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Bakuel — Bard Lyra and Kern Bon Bon
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Published: 2014-03-17 07:41:32 +0000 UTC; Views: 9233; Favourites: 509; Downloads: 446
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Description
Oh sure you could sit closer to the fire with the nobles, heroes and big wigs. Or you could hang in the background here. With the cool kids. Plenty of room.Happy Saint Patrick's day!
I just figured out that today was Saint Patrick's day about 10 hours ago, so I had to stay up all night and get something out there. I actually used to ignore the day until I went to a university where it was a bigger deal. Anyway, this is a rougher one, as it was made in one session. About 7 hours or so. Usually I work on a piece over a couple of days in 2 or 3 hour sessions. So as rough as it is, I'm just happy I could stick with it and get something. Yay for baby steps.
So here is Lyra as a bard and Bon Bon as a kern (basically a common Irish soldier). Sure we could go with more popular images of Irish culture, but that wouldn't be as fun.
Only Lyra has the magical pony anatomy to play the harp like that. And no, that isn't a proper Celtic harp, but by the time I realized it, I was already too far in to start over. It's a magical harp that alternate universe Gaelic Bard Lyra made herself. And Bon Bon's sword is far too ancient when kern's are medieval. But I digress.
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Comments: 43
After some stories told and few kegs of porters drank, they go raze some nearby villages, hehe. 
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^_^ oooh love it, I'll have to get this to a few friends of mine who I know like Lyra/Irish stuff.. Lyra's face looks ^_^ daww and and that detail on the hand rail really cool!
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Thank you!
I hope your friend likes it too! And doesn't mind the fantasy non-Celtic harp...
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I know she will adore it.. ^_^ she really likes the Lyra-Bon shipment.. Just waiting for her to get a compy running so she can get back into IRC C:
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Why is everyone drawing Lyra for Saint Patrick's day? Sure, Lyra is awesome (But not as awesome as Bon Bon), but she doesn't fit the theme at all.
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I don't know if there is any conspiracy to draw Lyra for Saint Patricks day. It's probably because she's green. I just did a quick search for Lyra + Saint Patrick's day on this site and with google images and they both only brought up a handful of images. I did find out there was a comic cover with Lyra and Spike though. But I don't think that it's that big of a meme.
I personal just did it because she's green and she plays a lyra, which is like a harp. And in my mind, harps and bards are very Irish. I was mimicking the high medieval image here, www.docs.is.ed.ac.uk/docs/lib-… It has a harp playing bard with a fur cloak. It was also snowing here at the time so I wanted a warmer image. Also bards in medieval Gaelic society could move around a lot and some famous ones worked for multiple kings and chieftains. So I imagined more of an eccentric, magical character, compared to those more settled homebodies. And in the fandom, Lyra is often thought of as more eccentric with Bon Bon being the straight mare.
I don't think that there is any Irish pony so no pony really fits the theme so to speak. Lyra (and Bon Bon) are just as good as a ponies as any.
Just a question, but what pony do you think would work at Saint Patrick's day? And why don't you think Lyra is well suited?
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Maybe Berry Punch from the fanfics is most suited because of her passion for beer. (Sorry if that was nativist of me.)
Lyra isn't suited well because she never showed her Irish traditional colors.
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That's would be a good one! But in my opinion, ponies don't really show off that many nationalistic or ethnic colors.
Just to be contrary, Berry might be German, which is also a place of great beer. Or she could be Italian or French and love that wine, grapes are berries anyway. Likewise Lyra may be Greek, or Egyptian or middle eastern with her lyre. I don't think it matters that much in the grand scheme of things. If I saw a good image of Berry Punch on Saint Patrick's day partying away in a pub, I for one would like it. Also a good image of Applejack, or Twilight or any pony really.
Being a medieval/ancient age minded person I went with a medieval culture reference, other artists will follow their own preferences and bring them to the forefront when drawing. For instance, I would never draw Lyra in green gear like on the IDW cover, ugh.
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I DO want to see Applejack and Trixie in a green outfit.. Probably because they're my favorite ponies...
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Lyra has best eyes.
Or at least some of the better ponie eyes I've drawn.
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We thank you very much, having drawn this great art for your audience. peace and love.
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She's just happy to see someone else approach her, Bon Bon probably fell asleep 30 minutes into the party.
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What a wonderful work you've done.
I like the composition and the pose in it. How can she play with her hooves? With practice.
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Thank you!
She could use magic to play like the other unicorns, but she's just too awesome for that.
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Omg, you are so skillful 0_o
I definitely like your style
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Thank ya kindly!
And thanks for the fave!
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Heh! Great picture. Makes me want to go to a Ren Faire.
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Thanks!
I actually haven't been to a Ren Faire in years.... I need to get to one, one of these days.
And thanks for the fave, too!
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First thing to say is well done in pumping this out in one long session. Especially on such short notice.
I don't know why, but having a plain background worked really well. Besides making it look like a simple wall and floor board it also lets us focus on the *mane* feature of this piece. And on that note Lyra is looking really pretty today. The shading on the hair is done extremely well, especially on her left cheek. Amazing. I really liked how you made her look at us rather than the harp or Bon Bon, this way it drags us into the picture rather than making us feel separated and distant.
Her pose whilst playing the harp is perfect. I'm sure some people would have trouble drawing her in such a pose. I love how you did the coat as well. It was done in such a way that I can see the furry texture,(looks pretty warm).
Bon Bon lying on the floor looks really cute. Once again her mane is really pretty and the way it folds over onto her face showing laziness and some disorder was clever and funny. The simple sketching on the sword sheath is nice as well. (that's a sword right?) Last thing... That bubble
Really sweet calming picture to look at. Glad I saw it.
Sincerely,
Soulyman
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I'm glad you noticed the hair, I'm still experimenting with that and the level of detailed in the hair. Especially with more cartoony hair like Bon Bon's curls. How much is too much? Too little?
Believe it or not, the fur coat was one of the first things that I knew had to be in the picture. In matter of fact, one of the main points of the picture was to see if I could paint warm fur. It was snowing/hailing outside.
The background is kinda of funny, originally it was going to be more detailed. With a more defined brick wall, but I couldn't do it without it becoming distracting, so then I decided to just keep it basic. I guess with more personal portrait a basic background is better in the end.
The sword is a faux ancient La Tene style sword and scabbard. I was going to go with a medieval style sword, but the examples I dug up just weren't as fun. I mean, it's a wooden scabbard that I got to doodle on!
Thank you for the comment!
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Wooo lyra! Love it. And Bon Bon is just so adorable.
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Thank you!
Sleeping Bon Bon is best type of Bon Bon.
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It totally wouldn't be as fun. You chose your theme well, Bakuel. Props to you.
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Yes! More obscure historical references! Yay!
Thank you for the kind words and the fave!
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By gorr, it is Saint Patrick's day! It's amazing how I don't pay attention to things like that.
Nice little illustration. I really dig the warm, quiet feeling. You can really imagine the harp playing softly while sounds of partying can be heard in the distance...
Also: stupid sexy Lyra.
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Yes! Saint Patrick's day is at a useful time, the space between New Years and Easter is one long drought of celebrations in my opinion. The place where I live now doesn't really pay much attention to it though. Which is good in a way. Green decor can work, but most people make a mess of it.
The sad part is, I found a 2 hour playlist of modern (but traditional-ish) Celtic music. By the end of the seven hours my sanity was reaching a breaking point. In the beginning Lyra's smile was coy, but by the seventh hour it was sadistic as she plucked the strings on her harp. I had to turn the music off for a few last minute touch ups. I didn't want her to turn into evil bard enchantress Lyra.
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I never actually celebrated Saint Patrick's Day... probably because it's not very popular in France. Bars and pubs everywhere advertise it to attract clients, but apart from that, it goes by unnoticed. For example, we don't do the whole "green" thing. A pity, I know.
You gotta admit evil bard enchantress Lyra is a promising concept! But probably not very fitting for this picture... although it could have been Lyra playing the harp to attract hapless visitors who then come by her side to fall asleep... Foreveeeer!
Such is the mind-breaking power of the old Celtic songs...
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Now I can't even look at my own picture the same way... Bon Bon is sleeping the cute sleep... OF DEATH!
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Exactly. That small bubble on her nose is her soul floating away.
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I'll be back tomorrow. My lengthy comment will come, just wait.
Sincerely,
Soulyman
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Excellent! I look forward to your comment.
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Thank you!
And thanks for the fave, too!
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