The Moon and the Stars: G’raha, Emet, Elidibus, Ardbert (Patreon)

Finished the lineart for G’raha Tia as the pole (aka North) star.

Mucha’s work has been a massive influence on my own, before I even knew that it was. He inspired many many gorgeous illustrations from the manga group CLAMP, specifically for a manga called Magic Knight Rayearth. i used to copy full pages in my own sketchbook when I was a kid and meticulously recreated tons of the illustrations that they drew as splash art. This is probably where my love of lineart sprung from and both Mucha and CLAMP continue to inspire me today.

It only felt natural to create a series at some point inspired by some of his work. There we’re so many amazing pieces to pick from but the theme of stars and moon (EW I’m looking at you) seemed especially relevant for ff14.

Of course I couldn’t do a series without including my boy Mr. Tia. He was a perfect for the North Star. Guidance, hope, luck, freedom, constancy, and even life's purpose Are all aspects of this foundational celestial body.   All these aspects embody what the Crystal Exarch cointually put forth into the world and strived to find for himself as well.  Without G’raha‘s constant hope, guidance, sheer luck at times, constant presence on the first, the world would be lost.

Another mucha inspired piece from the same series, this time for Elidibus from post-Shadowbringers. For his star I chose the Morning Star. While this star is the brightest object in the sky at dawn and often seen as a symbol of hope and guidance, it is also known to be a sign from our ancestors and spirits past. While Elidibus was seen as prodigy and worked tirelessly for his people, not only because he loved his family but also because he wanted to be a great leader, his ambitions were misguided and his loneliness eventually led to his downfall.  This rise and fall of a promising and brilliant star only seemed like a natural mirror to the morning star Lucifer, before and after his fall.

On a side note, I really just love drawing drapery T_T

Last but certainly not least, the evening star. Another end of an era and end of a cycle. This star is seen as following the sun across the sky, a faint shade or faded version of the brightest object in the sky. The evening star accompanies the sun at the end of its life and is the final glint of light seen before utter darkness consumes the world. This star can also represent aging and even victory.

oh Ardbert <3 You tried so hard. I love this lad so much and he deserves everything.

Ah yes, the moon, emet’s long time haunt and foreboding omen of his demise. The celestial body that has no luminous glow of its own, only reflecting the radiance of the life giving shepherd of the sky, the sun.  The full moon no longer in sight, the waning crescent represents a time of reflection and purging, heralding a the end of a cycle and time of renewal or rest is impending. It’s a time to let go of people and things that no longer serve you. These can be relationships, negative thoughts, poor habits or perhaps even old wounds.   While emet was driven and patient and conniving and malicious, he also knew he was tired. But the end, it was his time to say farewell.

I really liked working on a piece for him.

The lineart PSDs have been attached to the individual posts in the con panda tier!!