://www.deviantart.com/czepta/art/Barret-858306800



https://www.deviantart.com/czepta/art/Cloud-858285448

 

ChiaraTillustrations: Dryad

https://www.deviantart.com/chiaratillustrations/art/Dryad-856379617

 

https://www.deviantart.com/dusty-abell/art/Xenomorph-860135772

 

ChiaraTillustrations: Sleeping Mermaid

https://www.deviantart.com/chiaratillustrations/art/Sleeping-Mermaid-859382861

 

https://www.deviantart.com/rtradke/art/Snow-White-and-the-Seven-Dwarfs-827009701

 

https://www.deviantart.com/rtradke/art/Squirtle-Evolution-826059070



https://www.deviantart.com/rtradke/art/Totodile-Evolutions-826059430



https://www.deviantart.com/rtradke/art/Mudkip-Evolution-826576374



https://www.deviantart.com/rtradke/art/Piplup-Evolution-826576090

 

Evil of the Daleks, by Andrew Skilleter:

 

https://www.deviantart.com/majnouna/art/Box-of-Luna-860670440

Spoiler

(Click on image to enlarge)
One of 7 planet-themed boxes that were made for my last Kickstarter. They draw both on my work with cosmology and on my study of Abbasid-era art materials, Inks & Paints of the Middle-East. The latter book was included with the boxes and contained the clues for deciphering the contents. One piece of information: Luna (the Moon) is associated with white and silver.

A different dimension of art, interactive and engaging most of the senses, my Artist Boxes are above all an invitation to experience a sense of wonder and mystery. Each is carefully assembled around one story, but presented with little or no explanation: it is for the receiver to read it in their own way through handling, contemplating or even using the contents.

Assemblage, 24x14x9.5cm.

 

https://www.deviantart.com/yioshka/art/The-Spirit-of-the-Northern-Lights-862314325

The Spirit of the Northern Lights
By Yioshka

 

With Jock from Lady and the Tramp as Toto.

 

MusicMermaid: Are You a Good Witch or a Bad Witch

https://www.deviantart.com/musicmermaid/art/Are-You-a-Good-Witch-or-a-Bad-Witch-673279356





So here we have the four witches of Oz. From left to right, we have the Good Witch of the North, the Good Witch of the South (aka Glinda), and The Wicked Witch of the West, and the Wicked Witch of the East. So I think the hardest witch to do was the Witch of the East, since we don't get to see her in any visual adaptation of The Wizard of Oz other than her striped stockings and her shoes. I honestly had a lot of fun with all of these witches, especially the witches of the South and West. I especially had fun making Glinda's hair all sparkly!

 

https://www.deviantart.com/artigas/art/Bronze-Age-Dwarf-Champion-860041316

Spoiler

Today's piece was brought to you by www.deviantart.com/mazkhalaz, who is a good friend of mine in real life and that kindly commissioned this drawing.
He asked me to draw a dwarf based on the "Hallstatt A" culture armour style, or more accurately on a famous print rendition of it.
First we talked about it being my take on an early Firebeard warrior, but later on I was more inclined to just make it more of a generic setting bronze age dwarf but I think in the end it doesn't matter because he would fit in either way.

This guy is a prestigious warrior and a leader, his status at full display through his Carnyx: A bronze/brass instrument shaped in such a way as to look like a beast, used for signalling over a distance regardless of visibility.

On the battlefield as well as during marching/manoeuvring, the Carnyx is a key resource, playing songs to help with pace and synchronicity as well as improving morale. The instrument also plays a role with magical/ritualistic music and thus is a widely revered object and a symbol of great prestige and honor.

This prized and marvellous instrument is equipped with an ingenious internal mechanism that allows the instrument to change its pitch while at the same time opening or closing the creature’s mouth at the end of the instrument (I owe that particular idea to my friend Mr Turner Mohan and his sense of humor). The whole action is controlled via a single rotating grip at the instrument’s bottom end.

The rings and Torcs braided into his beard are all badges of honour and rank, in a similar fashion to a Roman Phalerae or modern military medals and badges. Each ring represents a very specific rank, title or the decoration of achievements and deeds. The iconography system on the rings is somewhat similar to the medieval heraldic system, where metals, shapes and proportions as well as patterns and decorations combine to create a codified and detailed message.

I wanted his Palstave axe to hint on both primitivity but also wealth and sophistication. For that end I kept the ancient shape of the Palstave while adding a finely carved wooden shaft bound with gold strips, in the same manner as ancient Egyptian tomb axes.

His plaid garments were obviously supposed to be reminiscent of a Scottish Tartan, but instead of being chequered, the pattern is a geometric knot pattern, more in line with dwarven culture.

The boots are meant to be a mix of ancient Germanic shoes and Roman Caligae, with sturdy and thick hobnailed soles and capped toes, a very popular type of footwear for those who live in the mountains. Literally.


Thank you Dano for your much appreciated commission!

Have a good one folks!

https://www.deviantart.com/hrvojesilic/art/The-Enslaved-ancient-860488011



https://www.deviantart.com/pika-la-cynique/art/BETWEEN-A-Most-Wretched-Hug-860674738

Spoiler

Who's acquired and read Lixxle 's novel BETWEEN yet? The paperback is available!! All the giggles and squee. I got my copy and it is so, so lovely and chonky.


Another pic drop from the illustrations. It's kinda hard to keep your imposing Shadow King act on track when the elderly twin witches of the decidedly obstructive Middleton coven decide you really just need a hug. And may or may not be copping a feel but surely not?...


and infodump - copied over from her fb fanpage:

***For US readers ***
'Between' can be found for $19.99 on:
* Amazon: www.amazon.com/Between-Chronic…
* Or, if you prefer to purchase from indie bookstores, you can purchase it via Indiebound: bookshop.org/.../between-97817…
***For Australian/NZ readers***
It turns out that most retailers are doubling or tripling the recommended retail price (BASTARDS! I'm looking at you, Dymocks, Booktopia *shakes fist at sky*) which is already high enough at $29.99 (thanks to the ridiculous printing costs in Australia).
I'm trying to find the lowest possible price for you. But for now, these are your best options:
* Amazon.com.au (a little more expensive than Book Depository due to the shipping from the US but possibly more reliable): www.amazon.com.au/Between-L-St…
* Book Depository (which ships free worldwide but I haven’t purchased from here before; the reviews mention long Covid delays so beware!): www.bookdepository.com/Between…
For those in Europe, check the Amazon page in your country.

*****

Lorn and Sasha (c) L. L. Starling

https://www.deviantart.com/tsabo6/art/Autumn-lash-858856490



https://www.deviantart.com/crowsrock/art/Elf-Archer-860909681



https://www.deviantart.com/crowsrock/art/Unnatural-Wave-860385996

 

https://www.deviantart.com/shabazik/art/Where-were-you-793111655

Spoiler

The metal door of the home was slid silently, and in the shadows, entered a figure. He smiled. Nobody was there waiting.

He crossed the door, and he was leaving his mantle, a cold voice called.

"Where were you?"

He didn't answered at first.

"SO?"

"Isn't funny, this?" he finally said. "Normally it's ME the one left to wait in the house alone, as you are out without a word, drinking and partying with your friends."

She ignored his critique. She was a drow woman, he a drow man, after all. He was supposed to wait home for her.

"YOU were in the forum? Right?! With all these other crazy activists?!" the angered wife said.

"And what if I was?" the husband answered.

"Did you go around showing your balls with political messages written in them, showing off to the decent people?!!"

"Wha-what?! No!! And what if I did, anyway?!!"

"COME ON! You are a married man! Father of a family! It's not your place to go to the forum, to do silly demands!"

"I go to the protests in the forum, PRECISELY because I'm a married man and father of a family! I'm doing this thinking in OUR son!"

"Son you neglect, for going to the forum!"

"A son who have a mother as well! And fighting for the rights of males isn't some silly demands!"

"AGHH! You are so infuriating! I mean, I GET when there was something IMPORTANT to fight for! But you guys already have citizenship, vote, right of property! What more could you even be asking for now, by the Goddesses?!"

"You even asking, shows why drows need machism!"

"You know what? I'm done with this crap. What you need, is some good leashing"

"And THANKS to our protests, a wife can no longer beat her husband, unless the matriarch of the family approves! And see? This is why we need to protest for males rights!"

"You are a silly man! This whole thing is silly! We are not some naked barbarians of the surface! We are DROW! This is just the way of the society! I mean, come on, we even got one of our ELECTED QUEENS to be a male, for the goddess sake! What more could you possibly want?!

"Sorry for doing something when MATRIARCHY OPRESS US"

"I don't see no one lifting a finger for the rights of other drow males in other cities!"

"The time will come! But first, we have to fight for our rights here, in Orlytar!"

Edit 2020.01.11: Finished!

Random crappy idea to develope a bit more one of the northern drow civilizations of the underworld of Kazrrad, the Republic of Orlytar.
Was struggling to decide what to do for 's past birthday, and this came to be. Still need to do a proper gift for him, of course. Some ideas for Orlytar as well came from and

ORLYTAR
Orlytar was a drow city-state of the underworld of Kazrrad, situated in the north-east.

Founded at the 11.000 b.a.H, it was one of the Thirteen Drow Cities.

It was destroyed by the dwarves during the dwarven Wars, but will be later refounded.

By the Middle Human age, it had a population of 60.000 inhabitants in the city, and the civilization, 205.000 drows.

The inhabitants of Orlytar were known as either orly or orlytari.



THE DROW CITY OF ORLYTAR
Orlytar was a drow city-state of the underworld of Kazrrad, situated in the north-east.

Founded at the 11.000 b.a.H, it was one of the Thirteen Drow Cities.

It was destroyed by the dwarves during the dwarven Wars, but will be later refounded.

By the Middle Human age, it had a population of 60.000 inhabitants in the city, and the civilization, 205.000 drows.

The inhabitants of Orlytar were known as either orly or orlytari.


History
The Old Orlytar
Orlytar was originally founded at the 11.000 b.a.H, being one of the Thirteen Drow Cities. During the Dwarven Wars, the city was destroyed.

The new Orlytar
After the Age of Calamities, descendants of the Old Orlytar would refound once again the drow city, which while shared the name and had the descendants of the original city as their founders, wasn't in the same location: for long, the ruins of Orlytar remained said to be a cursed place, inhabited by ghosts and to be avoided.

The new Orlytar city state was founded as a safe haven for drows escaping the age of calamities, in a section of Kazrrad that had been relatively unscathed by the quakes and tremors. In its early years, it prospered on the production of mushrooms, which will became both a staple food of orlys, and other mushroom variants where used to produce spices and hallucinogenic drugs.

Olrytar achieved territorial conquests in the northeast of Kazrrad, coming to clashes with Ched'l Sulho and Abathagan.

As the city grew, it's economy diversified, and Orlytar became home to a wealthy merchant class, who patronized renowned art and architecture within the city.

The New Orlytar was a republic, ruled traditionally by two queens, who were elected by members of the Great Concul of Orlytar, the city-state's parliament. The ruling class was an olygarchy of merchants and aristocrats, and the orly citizens generally supported the system of governance, with the city-state enforcing strict laws.

The rise of Ched'l Sulo and defeats suffered agaist them marked the beginning of Orlytar's decline. Later, the rise of Zaghäl would make Orlytar a client state of the Dark Elf King.

Politics
In the early years of the Orlytar republic, the Queens of Olrytar ruled Orlytar in an autocratic fashion, with only each queen serving as a counter-weight to the decisions of the other.

These queens, elected, served for life, but couldn't inherit the dual thrones to their descendants: but in a practical way, some queens killed their co-rulers, and choose their own co-governor and their successors.

To try to stop these practices of political assessination, it was established that at the death of one of the queens died, the surviving one as well lost the crown, being elected two new queens: this would proof however dificult, when one of the queens died in a war with the dwarves, and the other, having to resign, left Orlytar without command and in the middle of political turmoil for the election of a succesor.

It was then decided, that rather than to be held for-life, the office of Queen of Orlytar was to be temporal in nature instead, for a period of 48 years since the election.

Aside of that, later their powers were limited bt a pledge they had to take when elected. As resuylt, powers were shared with the Great Council, composed of members taken from the main families of Orlytar.

Orlytar followed a mixed government model, combining monarchy in the queens, aristocracy in the senate, and a a "democracy" with the families in the majjor council.

By the 23th century, after the collapse and defeat of the Dark Legion of Demons in the First War of the Power, which had been supported by the Queens, the families further diminished the Queen's powers by establishing a Minor Council and a supreme tribunal: these institutions would form the central body of government.

Later, the govenment body was suplemented by boards of advisors on executed government police, military affairs, commerce and colonies, forming the de facto executive body of the Republic.

There was established as well the Inquisition of Orlytar, with the state Iniquistors established by the tribunal not to oversee religious matters, but instead to guard the security of the republic, by means of espionage, counterespionage, internal surveillance and a network of informers, they ensured that Orlytar did not come under the rule of a single clan, family or political faction

Near the end of the 24th century, male political activism resulted in the extension of citizenship to male drows, which resulted later in the election of males as Queen of Orlytar (it wasn't used King of Orlytar, as a king was expected to be a powerless consort, married with a queen).

Orlytari Elections
Since the refoundation of Olrytar, there was a conscious effort by the orlytari to avoid that a single drow amassed all the public power, laws trying to limit the ability of queens to choose their succesors.

For this, by the 2100 they implemented an electoral system that consisted a series of five succesive elections, and in each one of them was choosen by a raffle, choosing random citizens to vote for candidates to queens, succesively eliminating electors and choosing new ones, until in a final raffle was formed a group of 80 (later 81, after a very embarassing draw, and the result of three Queens), who finally selected the Queen.

This system was established to try to avoid that the most powerful and wealthy families used their influence, and to avoid that some of them tried to seize the government or form a dynasty.