Sketch-A-Day 2012 Day 6

Hmmm! The antlers are a very interesting touch to this, because antlers are often associated with male deer, rather than female deer. Of course, reindeer females have antlers, or so I've heard, and they have them longer than the males do, so I'm just going by general perceptions rather than specific knowledge.

In any event, you've got another win with rough paper. It seems you really pushed the depth of the values with this one, and achieved an even stronger sense of shape and form. I do get a little bit of visual confusion when it comes to her legs as they are pressed together, but I think that is mostly because her other hoof is hidden.

Shiny dangly bits hanging from horns definitely is a theme that you revisit often, and I think it is a good one to continue revisiting You have such a great range between characters that have a strong powerful appearance with the horns, all the way through very gentle and soft characters such as this one.

You did a really wonderful job on the drapery, which is no surprise. What I find most fascinating is both the composition and the actual pose of the figure herself, seated upon a squarish platform or surface that is covered by the draping fabric.

The composition is very monolithic, with the moon-like symbol in the background and the figure sitting straight up (if not perfectly straight like a Pharaoh), gazing straight ahead at the viewer, her shoulders back, her head lifted up a bit such that she is actually looking down a bit. The arms and hands are relaxed, however, but there is tension throughout the rest of her form, even while her face is somewhere between pensive and serene. Of course, the high-neck collar piece adds to this feeling of uprightness, and I really like how it turned out so lacy!

Seated upon a flat square surface with her dress draping over the edges is an unusual approach, but it is a very pleasant contrast between the suppleness of the folds of the dress and the combination of the rigid surface she is seated upon along with her seated with such a straight back. The arms go right along with the drapery, contrasting against how tightly she seems to press her knees together, such that one hoof is behind the other or otherwise hidden.

This could very well be something one would see on a tarot card, such as for the High Priestess. Seeing a tarot deck made in your style would, of course, be totally awesome I'd so buy it too!