Monday, July 27, 2015

Silvanus

IF (Illustration Friday) 7/24/15, the topic was Nature.  It's been a while since I've posted anything, and not from lack of effort.  I've decided to take on more detailed projects, so I have still been keeping tabs on the IF topics (since they are great for stimulating ideas, and new projects), but I wanted to attempt a different direction this year with my work.  I decided to take a break from the more detailed piece I was working on, and simply make it my goal to bring something more 'simple' to completion (completion being the key word here). 
This particular piece I did was based on an sketch I had come across in an old sketchbook while I was looking for a different forgotten project.  The concept was initially for a story I was tinkering with formulating, and was inspired by a character from a 'Forgotten Realms' novel I had read in my youth.
While the image itself can arguable be tied to many myths, faiths, and vast amount of similar portrayals throughout literature and film, it is primarily that of 'Silvanus', an Elder God of Nature, who ironically was adapted from Celtic Mythology (if my research is on point).  In the novel, Silvanus appeared as a stag to one of his acolytes, in response to her prayers to heal a withering forest.  In my portrayal I gave Silvanus ethereal eyes (to convey his divinity), and added the multi-seasonal leaves (to depict his influence over nature).  The image is entirely digital, done in Painter.


UPDATE 3/26/18:
To purchase this image, please visit my etsy store here:
Silvanus