Fanart post

[alasse-mirimiel.livejournal.com]

Again. I feel like I'm taking advantage of Dawn's permission and spamming this community...

Two lady elves this time:

( Aredhel )

( Nerdanel )

Comments

[dawn_felagund]

You're not, so please don't feel that way! :) We welcome art just as much as writing. One day, we may even get our art gallery up. :)

Both pieces are lovely. I'm especially intrigued by your short-haired Nerdanel! That makes perfect sense; I could see her hacking off her hair in a fit of annoyance! :D

[angelica-ramses.livejournal.com]

It seems your short haired Nerdanel is very popular (moviendo las cabezas): it makes perfect sense with seven children (seven! boys!), a difficult husband and an active career in sculpting!!!

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

Though I assure you that it is perfectly possible to have a physically active life, and at the same time have very long hair. In fact, long hair can be a lot more practical than short hair (unless we're talking really short, military-style). At the length this Nerdanel is wearing hers, the only way of reliably keeping it out of her face while working would be wearing a bandana because it's too short for braiding, pinning or even a firm ponytail. Longer hair, meanwhile, can be safely styled out of the way (within seconds, too, if you know the tricks ;)) and stays out of the way.

Not to say that this isn't a very interesting interpretation of Nerdanel, and that the short hair doesn't look good. It's very nice fanart. But it's just not true that short hair is by necessity more practical than long hair. (I speak from - admittedly subjective - experience!)

[alasse-mirimiel.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :)

I can see her thinking the elvish equivalent of 'the hell with it' and just doing it.

[alasse-mirimiel.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Most of Tolkien's females (be it elves or mortal) are strong, interesting characters, IMO.

I expect I'll be posting a lot more in a month or so, once my exams are over :D

[alasse-mirimiel.livejournal.com]

La verdad, I was a little worried everyone would hate it (there aren't many images of short haired elves).

[alasse-mirimiel.livejournal.com]

I see your point, and I agree with you about long hair being styled out of the way (I considered that too). But short hair doesn't have to be military-style short to be practical, and I'm talking from experience here too :) Though I haven't had long hair in almost ten years, so I'm biased: in my books it's easier to put on a head band than braid it or even make a ponytail. I'm just that lazy ::lol::

Glad you liked the fanart :)

[alasse-mirimiel.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I'll need all the luck I can get ;)

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

Heh, I suppose we all prefer that which we're used to! Personally I'm not convinced that a headband would stay put all through the process of sculpting or swinging a hammer in a forge - it definitely doesn't stay put during building work - but then I don't have to wear one. ;) And of course there's always the possibility that Nerdanel might want to make a statement ("I do not CARE for your beauty ideals anyway!") as be practical. *grins*

Ah, but that shouldn't be surprising - it's very well done! I think their characters really come across well - Nerdanel's quiet strength and determination as well as Aredhel's... hm... pride and restless spirit. And I really like that you don't follow the "default" style you see so often with all the fragile, angsty-looking elf-maidens. Your Elves look very competent and resolute. :)

[alasse-mirimiel.livejournal.com]

Who knows? Maybe she cut it thinking it would me more practical, only to be proved wrong the minute she went back to work ::lol::

And of course there's always the possibility that Nerdanel might want to make a statement ("I do not CARE for your beauty ideals anyway!") as be practical. *grins*

I can see her doing that XD

Thank you so much for your words :) As I recently told Himring, I’m very glad to hear their characters come across because that’s not something I consciously think about while drawing. And competent and resolute should be the “default” style, I think… fragile and angsty-looking is not a description that fits any Tolkien elf-lady! Deceptively fragile, on the other hand…

You sound like you don’t like Aredhel much :P

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

You sound like you don’t like Aredhel much :P

Not true - while Aredhel isn't one of my total favourites, I nonetheless think she is an intriguing character (who unfortunately makes a couple of really stupid decisions, but of course that seems to run in the family). Just because I think she's proud and restless doesn't mean I don't like her. (Heck, one of my favourite characters is Fëanor!) I just don't think she should look fragile and woe-begone except perhaps during her last moments.

But as you say, fragile and angsty doesn't actually fit any of the elf-ladies. The few who got a name and a story tend to kick ass, after all! :D

[alasse-mirimiel.livejournal.com]

who unfortunately makes a couple of really stupid decisions, but of course that seems to run in the family

::lol:: Not just in the family... most characters in the Silm have made some kind of stupid decision. Maybe something in the water of Tirion, that later the Noldor spread all over Beleriand? :P

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

Haha, true XD