HP Tarot (ART) 7 of Wands

[tripperfunster]

This is for the hp_tarot. My prompt was the 7 of wands. The theory being (and I'm paraphrasing here) that the person on the card is sort of 'One against Seven' and yet, he somehow has the upper hand.

I had originally planned on drawing Seven Wands pointed at Snape, and made them 'recognizable' from the hands, like Dumbledore, Voldie, Harry, asst. death eaters, but the idea of drawing SEVEN HANDS became pretty stale, pretty quickly, so after searching the web for all sorts of different tarot decks, I found one of two men on horseback, and went, Yeah, Thestral!

and then, of course, forgot that Thestrals have wings, so I sort of squish-squashed them in there after I had already sketched and inked the whole thing out. *shakes fist at canon* I'm also not thrilled with how the rolled up parchment edges almost look like Thestral legs. NOT INTENTIONAL! Sevvie looks like he's put a quarter in the machanical horsie at the shopping mall. YEEEEE-HAW!

I also drew this about 20 times smaller than I usually draw things, as I just took my crappy sketch book to the YMCA and drew this whilst the kiddies played on the 'big climby thing'. I didn't really think until later, that sketch paper is for exactly that. Sketches. Not erasing, and inking and watercolours. grrr

Oh, and it's totally G rated. Sorry!

Comments

[ravenna-c-tan.livejournal.com]

I Love it! The scroll is particularly cool. And so Snape-y, your Severus.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_odella_/]

Wonderful! This is very lovely. :)

[kittehkat.livejournal.com]

Wow, do you absolutely hate this piece? It sounds like it! :(

Oh, fantastic! I really love the stacked wands on the bottom! And gah, all the fabric folds are fantastic! Powerful piece, Tripp!

[corvus-coronis.livejournal.com]

Very apt to choose Snape for that card - nicely done, too!

[klynie1.livejournal.com]

I think the thestral idea is fantastic! If you don't mind, I'm going to read it completely out of context of any other cards and interpret it as Snape having the upper hand on death against all odds. Hopeful in light of Book 7. ;) Plus, the card itself is beautiful. Honestly, I don't see any of the flaws you were worried about - it's very dynamic. I can feel the motion of the robes and the thestral's mane.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Watercolours are just perfect for parchment!

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Thank you. It was fun to do such a 'thematic' piece.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Hey, no prob! I'm a bit of a 'fat thumber' sometimes too! Keeps life interesting! ;^)

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

No! I guess I sort of meant DESPITE all the silly things that I bitched about up there, I'm pretty happy with this one. I think it really has a 'tarot' feel to it. I just wish I'd noticed that the parchment scrolls were exactly where the thestral's legs would have been. Kind of a silly oversight type thing that you don't notice until it's muuuch too late! :D

As for the stacked wands...I totally stole that from a tarot card! I mean *cough* it's totally tarot!canon!! *cough* ;^)

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm sure you're shocked that I chose to draw Snape! teehee

I think the prompt was originally someone else, but they were very kind to give me carte blanche on what I did.

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I LIKE your interpretation! Let's cross our fingers that you're right!!

[summerborn.livejournal.com]

Wow! Very impressive. It's great :D

[chiralove.livejournal.com]

Beautiful!

[lunalovepotter.livejournal.com]

Very nice! :)

[rubymiene.livejournal.com]

::loves:: The symbolism of the seven wands is very well done, they look kind of like bones...and the scroll details are great.

[lotrwariorgodss.livejournal.com]

Oo, this is nice! The hands would have been a cool idea, but I definitely like this one as well. The thestral looks great, and I didn't even notice the scroll thing til I read your description, so I think it looks great! Wonderful job

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It was neat to work on something so small for a change. I tend to draw everything huge!

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :D

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

thank you. and thanks for commenting!

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

thank you! The wands were my first try with 'frisk' which is this odd, gummy paint that you put down before you use the watercolours, then you peel it off when the paint is dry, and the orginal paper colour comes through. They were so small that it would have been hell to not paint over them by mistake!

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Despite my bitching in the notes, I'm actually happy with the way it came out too. Thanks for stopping by!

[lampblack.livejournal.com]

Very rich but elegant and spare style! I love the all inclusiveness of Snape against the unnamed adversaries. Lovely work!