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MNat — The Highwayman
Published: 2008-11-20 04:04:11 +0000 UTC; Views: 6358; Favourites: 128; Downloads: 0
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Do you like tragic British romances that end in bloody death? Who doesn't?!This is my latest illustration for my Illustration II class: a scene from Alfred Noyes' poem "The Highwayman" (one word!). The poem was also made into a lovely song by Loreena McKennitt. Its a HUGE painting, so I took a photo and did lighting adjustments in Photoshop Elements.
Weird perspective is weird! @.@
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Comments: 61
I've featured this in my latest journal: fav.me/d74aja7
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A stunning painting for a stunning song/poem! I love the perspective.
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Back, he spurred like a madman, shrieking a curse to the sky,
With the white road smoking behind him and his rapier brandished high!
Blood-red were his spurs in the golden noon; wine-red was his velvet coat,
When they shot him down on the highway,
Down like a dog on the highway,
And he lay in his blood on the highway, with the bunch of lace at his throat.
This poem has been a favorite of mine for a long time, and the song also, the moment I saw this piece my heart leapt, illustrating this moving poem has been something I wanted to do for a long time and I was sad so few knew it. You did wonderfully on this, the dramatic angle and the motion are incredible wonderful work!
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There's a song???????????
omg! thats awesome!!! could you send me a link to it?
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Of course. [link] This is the version I know, she leaves out one single verse of the poem but to someone who doesn't know it it is fine, and still keeps to the story, course being 10 minutes as this is... I don't blame her cutting the single verse of the stable hand in the beginning. Its still a fantastic song. I do hope you enjoy it.
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Thank you so much!
In fact, when I did this illustration for class we had to include a passage of text overlaid atop the painting with acetate, as if it were a page from a book. You pulled the exact same lines as I did 
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You're very welcome and how cool! Yeah this was awesome, made me listen to the song again and re read the poem. You did a fantastic job on it, you should be very proud.
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Those Romantic poets were always spinning sad love stories. It was a time when IT'S NOT ROMANTIC UNLESS EVERYONE DIES HORRIBLY XD
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Yes, and it's sad because even if a lot of beautiful well-known love stories are sad I don't think all sad love stories are beautiful or romantic, and a lot of happy love stories are beautiful and romantic, at least nowadays.
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I agree. I like story endings that make sense. Sometimes a sad ending makes sense, and other times a happy ending make sense. I'm not really a fan of all-out sad endings. Rather than an outright sad ending, I like bittersweet endings: things aren't PERFECT but the reader is still left with HOPE.
There are just some books that end as cesspools of despair and I have to wonder WHY DID THE AUTHOR WRITE THIS? TO INDUCE SUICIDE?! Most everyone loves a happy ending, but sometimes a happy ending seems trite and forced. And then again, sometimes a sad ending gives one the impression that the author just wasn't clever enough to get their characters out of the problems they created for them any other way.
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"I like story endings that make sense. (...) I like bittersweet endings: things aren't PERFECT but the reader is still left with HOPE."
Exactly ! Hope and Hapinness even if things are not perfect ... That's my favorites kind of endings ^^
It's positive and realistic.
XD ! True
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Actually, I believe the first person to put this poem to song was Phil Ochs.... Lovely picture either way!
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I haven't heard the Phil Ochs version. I should look it up. Thanks!
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I love both the poem and the song! I'm so glad someone has captured an image out of them both! I love the perspective; I feel like it really gives the sense of motion to it. Great job!
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I read the poem for the first time today in school, actually, and after a while the teacher pulled up the song. Wonderful piece, it really captures the drama of the tragic end to the highwayman.
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Okay, this is the BEST interpretation of the last section of the poem I have EVER seen. MAD PROPS!
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Amazing perspective... And yay! People who enjoy the song!
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Thanks!
It is an awesome song O.O Makes me cry...(sniffle.)
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I'm thinking of making a video to the poem. This picture is going on my list!
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Well thanks
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Got the song on my MP3- had it there for years, so as I've grown better in english, I'd come to understand more and more of the poem. And now, I get it all (almost)
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Wonderful painting!
I love the song and the poem.
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The song makes me cry! 
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Love it! I'm actually listening to the song right now. This fits amazingly with it, let me say! Great mood!
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Thanks! 
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You are most welcome! Your art is lovely!
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Hi!
This is a copy-paste message to let you know I've featured this piece in an News Article: art inspired by the music of Loreena McKennitt--> HERE
Check it out if you want to see more artwork related to her, and +fav the article to spread the word!
Hope you like it
Julia.
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Thanks
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Wow. Beautiful. I love the poem and song, too.
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Wow... that's gorgeous. The way he's throwing his arm back so melodramatically totally fits with the poem and it's love of dramatic diction. And I love the lighting! It's like a burst of pain or surprise (to my synaesthetic brain it actually screams JOY!!! but I think pain or surprise better fit the situation).
Also, the way the whole image flows through the horse and out his up-flung hand is just made of win. I hope you did that on purpose. If you didn't just lie and say you did.
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I did do it on purpose! >.< I'm not even lying er anything! (@.@ and now she will never believe me! ALAS!)
Maybe the JOY comes from the fact that his immenant demise leads to an after-life reunion with his beloved Bess? As the poem goes...maybe? GO WITH ME ON THIS!
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That is quite beautiful. Captures the poem quite accurately.
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@___@ Good work on the textures and angle, I love the reckless care free feel this has.
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HOLY CLEMENCY HOLY CLEMENCY HOLY CLEMENCY!!!!!! This is INSANELY GORGEOUS. I absolutely love that angle it's just so . . .so gripping!! And his pose! And the horse! and those little dots of color! This is . . . . oh my gosh. *keels completely over*
And yeah, I LOVE that poem and song, too.
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Neddie! Yer alive! And you're complimenting me! YAY!
Where have you been,child? I miss your mad marker skills! >.< Don't let college eat you!
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Haha yay! 
Oh really?? Well yeah, I think it's absolutely amazing. @_@ YEAH the drama. You are such an expert at the drama.
HAHA! I've pretty much been eaten by college. x___x But right now I'm enjoying reading days without studying for my finals! Yay! Which means markers everywhere! xD
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