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Description

Story art, hoorray!

Snippet time!

Little remembered the chilly but bright autumn day at her Master’s, the stuffing of wheelbarrow with maple leaves, here and there combing the grass to keep the piles into shape. The brims of the vehicle were rather low though, only two horizontal planks high. Not much better was the oaky bottom, flat as a floor and open to the handles.

One of a struggle it was to get the leaves to stay. No matter how she tried to press them to each other. And the road was long as well. Snaking through the bumpy yard to where forest began. So long, she preferred running it through and every time at least half of the load flew away, too.

The third time she seized the leaves with the rake and her other hand Master came to her, clad in his tunic, brown as soil with only the green sleeves to misplace the attire from the yellow-brown-dominated scene, and hint of something else. Something she, too, was part of. Even if the master ever spoke about it she knew she was, from the similar coloured knitting she had on her, warming her shoulders.

Autumn wind swishing through his hair and eyes reflecting the azure of the sky Master had stood there for a while, quiet, and then asked something impossible. ‘How it gets clean is up to you. Though to bring this current load,’ he gestured at the heap-full wheelbarrow, ‘and to bring it the whole way without a single leaf falling, not adjusting the load on your way nor using any spells or anything else that could aid you more than what you have now, sure asks the nerve. Though can you?’

She had looked up to him her eyes speaking for themselves for the impossibility of the request.

Master had only leant his back on an apple tree and smiled the smile he used when she made hasty speculations and suddenly uttered as if in passing; ‘On the face of it, yet challenging isn’t to say not possible.’

He rolled an apple he had just taken from the branch between his fingers. ‘Which would you rather; exhaust yourself running back and forth the length of your road like now and spend the rest of the evening gathering the leaves you dropped on your way? Or carefully arrange your burden, steps and finish with fewer turns even if it seems slower? You have till the evening to tip all the piles. Do as you wish.’

And so he had left Little to consider his words. Then she had not understood what raking leaves and wheelbarrowing them had to do with learning magic. Little sat at a stump and scanned all the piles she had created. A while ago, the grassy corner had been one sea of brown and yellow, now it was as if the grass was sea and the piles land. Quite unstable and wet land. All round the five maple barks that grew together like inseparable friends. Little sighed. Piling the leaves hadn’t taken that long. But carting them? The aeon it would take! Yet even longer would take sitting on this stump and yearning the work done. She grabbed the rake and marched to the leaves.

The autumn-mottled land crumbled to a smaller islet as her hands snitched its surface. And soon the vehicle was ready to go. With a rustle she waded out from the leaf drift.

Maybe, this time his words had had a small impact on her. And there he had Little scuttling through the yard, beginning the same journey yet again. Slowly she mounted the small hill that lead to the well, pushing the wheelbarrow with as less force as she could give it still keeping the lone wood wheel rolling. Rolling and rolling, downhill. The wheel wanted to speed up but the girl kept on slowing, ignoring the wheel’s wish. As a protest the wheel bounced up and down the uneven path along with its load which dangerously wobbled with each bump. She hunched below apple tree branches there, avoided stepping onto their fallen fruits that lay waiting to become soil here, as the maples flapped from their stems. Somehow though, at long last she made it there, to the forest edge, not a single leaf escaping.

Little sighed deep and tipped the maples onto the ground which was barely visible from all the leaves. The next, and the next and soon the corner round the maples was was empty, apart from those few which hadn’t stuck to the teeth of her rake. Of course, the trees ought to have their share as well. So the master had said: ‘the trees live from their leaves, even the other way round. That I learnt from a one wonderful person.’

Though Little didn’t fully understand, nor dared to ask, she followed the advice. Only to herself, she mused if that was how the trees got their leaves again on spring. Did they eat them? And at winter they would be digesting them? She glanced at the bare apple trees overhead. What strange creatures they were, only ate at winter and got through the year growing what they ate.

As the sun was half-way over the horizon she smelled the familiar rosy scent even through the dampness of the leaves. ‘I see you’re done here.’ Smiling, she turned and Master greeted her with a look of approval. ‘Now, did you learn anything?’

She stepped from stamping the leaves and set the rake aside.

‘That it was not impossible if you do it very, very carefully. I think your idea was better.’

The master shifted his weight. ‘Mmm, why was it ‘better’?’

Little tried to think. Why had she chosen this painfully slow method over the other one? Then she remembered. ‘It turned out to be faster, even if it seemed otherwise.’

Master nodded. ‘It is one point, but can you see why I made you go through this? Let me tell you something.’ He crouched, placing an arm on her shoulder. ‘What I wanted to teach you was not solely about efficiency. In truth, neither of the methods is more superior than the other. Well, in theory at least. It depends on the person and her physical capability what works for her. You could have ran that distance all the time and come gathering the fallen leaves but I doubt you’d be exhausted before the job was done.’

Little gave him a scowl though she failed to look angry about it.

‘That I wanted to teach you is patience. You noticed how effortlessly it went as you concentrated and did not rush it? Efficiency comes with patience. Magic is no different. Read a spell book all day, or just one section at a time. Both will lead you to the same. Eventually. Though hurry reading and I doubt you can tell me everything, were I to ask you next morning: the way to trigger the deception spell, to tell me the mechanics of the shadowmail or how does one become a shadow in the first place? ’

Little listened mouth open. Her eyes twinkled. ‘The deception spell? Can you teach me? Or how you do it, come out from shadows? Can I do it too?’ She took a playful stance as if playing a cat predator on hindlegs, as if trying to scare a rabbit though she had no idea if the skill even required a pose like that. Probably it didn’t.

Master tried his best not to smile. ‘Ah, that, it is no use to you can’t you first understand how it works.’ Master knelt to her eye level. ‘In due time, Little. The time will come but there are other things you must learn before that. Do you think I learnt to fight in one night? Or how to shoot a bow on the third time I took it in hand? Or how to whistle the first time I tried?‘

She looked at him, then shook her head, slowly. ‘But you look like it.’

Master didn’t reply, only rose to his feet.

‘Next time, I will show you another painting, you will have only a wink to memorise it, and then you can tell me what you remember.’

~~~ End of the Snippet. ~~~

I was raking the maple leaves at my grandfather together with father at first. Then after he had moved the leaves several times he suggested me do the rest so that he could wash his car. He promised to do one round though if it would prove to be too tiresome. Like in the snippet, the way to where they had to be brought was pretty long, and there were fallen apples on the way, one particular one on which I stepped almost every time I passed it. XD So, uh the whole afternoon went by doing that, tipping over the leaves to the edge of the site, where there used to be a forest but now are just several trees, although some are tall tall spruces, growing. But even if it was physical work I somehow enjoyed it. And I kind of got this idea of the scene while I worked. Also, had forgotten how huge maple leaves are! When they're hanging from a tree you probably won't notice, but wait till most of them have fallen and compare the size to your hand. They're enourmous!

Since I have this Gorgeous notebook from England reading even my artist name, I want to use it for proper art instead of just rough sketches and so I decided to do this on it. Pretty happy I did.

This is Little, my young orphan girl, burning from the will to learn magic and become as good as her master, being trained by her master. Though young she is she may not realise magic isn't all about just, well, spells and learning them. I've been having trouble understanding Little and her master's relationship. Though I think it's beginning to take shape and feel it may not be so unequivocal as I first thought. I've also discovered the identity of the Rose Pirates isn't just what it seems outside. And because I so rarely if ever have drawn a good image of Naro I wanted to give the idea a try. Oh, and by the way, the flowers on his armguard and tunic are roses, in case it's not obvious. *wink, wink* And that is hinting to... ? Realised just after the sketch this way he appears left-handed. Though the placement of the sword suits the image better this way, but I think it's not too bad if he is left handed, either. Or then he could be multihanded. Originally, I intended to make it a bust image kind, but the drawing just expanded from that. And I'm much more pleased with the current look. The colouring also happened. The autumn this year has been wonderfully rich of hues and so I couldn't stand this being black-and-white either. ^^ Wanted to keep the attention focused on the characters, but just something to add a slight depth so the background isn't hugely wrought. Rarely draw persons from back, though why? I've realised even that angle can look interesting. Oh, and the fabric is actually my dress, because we lack good fabrics.

Tools: A6 (?) paper, HB pencils, Caran d'Ache and mother's old Derwent coloured pencils (the old ones have at least 5 times better pigment to what they sell now!) and kneaded eraser.

Primary references:

i.pinimg.com/564x/02/d3/7c/02d… (for the tunic)

i.pinimg.com/564x/68/28/a8/682… (inspiration for Little's clothes)

www.google.com/search?client=f… the wheel barrow)

www.deviantart.com/senshistock… (back pose)

The artwork, characters and story © TheStarlightPrincess

Description

Story art, hoorray!

Snippet time!

Little remembered the chilly but bright autumn day at her Master’s, the stuffing of wheelbarrow with maple leaves, here and there combing the grass to keep the piles into shape. The brims of the vehicle were rather low though, only two horizontal planks high. Not much better was the oaky bottom, flat as a floor and open to the handles.

One of a struggle it was to get the leaves to stay. No matter how she tried to press them to each other. And the road was long as well. Snaking through the bumpy yard to where forest began. So long, she preferred running it through and every time at least half of the load flew away, too.

The third time she seized the leaves with the rake and her other hand Master came to her, clad in his tunic, brown as soil with only the green sleeves to misplace the attire from the yellow-brown-dominated scene, and hint of something else. Something she, too, was part of. Even if the master ever spoke about it she knew she was, from the similar coloured knitting she had on her, warming her shoulders.

Autumn wind swishing through his hair and eyes reflecting the azure of the sky Master had stood there for a while, quiet, and then asked something impossible. ‘How it gets clean is up to you. Though to bring this current load,’ he gestured at the heap-full wheelbarrow, ‘and to bring it the whole way without a single leaf falling, not adjusting the load on your way nor using any spells or anything else that could aid you more than what you have now, sure asks the nerve. Though can you?’

She had looked up to him her eyes speaking for themselves for the impossibility of the request.

Master had only leant his back on an apple tree and smiled the smile he used when she made hasty speculations and suddenly uttered as if in passing; ‘On the face of it, yet challenging isn’t to say not possible.’

He rolled an apple he had just taken from the branch between his fingers. ‘Which would you rather; exhaust yourself running back and forth the length of your road like now and spend the rest of the evening gathering the leaves you dropped on your way? Or carefully arrange your burden, steps and finish with fewer turns even if it seems slower? You have till the evening to tip all the piles. Do as you wish.’

And so he had left Little to consider his words. Then she had not understood what raking leaves and wheelbarrowing them had to do with learning magic. Little sat at a stump and scanned all the piles she had created. A while ago, the grassy corner had been one sea of brown and yellow, now it was as if the grass was sea and the piles land. Quite unstable and wet land. All round the five maple barks that grew together like inseparable friends. Little sighed. Piling the leaves hadn’t taken that long. But carting them? The aeon it would take! Yet even longer would take sitting on this stump and yearning the work done. She grabbed the rake and marched to the leaves.

The autumn-mottled land crumbled to a smaller islet as her hands snitched its surface. And soon the vehicle was ready to go. With a rustle she waded out from the leaf drift.

Maybe, this time his words had had a small impact on her. And there he had Little scuttling through the yard, beginning the same journey yet again. Slowly she mounted the small hill that lead to the well, pushing the wheelbarrow with as less force as she could give it still keeping the lone wood wheel rolling. Rolling and rolling, downhill. The wheel wanted to speed up but the girl kept on slowing, ignoring the wheel’s wish. As a protest the wheel bounced up and down the uneven path along with its load which dangerously wobbled with each bump. She hunched below apple tree branches there, avoided stepping onto their fallen fruits that lay waiting to become soil here, as the maples flapped from their stems. Somehow though, at long last she made it there, to the forest edge, not a single leaf escaping.

Little sighed deep and tipped the maples onto the ground which was barely visible from all the leaves. The next, and the next and soon the corner round the maples was was empty, apart from those few which hadn’t stuck to the teeth of her rake. Of course, the trees ought to have their share as well. So the master had said: ‘the trees live from their leaves, even the other way round. That I learnt from a one wonderful person.’

Though Little didn’t fully understand, nor dared to ask, she followed the advice. Only to herself, she mused if that was how the trees got their leaves again on spring. Did they eat them? And at winter they would be digesting them? She glanced at the bare apple trees overhead. What strange creatures they were, only ate at winter and got through the year growing what they ate.

As the sun was half-way over the horizon she smelled the familiar rosy scent even through the dampness of the leaves. ‘I see you’re done here.’ Smiling, she turned and Master greeted her with a look of approval. ‘Now, did you learn anything?’

She stepped from stamping the leaves and set the rake aside.

‘That it was not impossible if you do it very, very carefully. I think your idea was better.’

The master shifted his weight. ‘Mmm, why was it ‘better’?’

Little tried to think. Why had she chosen this painfully slow method over the other one? Then she remembered. ‘It turned out to be faster, even if it seemed otherwise.’

Master nodded. ‘It is one point, but can you see why I made you go through this? Let me tell you something.’ He crouched, placing an arm on her shoulder. ‘What I wanted to teach you was not solely about efficiency. In truth, neither of the methods is more superior than the other. Well, in theory at least. It depends on the person and her physical capability what works for her. You could have ran that distance all the time and come gathering the fallen leaves but I doubt you’d be exhausted before the job was done.’

Little gave him a scowl though she failed to look angry about it.

‘That I wanted to teach you is patience. You noticed how effortlessly it went as you concentrated and did not rush it? Efficiency comes with patience. Magic is no different. Read a spell book all day, or just one section at a time. Both will lead you to the same. Eventually. Though hurry reading and I doubt you can tell me everything, were I to ask you next morning: the way to trigger the deception spell, to tell me the mechanics of the shadowmail or how does one become a shadow in the first place? ’

Little listened mouth open. Her eyes twinkled. ‘The deception spell? Can you teach me? Or how you do it, come out from shadows? Can I do it too?’ She took a playful stance as if playing a cat predator on hindlegs, as if trying to scare a rabbit though she had no idea if the skill even required a pose like that. Probably it didn’t.

Master tried his best not to smile. ‘Ah, that, it is no use to you can’t you first understand how it works.’ Master knelt to her eye level. ‘In due time, Little. The time will come but there are other things you must learn before that. Do you think I learnt to fight in one night? Or how to shoot a bow on the third time I took it in hand? Or how to whistle the first time I tried?‘

She looked at him, then shook her head, slowly. ‘But you look like it.’

Master didn’t reply, only rose to his feet.

‘Next time, I will show you another painting, you will have only a wink to memorise it, and then you can tell me what you remember.’

~~~ End of the Snippet. ~~~

I was raking the maple leaves at my grandfather together with father at first. Then after he had moved the leaves several times he suggested me do the rest so that he could wash his car. He promised to do one round though if it would prove to be too tiresome. Like in the snippet, the way to where they had to be brought was pretty long, and there were fallen apples on the way, one particular one on which I stepped almost every time I passed it. XD So, uh the whole afternoon went by doing that, tipping over the leaves to the edge of the site, where there used to be a forest but now are just several trees, although some are tall tall spruces, growing. But even if it was physical work I somehow enjoyed it. And I kind of got this idea of the scene while I worked. Also, had forgotten how huge maple leaves are! When they're hanging from a tree you probably won't notice, but wait till most of them have fallen and compare the size to your hand. They're enourmous!

Since I have this Gorgeous notebook from England reading even my artist name, I want to use it for proper art instead of just rough sketches and so I decided to do this on it. Pretty happy I did.

This is Little, my young orphan girl, burning from the will to learn magic and become as good as her master, being trained by her master. Though young she is she may not realise magic isn't all about just, well, spells and learning them. I've been having trouble understanding Little and her master's relationship. Though I think it's beginning to take shape and feel it may not be so unequivocal as I first thought. I've also discovered the identity of the Rose Pirates isn't just what it seems outside. And because I so rarely if ever have drawn a good image of Naro I wanted to give the idea a try. Oh, and by the way, the flowers on his armguard and tunic are roses, in case it's not obvious. *wink, wink* And that is hinting to... ? Realised just after the sketch this way he appears left-handed. Though the placement of the sword suits the image better this way, but I think it's not too bad if he is left handed, either. Or then he could be multihanded. Originally, I intended to make it a bust image kind, but the drawing just expanded from that. And I'm much more pleased with the current look. The colouring also happened. The autumn this year has been wonderfully rich of hues and so I couldn't stand this being black-and-white either. ^^ Wanted to keep the attention focused on the characters, but just something to add a slight depth so the background isn't hugely wrought. Rarely draw persons from back, though why? I've realised even that angle can look interesting. Oh, and the fabric is actually my dress, because we lack good fabrics.

Tools: A6 (?) paper, HB pencils, Caran d'Ache and mother's old Derwent coloured pencils (the old ones have at least 5 times better pigment to what they sell now!) and kneaded eraser.

Primary references:

i.pinimg.com/564x/02/d3/7c/02d… (for the tunic)

i.pinimg.com/564x/68/28/a8/682… (inspiration for Little's clothes)

www.google.com/search?client=f… the wheel barrow)

www.deviantart.com/senshistock… (back pose)

The artwork, characters and story © TheStarlightPrincess