Drawing Maitimelia's Doodles

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

I love it! She appears worn and peaked, like someone who has lived with very little hope for a long time. Her hair seems thin and maybe oily, the skin around her eyes is dark, her cloak is tattered— her life has been difficult. And yet, here she is doing what last act she can to save her daughter and give her a better life, knowing her own is likely about to end.

This is such a good representation of her, I’d almost say it should be included in the novel if you were going to have any illustrations, or at the very least as part of an official collection of character sketches for it.

Aww, thanks! I don't necessarily plan on having illustrations in my book, but certainly a separate collection would be cool. I'd want to make a more polished version of this because it is just a doodle from the margins of my Bible study notes, lol.

If you ever want honest feedback from people you don't have to interact with, I can always show it anonymously to some of my own writing critics. (I'd love to see it myself, of course, but you may not feel ready for that!)

I'll let you know, thanks! I've had multiple people look at it already (including our insightful @Ent At Large ) so I kind of don't want too many other proverbial cooks in the kitchen right now. But when I'm finished editing the book (which might not be for a few more years at this rate), I will be looking for more beta readers.

Her eyes just screams hopeless to me.

And based on what Glorfy said, I think this would hit much harder than Lily's death from Harry Potter, which is saying something.(I have a feeling your book can actually make me tear up, and it has never happened with anything else I've read before.)

Whatever Lily suffered was over in a few minutes, but this mother has been suffering for much longer based on what you yourself said. I'm also fascinated by how your prologue is the complete opposite of what I have in mind for my original work.

Wow, I'm not sure I can claim it hits harder than Lily's death. It almost definitely didn't before my revisions. But in my recent edits, I've been diving a lot deeper into her feelings. And I added more description of how she felt when she died, and that just made me so sad in light of all the suffering she went through to save her daughter. All that suffering and sacrifice, and it was only enough to save the daughter, and not her.

Maedhros here prefers when we talk about how her arts has impacted us emotionally, so you're fine.

I love me a good emotional reaction!

I'm just kidding, you described it really well!

I picked up on it because it's rare and brave to respond to people's art so precisely. Sometimes you say "the eyes look so worn by fatigue, it's quite haunting" and they tell you, "that's shading you dimwit" 😕

I think my friends here know my art style well enough by now to understand the way I draw emotion in a character.

 

[Bomb_Tombadil]

I love me a good emotional reaction!


I think my friends here know my art style well enough by now to understand the way I draw emotion in a character.

Well, all I can say on that front is that there's a big difference between being able to draw frowny features, and being able to show the cumulative human costs of suffering, and it seems like you have a real talent for exploring the latter. The jutting of the cheekbone and the hint of an emaciated shoulder under the cloak are lovely understated strokes. If your book is half as authentic as your drawing, it's already something rare and precious! Don't stop!

No drawing in Bible Study, though 🤣

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

Well, all I can say on that front is that there's a big difference between being able to draw frowny features, and being able to show the cumulative human costs of suffering, and it seems like you have a real talent for exploring the latter. The jutting of the cheekbone and the hint of an emaciated shoulder under the cloak are lovely understated strokes. If your book is half as authentic as your drawing, it's already something rare and precious! Don't stop!

Aww, thank you! 🥺 I definitely wanted to show she's frail and gaunt.

No drawing in Bible Study, though 🤣

Hey, I can't focus on people talking unless I'm doing something with my hands!

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

hint of an emaciated shoulder

(And speaking of frail, gaunt and emaciated, this is nothing compared to a sketch I once did of post-Thangorodrim Maedhros... 😬 I don't post that stuff here because it's graphic and also it makes me sad.)

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

Draw nice, bible inspired characters from the Silm.

Like Timo.☺️

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

I wonder what Biblical characters the Sons of Fëanor are most like... 🤔

At least I know Morgoth is Satan, lol!

Also, my book has Biblical themes in it too, though they're subtle.

 

[Glorfindel Goldtress]

I wonder what Biblical characters the Sons of Fëanor are most like... 🤔

At least I know Morgoth is Satan, lol!

Also, my book has Biblical themes in it too, though they're subtle.

I've definitely seen Maedhros and Fingon in a sort of David and Jonathan-type friendship. Obviously, it's not a one-to-one ratio, but there is some connection present in my mind.

Thingol gives me some Saul vibes, refusing to listen to good council and whatnot. And he definitely hates Maedhros and Co.

Again, not one-to-one ratios, of course... I could go on.

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

I've definitely seen Maedhros and Fingon in a sort of David and Jonathan-type friendship. Obviously, it's not a one-to-one ratio, but there is some connection present in my mind.

Thingol gives me some Saul vibes, refusing to listen to good council and whatnot. And he definitely hates Maedhros and Co.

Again, not one-to-one ratios, of course... I could go on.

Ooh, I like that! Except Thingol is Goliath's height, lol!!

David also has huge good deeds and huge bad deeds, so that checks out too.

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

When the names sound familiar because you know them all but in another language:

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

View attachment 34885
Yesterday, I was working on editing the prologue of my fantasy novel, in which a young woman dies to save her daughter from an evil sorcerer. Her death was hitting me harder than usual (which is good because I think it means the story is getting more emotional impact). But she was on my mind a lot yesterday, so I made this little sketch of her. I had never actually drawn her before, and I'm really happy with how it came out. She's been slowly dying of dark magic for a long time, so I tried to convey that here.

I like her face. It's what stood out to me at first. I think you did get what you were going for: exhaustion, with perhaps some desperation (which is very faint now, after so much time of being worn down).

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

I like her face. It's what stood out to me at first. I think you did get what you were going for: exhaustion, with perhaps some desperation (which is very faint now, after so much time of being worn down).

Thanks! Yeah, for sure. I tried to show that she's scared, but she lacks the capacity to fully feel her fear because she's exhausted and dying.

 

[Bomb_Tombadil]

I've definitely seen Maedhros and Fingon in a sort of David and Jonathan-type friendship. Obviously, it's not a one-to-one ratio, but there is some connection present in my mind.

Thingol gives me some Saul vibes, refusing to listen to good council and whatnot. And he definitely hates Maedhros and Co.

Again, not one-to-one ratios, of course... I could go on.

Those are excellent observations, Glorfindel! I had the same thought about Maedhros and Fingon. But I hadn't spotted Thingol, and you're so right: a beautiful, musical soul made hard by pride and power.

Nienna always reminds me of Mary Magdalen (and indeed of Holy Mary herself); called to an apparently useless mission of weeping and sorrow for the wrongness fo the world; yet secretly consoling the Creator, touching His mercy to miracles, and pouring strength into the hearts of all heroes and good men.
Actually, speaking of, something about the hood and face of Maedhros's portrait (and perhaps the fact that she was a mother) reminded me of the Bouguereau pietà.

The Sons of Fëanor collectively, of course, remind me of Jephthah (who promised that if God gave him victory and allowed him to come home, he would sacrifice the first thing he saw coming out of his house to greet him. Then his daughter ran out.)

Hey, I can't focus on people talking unless I'm doing something with my hands!

Likewise, Maedhros - I care so much about what you have to say that I made this just now while we were talking 😁

(And speaking of frail, gaunt and emaciated, this is nothing compared to a sketch I once did of post-Thangorodrim Maedhros... 😬 I don't post that stuff here because it's graphic and also it makes me sad.)

I can imagine how powerful it was!! Being a subject so close to your heart, too.

 

[Glorfindel Goldtress]

Nienna always reminds me of Mary Magdalen (and indeed of Holy Mary herself); called to an apparently useless mission of weeping and sorrow for the wrongness fo the world; yet secretly consoling the Creator, touching His mercy to miracles, and pouring strength into the hearts of all heroes and good men.

An astute observation! In Tolkien's mind, he probably so intended this with his Catholic worldview! While I don't see Mary as divinity, being completely human and created by God, I agree her example in obedience to the Lord certainly inspires others to willingly do the same.

The Sons of Fëanor collectively, of course, remind me of Jephthah (who promised that if God gave him victory and allowed him to come home, he would sacrifice the first thing he saw coming out of his house to greet him. Then his daughter ran out.)

Precisely! This is an example of what happens when one follows an oath that shouldn't be kept! Reminds me of the passage in James 5 to "let your 'yes' be 'yes' and your 'no' be 'no' so that you may not fall under condemnation."

That is absolutely adorable!🥺🥹 Did you crochet it?

 

[Bomb_Tombadil]

That is absolutely adorable!🥺🥹 Did you crochet it?

Oh no, not I! Everyone who has tried to learn crochet from my grandmother (the family arch-hookwielder) has come away harrowed, so I'm apprehensive of asking. But I do have a huge fondness for Star Wars crochets in particular, and collect them whenever I spot them online, against the day when I am safely married and no longer care what such a hobby does to my street-cred 😁 This is my favourite little guy, look at him:

An astute observation! In Tolkien's mind, he probably so intended this with his Catholic worldview! While I don't see Mary as divinity, being completely human and created by God, I agree her example in obedience to the Lord certainly inspires others to willingly do the same.

By the way, just to clear up a potential misunderstanding, Tolkien and his fellow Catholics wouldn't see Mary as divine either - rather as the purely human creature who responded most perfectly to her Creator's grace (and whom Gabriel thus called "full of grace")

Precisely! This is an example of what happens when one follows an oath that shouldn't be kept! Reminds me of the passage in James 5 to "let your 'yes' be 'yes' and your 'no' be 'no' so that you may not fall under condemnation."

One thing that really interests me is what, in Tolkien's view, Fëanor and his sons should have done after taking the oath. Follow it, ignore it, or ask for release. Since they swore by Ilúvatar, no one could release them before the coming of Ilúvatar in person, so were they just doomed from that moment on, in true tragic pagan style where there simply is no escape? Or could a 'prophet' of some kind (e.g. just Manwë) have communicated a pardon from the invisible and unapproachable God? But don't want to derail Maedhros's beautiful thread anymore, I'm sorry: when I've thought about it enough I may make a topic.

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

Who's ready for some Cuteness??

This is a doodle of the events in the first chapter of my fanfic, Ill Chances and Strange Fates. Without spoiling too much, this is when Maitimo first meets Aranya... and assumes her to be much younger than she is...

The kiddo in his arms is Amras. I loved drawing toddler Amras so much, he is so stinkin cute!

Normally I draw Buff Adult Maitimo, but he's the equivalent of an awkward teenager here, so I tried to draw him with a more lanky build than I normally draw him with. Also, his hair is frizzy because he doesn't have his Curly Elf Routine™️ yet.

I think I'd like to digitize this and make I the official Chapter 1 illustration from IC&SF.

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

*Curufin's big brother instinct has been triggered by the sight of mini Amras*

 

[Fingon_Findekáno]

❤️ ***ADORABLE AMRAS ALERT*** ❤️

I would love to see this digitized and used as the official illustration for Ch. 1! It’s the moment where Maitimo’s life changes forever. I also like his design here, being a totally different time for him in all of his teenage awkwardness. And yet, as always, he still is such a caring big brother!

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

Also, I just noticed, Maedhros and Amras have the same expression of mild shock. 😆

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

❤️ ***ADORABLE AMRAS ALERT*** ❤️

I would love to see this digitized and used as the official illustration for Ch. 1! It’s the moment where Maitimo’s life changes forever. I also like his design here, being a totally different time for him in all of his teenage awkwardness. And yet, as always, he still is such a caring big brother!

Hehe thank you! And absolutely, Telvo is in very good hands (both under Maitimo's care and Aranya's).

Also, I just noticed, Maedhros and Amras have the same expression of mild shock. 😆

Lol yep! Telvo's shock is "who is this strange lady and what does she want to put on my face" while Maitimo's like, "I. Am. Such. An. Idiot!!!"

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

*pockets Tiny Amras*

Alright... I'm out of here!

Seriously though, this is really adorable! The frizzy hair had me snort for a moment and then I remembered my own dark times when I didn't know I had curly hair and should take care of it.

We don't talk about that. Right, Timo?