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billiambabble — Lewis Chessmen
Published: 2015-06-03 16:13:10 +0000 UTC; Views: 923; Favourites: 4; Downloads: 8
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Description
Based loosely on the Lewis Chess pieces.Fineliner pen on paper. IPad photo + Vintage Photo App for background.
The final scans might be used as "face cards" in a deck of normal playing cards.
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Comments: 2
I like your take on those iconic pieces; you capture their "just the other side of weird" expression really well.
I suppose they probably have characteristic period features, or whatever an art historian would call them, but whenever I see photos of the Isle of Lewis pieces, I can't get over their sad/crazy gazes. And I have to wonder, what did the sculptor(s) envision them looking like? Fierce warriors and serious nobles, no doubt, but perhaps also: veterans haunted by traumas experienced in their battles? And did their original owners/players take those somber expressions for granted? Or did they recall a specific bit of history?
Or did these pieces evoke some irreverent chuckling back in those days, too: "Methinks the king needs a little more fiber in his diet!" "Stop staring at me like that--and lower your spear, knave!" "Oh, bother; my husband's declared war again. I wonder how long it'll take for him to panic and send me out there to clean it all up for him." "STOP. STARING!"
(...And suddenly I'm wishing for a Terry Gilliam animation along those lines...)
Anyways, nice work on these! They're some of my favorite chess artefacts, and it's fun to see them done in your style. Any chance they'd show up in the Inked Adventures?
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Aren't the expressions strange? Tis the weight of responsability, I reckon. I like your veteran idea. It's like all the odd hand gestures in medieval illuminations - there's a semiotic language there. Maybe these stoic expressions were similar - or just a traditional method of representation. I don't think I'll be using these images for any floor plan products or RPG accessories, except in the most general way, i.e. these pictures or similar will be on normal playing cards, which can be used as a prop or game mechanic in tabletop play, but they will be, still, nontheless, playing cards. Although now you're making me wonder if I could draw monsters in this style as cut out miniatures. Rats. That's all I need... more projects ... 
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