Continuing on the mission to make 2012 mine, I completed a second ink today (don’t miss the first one, here). It was a challenge, in more ways than one, but I think it turned out well.
The ink is of a Lampade, from Greek mythology. Lampades were companions of the goddess Hecate, and were nymphs of the underworld. They held torches, the light of which could turn someone mad.
I took a little liberty with the “torch” idea, preferring a more magical idea. The first challenge of the piece, with a torch, is how the light plays off of everything. That meant lots of back and forth, even stepping back from the table slightly to get a good look at it.
The real challenge though was creating a female figure, which I don’t have enough practice at. There’s a certain sensuality that needs to be retained, even with a nymph of the underworld.
I chose to make the face skeletal, but I wanted the body to be far more traditional and less horrific. The nymphs were known for their beauty, even those of the underworld, and if I wasn’t going to show that in the face then I needed to show it in the body.
Whether I succeeded or not, fair reader, is up to you. Let me know what you think, as always.
Here is L is for Lampades, 5″ x 7″ on 140 lb. Cold Press. Click the image for a larger version.
