The Snow Queen: Finale

Seventh Story:
Of the Palace of the Snow Queen and What Happened There At Last
And so, after a year's time, my seventh and final illustration for Andersen's Snow Queen makes an appearance.
And in rather tiny proportions, at that!
Furthermore, for the first time in quite a while, I have some commentary about the story itself which I should like to insert just here:
What presents itself as an upright, Christian cautionary tale against the evils of reason (Reason being the vast mirror of the Snow Queen, a particle of which has become lodged in little Kay's eyeball, making him behave rather badly), proceeds to have the children fortified for their journey home by the means of most unholy acts of communion with a reindeer.




"He had brought another young reindeer with him and her udder was bursting with milk. The two children drank from it and the reindeer kissed them."
(Haugaard)
Alternately:

...and he had brought another young reindeer with him, whose udders were full, and the children drank her warm milk and kissed her on the mouth.

Of course, it is just a fairy story, after all. Snow Queens, ice monsters, and witches (having appeared in previous chapters) have no more place in a Christian parable than a small boy suckling at the engorged teat of a young reindeer. But then, what place do your values have in such a story either, Mr. Andersen?
Ah well. 'Til next time, kids; when I shall resume with Mother Elderberry.


* By the by, this little drawing was meant to be a rough sketch, but I took a liking to it and couldn't be buggered to do it over, so it measures <2" across.

The Snow Queen: 6 of 7

Sixth Story:

The Lapland Woman and the Finland Woman

While laying low while Hurricane Isaac blew over, my sketchbook scribblings meandered back to The Snow Queen.  Hopefully, once I'm finished with this seven-part tale, my interest in this project will be renewed and Hans Christian Andersen's writings will again become a legitimate source of inspiration for me.

The sixth installment of The Snow Queen finds little Gerda seeking the advice of two slightly eccentric loners, and advancing to the Snow Queen's fortress.  The first wave of foes she confronts there - in true, RPG fashion - is a veritable army of snowflake monsters resembling all manner of wildlife.  

"... and some few were like little fat bears with their hair bristled; but all were dazzlingly white, and all were living snow-flakes."

The Snow Queen: 5 of 7

Fifth Story:

Little Robber-Girl

I'll make it through all seven parts of The Snow Queen yet!  I'll come clean: I didn't so much read this installment as skim through until I found an appealing bit of imagery.  A reindeer loaded down with bread and ham for a journey?  Sounds like me.

“you ought to look quite happy now; and here are two loaves and a ham, so that you need not starve.”

The Snow Queen: 4 of 7

Fourth Story:

The Prince and Princess

Another installment of The Snow Queen.  While I've lived in Louisiana long enough not to expect snow, perhaps I'd be more inclined to finish this snowy tale if it felt like winter at all: as it is, 70 degree February days just don't feel right to me.

This concept, while not entirely without merit, was probably better in my mind than it came out on paper.  Though both versions shown here are quite rough indeed, I think the pencil sketch is far superior (except in the animal silhouettes, which were done hastily and without much regard for anatomy).

“It seems to me as if somebody were behind us,” said Gerda...

"They are only dreams," said the crow...

The Snow Queen: 3 of 7

Honestly, I drew this quite a while ago for the third chapter of The Snow Queen.  I didn't put much time into it, and I meant to do something better for the blog.  However, this being sort of cute in spite of itself, and me wanting to move on, here it is.  Consider this my obligatory "Hummel Figurine" drawing.  Although, Hummels aren't normally crying inky, black tears from piteous, empty eye sockets.

Third Story:

The Flower Garden of the Woman Who Could Conjure

“I will give you my red shoes if you will give him back to me.”

[Ink & Watercolor on Weekly Planner]

The Snow Queen: 2 of 7

I regret that I still cannot weigh in on The Snow Queen as a whole, as I still have yet to finish reading it!  The first installment describes a sinister mirror that reflected things that were good and honorable unfavorably, and evil things beautifully.  The second story documents how fragments of that mirror lodged themselves in the eye and heart of a little boy, and how he was changed as a result.

Second Story:

A Little Boy and a Little Girl

“'Have they a queen bee?,' asked the little boy, for he knew that the real bees had a queen."

[Graphite on Moleskine]

The Snow Queen: 1 of 7

The Snow Queen is a tale in seven stories, so I deemed it worthy of seven drawings.

Story the First,

Which Describes a Looking-Glass and the Broken Fragments.

"...the people became hideous, and looked as if they stood on their heads and had no bodies."

[Grapite. Moleskine. ~2x4"]

What is it about drawing terribly ugly things that I find so satisfying?

Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving.