Flower power

One of my favourite parts of re-drafting is the chance to explore/expand sections of the book, its characters and scenery more fully. One such place was the development of one minor characters to make a particular section more believable and engaging. Enter Izi!

She has a small role to play but one of her most striking features (besides the purple hair) is her faeli tattoo. It is a faeli floral design. The flower pattern is a common motif in faeli art because it is believed that the faeli are spirits of nature and the particular design (below) is representative of the core of their beliefs.

The flower combines elements of the faeli age of mythology and iconography. The seven large orbs represent the seven chief elements. The flower itself is an amalgamation of the seven elements' symbols.

7 Elements of Arbean mythology

Which symbols stand for which element? I haven't thought that far ahead yet!!

The actual flower then pays homage to the individual elements by highlighting 7 larger orbs within the pattern (left).

The imagery of the faeli art is inspired by both Pictish (Scotland) and Mehndi (Indian henna) art. I find the detailed simplicity of both art styles to be enchanting (the Pictish stones in Scotland are some of my favourite ancient artefacts). I like the glyphic style which I've adopted for many of my own tattoos anyway. And the world of Arbea is already rich with ancient hieroglyphics? (See more about Arbean glyphs)

I can't wait to spend more time with faeli art as it will be an integral part of the series to come. Already it's been fun crafting this one image and discovering its possibilities. I think the plain outline version of the flower would make a great floral wallpaper. Or maybe a new tattoo for myself!

So, look out for Izi in book two. There will be some character designs for her coming through soon. And thanks Katie Chalmers for the great name idea! I hope you like her.

Enjoy!
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Cloak and dagger

In Book 2, Spirit Shear, Gemmy and Sem are taken away to Rheza. While there they are given a few native artefacts including authentic Rhe'zan mystic cloaks. 

Gemmy is given an alchemist's cloak. It's green to represent nature with white drop-like motif representing the leaves of alms trees and life. The leaves of the alms trees never shed. They grow down like willow leaves and only die when they touch the ground. Legend has it that there is a single alms leaf for every Rhe'zan.

He is given a protector's spear. It is used in medicinal practices. But, even as a protector and a healer the staff is topped with a spear because sometimes protection requires offensive action.

Sem's cloak has a warrior's motif. It is has the face of a gorek on it. A gorek is a large six-armed gorilla type beast. It stands about three metres tall on it's hind legs. It is considered the 'king of the jungle' on Rheza and lives primarily on the mountain slopes of the demon's spine mountain range. Sem's spear is a warrior's spear. It is topped with a strong three point spear and there is a spiked mace on the bottom as well.

The style of the Rhe'zan cloaks are based on Aztec patterns and art. I think it's a great style to give to the Rhe'zan culture. It feels old and tribal but still vibrant and colourful. Here are some images that I drew inspiration from.

 

Enjoy!
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Sem's feelings

I've been busy writing away and am powering through the first draft. The actions really heated up in book two so I've not been drawing as much. But, as a treat, here's a very very short excerpt from Chapter 22 - Rupture:

--

Sem walked over to Gemmy and sat down beside him. He put his arm around her. He knew she would never cry, not in front of anyone else. Her stony face was there to hold her emotions in. Sadly, though, he could feel the electrical impulses of her mind and the energy of her heart racing and breaking.

--

Don't worry - our girl gets her own in the end. Here's a picture of her looking happier

Enjoy!
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Write a novel month- Anasia

In November I'm planning on participating in National Write a Novel Month (I can't grow a moustache. Sorry Movember).

I'm going to start a new series that's been rattling around in my brain ever since my mate Mark Gray gave me the idea. I won't give too much away but the story will centre around Anasia (or Ana for short):

I wanted to create a heroine who my nieces could be for Halloween without having to be the 'black version' of a character. Ana is a smart, determined, beautiful girl. She was named Anansia for the eight-pronged star birthmark on her face that looks like the symbol of Anasi. She was born outside the town of Sindou in Burkina Faso.

There's loads more to learn about Anasia and her adventures. Watch this space.

Enjoy!
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The emancipation of Rheza

Female slave and Rhezan mange

In Book 2, Spirit Shear, we learn a lot more about Rhe'zan society. It's very different to humanek society.

On Rheza a family of Rhe'zans are called a 'cult'. This is because they may not all be related, but they live and work together as one. For example, if a family has too many children they sell one of them to another family and the child becomes part of that 'cult'.

A cult is headed by a dominant male or fader. He usually has one wife, his ce (pronounce che), but can have multiple females who serve different functions in the family. The ce produces heirs for the dominant male and other females are allowed to produce one or two children or kits. The only other males allowed in a cult are sons of the ce. Other males may be sold off or traded between cults for labour or sold to the state for military purposes. This is considered an honour to produce men for fighting. If a cult has too many females some are sterilised and look after the kits or work. They are called the mange of the cult and are essentially the cult's property. Their tails are bobbed to show their status. If a dominant male is convicted of a crime he and his sons are killed and all of his females have one ear and all of their tails cut off and are sold as slaves. These slaves have no name and are referred to as mek.

Slavery on Rhe'za
On Rheza slavery and the trading of people  is legal. They can trade both Rhe'zans and humaneks as slaves however the majority of slaves on Rheza are humanek. Humaneks are considered 'beasts of the earth' meant to toil and Rhe'zans are considered 'people of the sun' - the sun being their principle deity.

There are only two names for humanek female slaves or ome (pronounced Oh-may): Vesh and Brook.
A Brook is the most valuable slave because they are allowed to breed. If a Vesh gets pregnant, the father is killed and once the baby is born Vesh is killed as well. Before female slaves come of age they do not have names. Also, not all Rhe'zans are allowed to own a Brook. Only once they apply to have two females can one then become Brook. Female slaves often live in the house away from the men and have house duties like assisting the lady of the house.

A cult can own up to 10 males or mahtlac. Their names can be: Sheck, Bell, Mahn, Coz and Dar. Each Male is allowed a companion/apprentice male to teach his specific craft. These companions have the suffix 'ra' after their name. Any punishment they incur is dealt to their better.

All males work in whatever labours their owners deem fit. Their specific crafts beside that are:
Sheck - studs and the only ones allowed to mate with a Brook.
Bell and Mahn - tool handlers and craftsman
Ryn - cook, medic and general domestic
Dar - usually a prepubescent male, the only humanek male allowed inside a Rhe'zan home.

Males can be 'renamed' depending on the structure of the family they serve and can also have two roles. You can have a Sheck-bell or a Dar-ryn. Though typically Ryn and Dar tend to be among the less stocky sort so tend not to be Sheck as well. If there is no Brook there is no Sheck. If there are not enough men for there to be a Ryn or Dar, the humanek women take on those roles in addition to their house duties.

So, now we know a little bit about Rhe'zan society. I don't know about you, but I'm in no rush to visit!

Enjoy!
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A growing world

The physical world of Arbea is growing as Gemmy and co. continue to careen through new and more dangerous places.

I had a fiddle at adding on a topographic map of Rheza and the disputed territories. The professional bit of the map (Arbea Major) was done by my amazing cartographer mate from Stirling Surveys. Hopefully he won't mind my amateur attempts at cartography sitting alongside his. He'll have his work cut out for him adding in the bodies of water and other mountainous features from Book 2!! Can't wait to see what he'll do with it once he gets his hands on it!

Check out more on the Maps of Arbea!

Rheza and Arbea Major

Enjoy!
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Growing up Gemmy

I got an amazing Christmas gift from home of some of my old drawings including the very beginnings of Gemmy and crew.

Well, back in the day when I first conceived of Gemmy and Po there was one big difference: His name was Richard. It started as an idea for a class project and spun itself into a whole world of characters for my alter ego to inhabit and indulge my thirst for adventure (and saving the Universe). I should point out that I still misspell 'guardian' without spell check. This was done when I was 13 around 1995.

Over time 'Richard Guardian of the Universe' split off into two alternate reality versions of the same character: Richard the Great and The Mighty Orange-Peel. RTG carried the back pack and the sword and TMOP kept the cool powers.

RTG lived in a far off land and had adventures with his pals (Pendleton Ward and I must have shared a brain as children because Adventure Time is basically everything I wanted RTG to be). TMOP became known to me mostly just as 'Opeel' or 'O' and so the adventures that would become the story of Gemmy began. He got the family, the power with great responsibility, the genius intellect and all the characters that you'd come to know in Emersus Project.

Opeel I feel grew up with me. His look changed as much as mine did as I began to develop and experiment with drawing styles. The whole cast got makeovers and haircuts as often as I did as a teenager including, eventually, the bright blue streak at the front that signified the awakening of his powers.

   

Eventually, I finally decided to write down Opeel's story formally and at the time the best way I thought to do it was in comic book form. So, around 1999/2000 I sat down and started to sketch out the story of Richard Doodles (aka The Mighty Orange Peel). What strikes me most is how many details from the story all those years ago made it into what became Gemmy's story.

When Opeel became Gemmy 2010

You can see (above) I'd named Opeel's hometown 'Banjo Island City which became Bansho Island City. The sisters were there, Mhetli still looks exactly the same, even Po was part of the gang. There were even Rhe'zans! A few characters didn't make it to Gemmy's world like Mr Cornball (the blue guy like Po but with a green helmet) and Sem was then 'Ben'. But Sem retained Ben's characteristic multicoloured hair and sports jersey. Also, Gemmy has a nose. I never drew Opeel with a nose until he became Gemmy. Why? I don't know. There's probably any number of psychological interpretations about self-identity and what not. But the honest answer is, Opeel was always just an idea. I liked him being other-worldly and not a real person. It wasn't until I grew up that Gemmy became 'Gemmy' - a real person, concrete with a story all his own, someone I'd grown up with, instead of 'Richard Doodles' - a shadow of myself.

So, without further ado, here is Gemmy's early beginnings in the (first draft) comic of the 'The Mighty Orange Peel' from 1999. See if you can spot the beginnings of what became 'Black Star'.

  

   

  

Enjoy!
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