After many nights of denial, tears, and just plain whining, I have decided the only thing I can do to get out of this slump is to create a illustration series. What would that series consist of? Uh, English Royals of course!
I have been very interested in Royal history for a couple of years now. Pretty much after a drawing teacher of mine suggested that I read "The Girl With the Pearl Earring" (yes, I realize that has NOTHING to do with English Royalty) I did, and soon after wanted to watch the movie. Although it was not as good as the book, Netflix recommended that I watch "The Other Boleyn Girl" (something to do with Scarlet Johhanson I'm sure) and I was HOOKED on the Tudors drama! I started reading all the Phillipa Gregory books I could get my hands on, and quickly became obsessed with learning all I could. I was just amazed with Henry VIII, and all 6 of his wives.
Soon I was learning about all the children he had, and what became of them. Next thing I new I was learning about all the different families that have ruled, and what became of each of them. I was watching movie after movie, and reading books and articles about the royals! So, after weeks of investigation and thought, I have finally come up with 8 of my favorite royals to create portraits for. I won't deny that the royal wedding had some influence on this series, so I thought I would embrace this, and make the series about Royal Couples through the ages. Here are the royals that I have chosen:
1. Empress Matilda : The crown was suppose to go to her, but she was passed over and lived her life determined to get it back, and to make sure her son became King. This same determination and thought didn't really get put into her marriage though.
2. Kind Edward II : Was married to Isabella of France, and even though they had 4 children together, she wasn't a fan of his and had him killed.
3. King Henry VIII: Like and normal man, he liked new things that made other men jealous. His object of choice, his wives. He had 6, and most weren't too happy about being replaced, so he took care of that.
4. Mary I of England: The first (and legitimate) daughter of Henry VIII. She was made Queen and got married after being pressured into it. It was said that she very much loved her husband Philip of Spain, but the same is not said about his feelings toward her.
5. Elizabeth I of England: The Virgin Queen. The title may be debatable, but what's not is that she never married and never produced a child. Where's the couple in that? I'd say in all the proposals she got.
6. King George III: He met his wife the day of their wedding, but he never took a mistress and they had 15 children! If that's not romantic, I don't know what is.
7. Queen Victoria: She married a man she very much liked, Prince Albert, and they had a very happy marriage that produced 9 children. But after a short life together (he passed away only in his 40's) he left her in years of mourning. Who can get a woman out of years of depression? A cute boy of course! John Brown may have only been her servant in her children's eyes, but if so, why is she buried with his ring on her finger?
8. King George VI: His wife didn't want to be married to the royal family, and he didn't want to become king. But I guess in life you don't always get what you want, and even with his stutter he was made King, and she, Queen.
Don't worry. I'm not leaving out the happy couple, and will have a portrait of the newlyweds in their carriage ride through town, as well as a map of England pointing out some of my favorite hot spots in this royal country!
I plan on posting pictures of my concept work soon, and after each image is completed, posting that final image as well. My plan is to have all of my final sketches done by the end of this week, and then give each image 1 week for completion. They all will get 1 portrait, except Henry who will get 6 (1 for each wife) and Victoria who will get 2 (one for Albert, and one for her friend John Brown).
I hope this will not only get me out of my slump, but will also make some people amused. Which is why I went into the arts in the first place!
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