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IngvildSchageArt — Silmarillion - The Death of Feanor
#amras #amrod #caranthir #celegorm #curufin #feanor #maedhros #maglor #feanorians
Published: 2016-02-27 03:02:53 +0000 UTC; Views: 12076; Favourites: 236; Downloads: 48
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Here it is, the drawing I've been dreading to finish and publish. Ta-da!From left to right (and yes I had to keep notes when I sketched to make sure I remembered which character were which):
Maedhros - Celegorm - Caranthir - Maglor - Curufin - and Amras (I follow the theory that Amrod burned in the ships, and truthfully I had no more room on the page...) - and of course Fëanor being carried between them.
When I read this scene and got this image in mind immediately, I brushed it away, thinking it could not be done, because I have never drawn anything of this level before. The details and the number of people alone frightened me and made me doubtful, but once I started I fund it was only a matter of actually drawing. Once you break it down into pieces and dont think of the drawing as a whole, it all went a lot easier.
There are many mistakes, mostly anatomical, but also my skill of costume design is non-existent, so I do not like the clothes much, except perhaps Maedhros' and Fëanor's armors, they look somewhat how I wanted.
Now concering the characters and their design.
Maedhros: As the oldest and leader of the sons I chose to have him at the head of the trail, looking after them as they take their father off the battle field (ignore awkward background attempts). His expression I tried to make somewhat conflicted, as it is my understanding that Maedhros held his father in contempt for all he did, and yet he has a deep love for him as does all sons whom look up their fathers. I also therefore did not have him help carrying him, but carrying his helmet and sword instead as a symbol of his still great respect for his father.
Celegorm: truthfully I do not have many thoughts about Celegorm, though it's my impression that he holds his father dear and is of the same nature, quick to anger and to revenge, but I also think he has a conscience and regret most of what he does in blinding anger. So in this depiction I decided to have him carry his father as I believe him to have most of thoughts of love and not so much contempt as Maedhros and Amras.
Caranthir: He too I see as very respectful of his father, like in temper and regard of valour, and his image, so being the one who carries most of him fits in my mind. (and do forgive the naked arms, I'm sure that was very unheard of in First Age fashion, I just couldnt help myself!) As his nickname is "the dark" I do think his seriousness in this scene fits well and his responsibility for carrying his father.
Maglor: In my mind Maglor is just a really kind hearted, well meaning guy (I'm sure this is wrong but compared to the other Feanorians thats what I think) He is also said to be the one most similar to his mother in nature and heart, so I feel like his love and devotion to his father, despite all his cruelty, is shown completely in the moment of his death. With the compassion and love of his mother he would forgive all else in the last moments of his father's life and help his brothers.
Curufin: Again, I do not know much about this character, personality wise, but I do like his story of independence and his part in helping Haleth and her people when they were in need. But again he is the one said to be MOST like Fëanor in spirit, sharing his fathers-name, so his emotion would be most furious and emotional at this time. He is helping to carry his father's feet, which in my mind represents his wish for his father's feet not to drag against the ground, symbolically supporting him fully and all he have done throughout his life. I do also think he is the one who would turn quickly to thoughts of revenge and honoring his father after this.
Amras: Aaand then there was Amras, the poor fellow. He is the only one not touching, not even looking at his father in this moment. This is firstly because I had no chance of having the space to do anything else with him, but also I think it fits his story. I follow the "unfinished tales" version where his brother died in the ship burning at the hand of their father, so I imagine his resentment is constant from that moment forth and he can never make himself forgive Fëanor for his role in his brother's death. But he is acting as a form of guard for his brother's whom he still loves and stands with them in this moment of sadness in all their lives. He is conflicted of course, because it is his father and as all elven children he do harbour a deep love for his father, but it is clouded by his anger.
Gosh, I definitely do not blame you if you do not feel like reading all of this but these are my thoughts on this drawing, the most intense drawing of my life, flawed as it may be. Really annoys me that Amras went outside the paper, but thats poor preparation for you.. However I am just baffled that I managed to finish this at all. I actually postponed it for about a month, as most was drawn by the end of January, except for Amras and Curufin, which I struggled most with.
And I have never wished for a scanner more in my life, but this crappy photo will have to do for now. I hope you can appreciate the drawing anyways, and do give me your thoughts on it. I do love a lively discussion about theories, so dont be shy.
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All characters ©
Tolkien
Art ©
Me - Ingvild-s (deviantart) - iggys_art (IG) - IngvildSchageart (Tumblr)
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Comments: 52
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Eff my life..... I'm feeling bad for Feanor right now o.O This is what happens when you have excessive anger issues
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Great job, as always! I really loved the various symbolism. However, the story with Haleth was Carnistr, not Curifinwe. (Yes, I prefer their quenya names... I find them prettier...)
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Thank you, that is very nice to hear, although I really think I've come a long way in only a year, and looking at it now, I do see how I rushed a lot to finish it, and I wish I could do it again, properly, but that would be a very major undertaking, and with another huge silm project on the way, I should reserve a bit. But thank you, nevertheless! (and yes I know it is Caranthir, not Curufin, guess I forgot to change the description here!^^') (and I do not prefer the Quenya names, but that is majorly because I am rather new to the fandom (3 years is new, right?! I feel like a cave-man who has just discovered there's a whole world out there x) and I have a lot more to learn yet) and there are so many names I still dont know, so keeping to the original are much easier, or I would mix up all the names too much!)
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Awesome job with this one! You should be very proud of this artwork!
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I should have dedicated many more hours and advanced the technique before drawing this, but I am still happy about it, and very happy you like it!^^
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Wow!!! Uru's amazing your job. I love The faces of The sons of Fëanor, again. It's amazing
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Thank you so much! I am really glad you like the faces as I did struggle a lot with them to make them look how I wanted ^^
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*clutches heart* Iggy i will never get over how cute that Maglor is Your design for him is my fave
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Oh I am so utterly happy to know what you love him so much here! To be perfectly honest he is one of my least favorite sons of this drawing, he just didn not get as I wanted him to but knowhing that you love him so give me great pleasure, knowing that I cant have done him that wrong!
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Omg sorry this comment is so old, it got hidden in the feed 
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haha no worries, I've completely neglected my feed lately as well so 
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Haha it doesnt look rushed at all to me <3 and im sure everyone agrees with me, youre underestimating yourself Iggy <33 this is one is one of my faves and the best Feanor death scene i've ever seen, and so its so beautiful. Like no lie, its BEAUTIFUL. As are ALL of your art :3 this one is my super duper fave XD
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I take my hat off to you. Beautifully well done.
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Thank you so much my dear 
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Utrolig bra som alltid! Liker virkelig å se på linjene dine! Så mange kjekke men <3 A ma gaaad!
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Hihi tusen takk!!
Og jeg er veldig veldig glad for at du liker linjene mine, deg har begynt å gå opp for meg at jeg er veldig glad i å tegne gode linjer, så det er bra at de blir godt tatt imot!^^'
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Uhoh. Yes, I remember that lost tales version, where one of the Ambarussa died sleeping on one of the ships when Feanor incinerated them. That was probably even too scary for Tolkien so it didn't end up in the Silmarillion.
I agree it's hard to put many persons in one picture but all still having their part, their vailidity to the picture*. But it worked out. And I like that you elaborated reasons and thoughts about every character and why he's standing where and doing what and why. I wonder about the technique you used here. It seems like pencil or charcoal but I assume your logo in the upper left corner was done by a digital punch-out?
Well done art with lots of details!
* Though there are some classic painters that managed larger number of people in one picture. For one there are those Wimmelbilder (teeming picture), though they tend to have a messy atmosphere but are interesting though, once you decide to explore all the little sub-scenes. You often find that in some children's books, even more modern ones like some of Richard Scarry's books. On the other hand Ilya Repin's "Reply of the Zaporozhian Cossacks" came to my mind (years ago, I wrote at school about it). It contains a lot of people but they are all connected somehow.
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Actually he went back into the ship because he wanted to return to Valinor and his kin, but furiated by this Fëanor set fire to it anyways. That is the version I remember anyways, but I am sure there are quite a few! And considering how dark all of Tolkien's stories are, (...I mean Children of Húrin *sobs violently*..) I do not think this part got cut due to Tolkien's feelings, maybe more because it was not so essential to the story of Silmarillion, because the twins are not very central in the ordeal with the Silmaril and we rarely get to know about them, I think Christopher decided to exclude it from the Silmarillion of necessity. But that is just my thought!
However, I am very glad you like the drawing! And thank you for the wonderful words.
The technique I used was simple graphite pencils on slightly heavy (180grams I think) acidfree paper. The technique I use with these kind of drawings is that I sketch everything out with a very light pencil, H2-3, and work out all the details so that I see and can change anything I need to. (also very important to use something under your hand when sketcghing like this to avoid smuging, I always use a piece of paper of the same kind as Im drawing on, moving it as I need while drawing.) After finishing all the details I line it out with a heavier pencil, what works best for you, from HB to 4B, 4B in this case, and after having lined out everything I use a lighter pencil again to shade, H or 2H is best for this kind of shading without smuging, with softer pencils to do the darker hair.
Truthfully I cannot say that this is what I do everytime, because I always adjust my style with the kind of drawing Im using, sometimes I will sketch with soft pencils and smudge-shade, others I would only use hard pencils to get a clean shade, also I have used brushes to smudg slightly softer pencil marks. So my advice is generally to do what feels right for you! 
And yes the logo and truhtfully the contrast level is tweaked in Photoshop, as this was a picture taken with my phone and very cruel to the quality of the drawing. So I hope that answers your questions
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I was very saddened by the scene, but I found it also very profound and meaningful, very honorable and valiant all at once, so I cannot but love it and the way it was written! ^^ I hope you like the drawing tho..
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So well done! I can understand that this would be a daunting image to attempt, but I think you did a fabulous job!
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Thank you ever so much!! Im so glad to hear that you understand both the terror and dificulty I faced with creating this drawing, and I am very pleased you enjoy it!
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Wonderful concept and execution! The brothers are my favourite Tolkien elves because they are not as one-dimensional as many of the others. You're explanation for why and where each brother is placed is really well thought out, and I commend you for it.
Definitely a favourite.
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Thank you so much! The brothers, and truly the Noldor in general, are so wonderful and complicated characters! There's nothing I hate more than one-dimentional main characters that are simply good or bad. That is perhaps why i LOVE Tolkien's world so much, there are so many complications and I dont feel like any of his characters are one or the other, if you understand me!
And I am very glad you like the drawing! It was truly so terrifying, and I have no idea how I managed to finish it, but I am very glad i did!
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I've got to say I'm just as impressed by your drawing as I am by your thoughts behind it.
The composition and the study of characters work so well together and my heart aches for poor
Amras because even if he has more than enough reason to resent his father, he'll probably wish later on
that he had done more in this moment than stand guard. The expressions in general are really well drawn
and convey the emotions. Also there's something that I absolutely love about the way Celegorm is holding
Feanor ^^
Actually I like most of the costume choices. I'm someone who's slightly terrified by the prospect of having
to put someone into clothes (which might or might not be the reason why I mostly end up with naked people)
and you made it seem like everything somehow fits into the era and the world and to the pieces the other figures
wear. Maybe you could have gone for a more "uniform" look on them but that would be an afterthought.
I really don't mind the bare arms though xD
There are a few anatomical errors, though none all that serious in my opinion, and Maedhros is in
comparision not tall enough (
Keep going
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And I am very glad to hear it!! I always feel that reading the thoughts behind an artists piece enhances the vision the artist was trying to bring across, and if they do not put much explanation behind it is seems rather meaningless to me. But thats just me, so sometimes my artist descriptions tend to be a bit too long!^^'
But yes, Amras' is a tragic story, I cannot begin to understand how he would feel in such a moment, truthfully how he would feel about his father, as all elves have strong parents-children bonds, it must be very hard for him, and I agree he would hold a lot of regret for not doing more to help his brother's in this moment, but I do think he needed to take a stand and thats what he did.
Oh believe me, most of my character's sketches are naked (also without arms, because ALWAYS gets in the way when I draw x)), I HATE to draw clothes, but it's always good to challenge ones self, it is the only way to improve upon your talent! ^^
Yes, it really annoyed me that I didnt make Maedhros taller, and Amras small enough, but it was poorly planned, and thats all I can say as an excuse for it x) but I am very glad you like the drawing still! And thank you so much for your comment and points of view!^^
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Scenes with many people in it are very difficult to handle, especially if they interact – you did a brave job! If you have only SOME anatomy issues there, you’re good. They’re easier avoidable if you plan such a complicated scene very throughly, though.
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Oh so difficult... But I think I managed quite well, everything considered!^^' No, I definitely did not do enough planning for this, thats for sure, so thats definitely what Ill do next time, but thank you!! I am very glad that you like it! <3
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The mean thing is that you usually only know afterwards what else would have needed more planning.
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Thank you so much, sweetheart! <3
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Oh, golly. This is beautiful, and hit me right in the gut (I love Fëanor and his sons).
Really exceptional!
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Oh then we are two, and it was such a great feeling drawing this scene which is such an important moment in all their lives! Thank you so much, Im really glad you like it!^^
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It's so beautiful and tragic!
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My dear, what an exceptional artwork! This looks beyond beautiful, and I love how distinctive you made them all look!
Don't worry too much about costume design - in my eyes you created some really neat costumes here! Your skill definitely can not be described as non-existent!
One thing that bugs me a bit, but this is not something for you to improve upon, because this is your artistic vision, and I fully support and appreciate it, but gosh, am I a costume historian and I have to say - no way they'd have naked arms! Fashion aside, but they are princes going to battle - first, splendour and their importance requires the best battle suits, second, and most importantly, necessity and practicality! They wouldn't uncover their arms like that, and make them so vulnerable, especially since the arms wield the weapons and are fairly easy target to injure... oh, god, I'm sorry, I'm shutting up! This is not a fault of yours however, just my obsession with costume! Don't listen to me!
My favourite of them all are most definitely Maedhros and Caranthir! Just as I imagined them, you made their faces look beautiful and very much in-character! I also think that Curufin looks great, especially since you struggled with him so much!
I am not fully sold on Amras' design, however I completely agree with the role you gave him, and you reflections upon his feelings towards his father are mine exactly.
The only thing that bothers me a bit, and I hope you don't mind me pointing that out, is Maedhros right hand. It seems far too big, especially considering that it is the one further away from beholder's point of view. I know you probably acknowledge the anatomical errors, and that you see much more of them than I do, after all we're all our own worst critics, so I am sorry to bring it up, but I thought that this was one of the more obvious, and something that could be quite easily fixed in the next drawings, which I'm sure will be splendid!
But really, we all make mistakes, and apart from a few minor this piece is simply amazing! The effort and talent that went into it combined and you gave us a splendid work of art - again!
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Yes, I take absolutely full respeonsibility for the naked arms, I had no reason for drawing them like that, except that I will excuse it saying that while I was drawing their arms, with the full intent of covering them up, I coudlnt get myself to do it, because they were so beautiful, and you know I have a weak spot for naked arms.
I know you dont agree with my vision, and I respect that, but I wouldnt have changed it had I gotten the chance. I really like it, and I might have been slightly inspired by Spartacus which I have been watching recently. 
In general I REALLY struggled with the armors.. Because In my headcanon they have all very different armors as they resident in different places most of them, so I may have gone a bit overboard with trying to give them individual designs, which I realise was a bad idea, and ruins some of the coherency in the drawing, and it really bugs me, especially Curufin and Amras' armors, they are shit.
But yeah, the problems with Maedhros hands I also own completely, becasue I knew it was wrong from the very start, but somehow neglected to do anything about it, which also bugs me a bit. but again I hope its not too bad that it turns you off the drawing.
Thoug, after all the flaws and issues i have with this drawing it is BY FAR the best work I have ever done and I truly wanted this to establish myself among the great artist of the silmarillion fandom, of which there are MANY, and I feel, after all the feedback I have gotten on it, that I have somewhat succeeded, and its so daunting.. This have even gotten more than 550 notes on Tumblr, which is twice what my usual drawings get, so Im both freaking out and really really growing in confident, which i think I really needed at this point!
So thank you for your wonderful comment, my dear! Whom are to critique us truthfully if not our best friends?^^ 
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Thank you honey! As I said - I fully respect your vision concerning the battle suits - just something I'd have done differently, but it's no fault of yours.
Abd yes, this picture is among your very best up to date, and no, no mistake in it is big or bothersome enough to turn me off! I love it, as I love you, my sweet friend!
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this is absolutely amazing!!! I love the story that goes with it (though it actually really sad) and in my opinion your thoughts are quite interesting and understandable. Also I think that you've done a great job on their expressions and their armour is wonderfully done too
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Thank you, so much!! Yes, the scene is very emotional, but to me it was also a moment of great valour and honor in a way, if that is understandable. I am very glad you like the drawing, as it was very daunting and extremely hard for me to do, especially their armours gave me a lot of greif
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I see what you mean
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Excellent work! I do not blame you for being afraid of doing a piece like this. It's scary trying to do a drawing that you spend a lot of work on, knowing that at anytime you could mess it up and possibly ruin the work you've already done and thus have to start over. It is a very complex piece and has many components that all have to fit together and look good as a whole, and I commend you for your effort! You did an amazing job! Keep up the great work!
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Oh, it was so scary!! Traditional art in itself is to me so daunting, as I am equally used to digital work and being able to go back if I do anything wrong, so attempting a drawing like this, on this scale, with traditional means was very very scary! Thank you so much for understanding, and for you wonerful comment! 
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