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Saturday, April 7, 2012

Vocal


It's another Illustration Friday Saturday where this week's prompt is "vocal". 

And just who IS this opera Viking woman  character anyway??

Quite simply it comes from the character of Brünnehilde in Wagner's opera the Ring of the Nebulung. The character is based on Norse mythology. Brynhildr, as she is known in the Norse legend, is a shieldmaiden ... a servant of Odin.

In Wagner's Ring Cycle, Siegfried slays the the dragon. Then enters the castle and awakens Brünnehilde by removing her helmet and cutting off her chainmail armour.  He falls in love at first sight and proposes marriage to her with the magic ring.

Didn't know I was so cultured, didja!? 

Okay... I googled it.

9 comments:

agg79 said...

Wow. The things you learn from the all-knowing Google search. One should note that, if Siegfried had done that today, he'd be arrested for killing an endangered species, breaking and entering, and assault (not sure how they'd classify cutting off the chainmail). The question is: Is Brünnehilde the fat lady we keep hearing about waiting to sing?

Cindy D. said...

Looks great! She is definitely heroic. I love the way she's standing against the sky, probably at the top of some mountain. Great, delicate colors, such a different style from your usual bold ones!

Scott said...

Yes, I'm familiar with Wagner's Ring Cycle--first from the cartoon "What's Opera Doc?", then from Music Appreciation in college. Good picture--as always--but that depiction of her is a bit big, for my taste.

Abby said...

I've wondered that too! Is she, in fact, THE fat lady??

Abby said...

Thanks Cindy, I've not done much watercolor and am still learning the basics :).

Abby said...

Good on you Scott for already knowing who she is. I think she looks too big too. I was trying for the perspective angle of looking up at her from down below, which would make her head small in comparison with her body (and its respective parts), but I think my angle was off and so she's out of proportion, even for a "big woman". Oh well, all practice is progress!

Indigene said...

I love it! Lol! Of course, I knew you were cultured, you're an amazing artist! :)

terri said...

Maybe if Minnesota's professional football team put HER out on the field, they'd have some success! She looks pretty intimidating!

Creations By Mit said...

Ha ha! Google is so handy! Great illustration! She looks like she's got rather large... lung capacity!