HOME | DD
Alsdale — Watcher of the Seals (WIP)
Published: 2012-03-08 23:28:33 +0000 UTC; Views: 5477; Favourites: 133; Downloads: 98
Redirect to original
Description
Finished version is here: [link]A request by king-of-angmar [link] inspired by the scene in Towers of Midnight in which Egwene is in Tel'aran'rhiod and sees the Dragon's Fang in the Rose Window alongside the Flame of Tar Valon (actually underneath, but I couldn't figure out what that meant so I drew it the way it's usually done, with the two side-by-side).
Please skim the following before using/reposting, thanks! [link]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wheel of Time © Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. This is a derivative work based on the book series, is not official, and was created for exclusively non-commercial purposes
Related content
Comments: 48
I am so psyched to see the final version. The glass window and the fox are what have me most excited. And the dragon. Let's not forget the dragon.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
It's getting there! At this point I've spent 50+ hours painting. I think I'll have it done in a week. It might be more like 2 because of scheduling conflicts.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
yay!!!
i m very much looking forward to see it.
please upload it in a high-Defination
thanks
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Thank you! I've been painting on and off for a week now and I'm really happy with how it's turning out. Should be done in a week or so. At least, I hope.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Absolutely fantastic! I feel the need to build a cathedral just for that rose window (should I ever manage it, I hope you will accept the commission)!! The Ogier would be jealous of that tower, as well. I love all of the symbols you've managed to incorporate. Can't wait to see it as a watercolor!
I must agree with everyone else who dreads the day when you get WOT out of your system. Hopefully, that won't ever happen completely...
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you!
I got some feedback about the tower that convinced me to include stone 'ivy' crawling up the corners, so now it looks even more like something the Ogier would build. So I'm very excited about that
I hope if anybody ever commissions me to do a stained glass window that I don't have to do the construction. The whole thing would probably break and fall on some poor sucker in the middle of prayer. Which would be ironic ...
But I digress. Thanks for the kind words! My semester is almost over, so I can start painting soon
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Geez!! I just read Sam's description and it makes me feel overly stupid !
The amount of details I've missed... TT
I changed my opinion about your drawing : it's the best of the best !!
Hugest congrats
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
lol thank you! i really appreciate it
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I believe it's the best drawing of the WoT I've seen. It is just too beautiful ! I've made it my computer background and I'm not gonna change it for a while. That ok with you ?
All the details are so delicately drawn, and all the symbols are there showing the two most important sides that will fight together at Tarmon'Gaidon. The fox and the wolf are supporting Rand, with the Wheel und the crown of swords. Too bad a crow is not somewhere near the fox to represent the Seanchan.
At first I didn't understand that there was the dragon's head at the feet of Rand and his tail encircles the White Tower. 
Just, what kind of fruits are surrounding Rand ? What does that represent ?
And what are the dove with the ribbon and the tiny heart for ?
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Oh, wow, thank you for saying! I'm so flattered you're using it as a background!
I like the idea of putting a raven in to represent the Seanchan ... I'll see if there's space (I'm getting ready to paint it now, and the whole thing is in pen).
The flowers and buds around Rand are apple blossoms referencing Ch 1 of the most recent book, when he comes down from Dragonmount and makes the apple orchard bloom and bear fruit.
The doves with the ribbon and heart symbolize Egwene's bond to Gawyn.
If you're interested, there's a great discussion on the symbolism early on in the comments; I think everything is covered there
Thanks again! I'm glad you like it!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I love so much your style. When you finish this one, do you think you could... pleaaaase do another with...all the characters ?
I really don't mean to give you homework, it's just that I would like so much to see a drawing of yours with the other characters of the Wot.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
oh man ... there are a lot characters! I tried to do all the main characters once and it didn't work so well ...
any characters you particularly like? I can't make any promises because I'm a bit short on time (and people keep telling me I need to do something not WoT-focused!) but it's heading into summer so there's always a chance ...
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Desecration! Sacrilege!
We've finally found an artist who draws WoT fan art with grace, poise and style. Not to mention immense care. No way are your fans allowing you to leave us. Not just yet.
Also, this isn't complete yet, so I'm holding back my, let's say ideas, for more WoT work 
~Sam.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
haha! Thanks for the vote of confidence, Sam. You know, there are plenty of great WoT artists out there (e.g., Reddera, RoseMuse, Forbis, and Hamdiggy on deviantArt, to name just a few off the top of my head)
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Totally agree with Sam ! It would be absolute shame to let you leave us !!
I know I should let yoou finish this quietly without distracting you, so I'm gonna make a suggestion, you'll just forget it until you're through, all right ?!
A very symbolistic drawing with the party that went away so much time ago from the Two Rivers and contains the fate of the world without them even suspecting it ? Crap, it misses so many people, Aviendha, Tuon, Min, Elayne, Faile...
A very symbolistic drawing with Rand and Min, Elayne and Aviendha
Always wanted to see one with the four of them, as beautilful as yours here.
...Sorry if I'm asking too much
Please don't feel restrained to do it, I don't want to bother you.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I can never decide, if I'm going to do the Two Rivers folk, whether to draw them right when they're leaving the two rivers or now. There's a fun sketch there, I'd have to think about it.
I never like ones of Rand and the girls because it makes him look like a total player. Maybe that's the challenge -- not giving that impression!
I'll tuck the ideas away in the back of my mind
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
I guess that's true. Now that I think about it, I've never seen one with the four of them together where he does not pose as the womanizer. What of the scene where he is bonded by them ?
Sorry, anyway I'm so impatient to see the picture in colors. Good luck.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
yep. I've got it transferred to watercolor paper now and most of the inkwork is done. I'm going to paint it as soon as my semester ends.
Thanks!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
thanks you for the great artwork.
i can't wait to see it in color.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
This is completely breathtaking! Your composition is so attentive to the complexity of its contents...the details are executed beautifully! I really can't wait to see it in color
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
This is just beautiful and I concur that it's one of the best WoT deviations I've seen. I really look forward to seeing the end product! I'd hang it on the wall right next to my Dragon banner and print of Rand.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you! I'm very flattered!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Ever have that hammer to the head feeling when you see something absolutley great? This is simply an ingenious composition. I love the attention to detail and the feeling of foreshadowing this gives me. It's a visual prophecy.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
haha. yes, that's the feeling that keeps me painting. Thank you so much for the lovely compliment!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
This is amazing. I mean that seriously. This is one of the best Wheel of Time deviations I've seen lately, and that's saying quite a lot.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Oh wow, thank you! I'm really flattered!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Wow this is really cool .really look forward to it in colour wow really awesome
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thanks! I'm really looking forward to painting it
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
OHMIGODIT'SBEAUTIFUL
THIS
The detail is really really good, and the accuracy too. The only thing I'd consider adding would be the endless serpent motif... that's a pretty strong one which I can't see here.
Otherwise, EPIC
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Aw thank you! I couldn't think where to fit the endless serpent motif, but you're right it does feel like it's missing. I think I will go rework the ovals in the window to include it. Thanks for saying!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
Brilliant, very detailed and quite complex looking in terms of how long it would've taken to draw that
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Thank you! It didn't take as long to sketch as you might expect. Transferring it to watercolor paper, doing the ink work, and painting it ... now that's going to be another story
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
I. Am. In. Love.
Seriously, cannot express in words how monumentally epic this picture is. The acute attention to detail simply takes my breath away. It has, already, surpassed my wildest expectations; and the work isn't even complete!!
If you hate spoilers and want to hunt around the picture for details, DON'T READ FURTHER for I'm going to list the wonderful nuggets I uncovered while staring at this picture:
1. The apple blossoms; they're everywhere but I love how they're radiating from Rand's side of the rose window only (and the tail of the Dragon). It's a direct reference to the chapter 'Apple's First' from the XIIIth book, 'Towers of Midnight' and the lines in the Karaethon Cycle: 'There can be no health in us, nor any good thing grow, for the land is one with the Dragon Reborn, and he one with the land.'
2. Justice. I like how he's wielding Callandor and has Justice at his hips. If you look carefully you can see his left arm, ending in a stump, resting on the hilt of Justice.
3. The Crown of Swords resting on the Dragon's left paw.
4. The animals representing the three ta'veren. The sinuous Dragon that's starts underneath Rand's feet and winds up around the White Tower to the left. The tears were a wonderful addition, alluding to another aspect of the story where Cadsuane Melaidhrin and Sorilea try to get him to learn laughter and tears, not to mention another line from the prophecies: 'Pray that the heart of stone remembers tears...'. The Wolf has been drawn beautifully as well, but it is the Fox that is my favourite part of this picture. It doesn't have one eye and the fact that it's represented by that one grizzly scar running along its left eye. (When coloured, it might as well be a fresh one. I just imagine it to be grizzly because, being a city kid, rarely have I seen an animal with a fresh scar)
5. The Seven Seals. This comes a close second after Mat's Fox as far as favourites within the picture go and was a stroke of genius on Amy's part. The Seals are part of the rose window at the very top. Barring the central design which is, like Amy said, the Flame of Tar Valon beside the Dragon's Fang in Tel'aran'rhiod, the rest are not solely decorative art. They actually represent the seven Seals: four of which are cracked and broken, two perfectly intact and one scratched. The last was found and scratched with a knife by Moiraine Damodred in Rhuidean in 'The Fires of Heaven'.
6. The a'dam hanging from the Dragon's tail at Egwene's feet. I actually didn't notice this till the very end and was quite surprised and satisfied when I did.
7. Vora's sa'angreal, the white fluted wand that Egwene is carrying in her right hand. At least, I think that's what it is. It could be the Staff of 'Staff and Stole' which represent the position of the Amyrlin Seat (even though it's traditionally wielded by the Keeper of Chronicles), but in that case, I'd expect it to be bigger.
I'm sure I have more details to uncover besides the fairly traditional ones that're found in most pieces of WoT fanart: the Wheel of Time, Rand's tattoos, Egwene's stole etc etc.
In conclusion, I had no idea when I asked Amy to tackle this topic that something this magnificent would come out of it. I'm so very glad I was wrong.
👍: 0 ⏩: 2
THANK YOU Sam for catching all the little details. You're right about everything (and yes, Egwene is holding the fluted wand). I'm thrilled you noticed the apple blossoms and the dragon's tears, and that you knew which sword was Callandor and which was Justice. It is really so flattering as an artist to have an audience as attentive to these details as I am.
I have been having a blast with this painting and I am so glad you brought me the idea. If I could, I would work on it day and night until it was finished. I agree with you that what's come out of this is a step above my usual work ... I guess requests bring out the perfectionist in me
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Here are the details you didn't mention (if you want it to remain a mystery, you may not want to keep reading!):
The doves holding the ribbon are a not-so-subtle and probably over-romanticized reference to Egwene's Bond to Gawyn. Similarly, the small lights dancing around Callandor reference Rand's Bond to the three girls (Alanna doesn't count, as far as I'm concerned). The two little lights next to one of the larger ones are of course for Elayne's twins (Calian and Shivan, who herald the end of ages and wear a red and a black mask, so that's the color the lights will be. Min in blue and green, Aviendha in yellow and orange, Elayne in white and pink). The snow (which is hard to pick out in the sketch but might turn out nice in the final painting) somewhat obscurely references the Blood Snow, which was the battle during which Rand was born. The explosion of rocks at Rand's feet (the dragon's head) mostly serve to stabilize Rand's footing but also allude to his tenuous grip on sanity. I drew Dragonmount into the Dragon's Fang in the Rose Window as if a piece of the glass is missing, since the Hall of the Tower actually looks out on Dragonmount (once the Seanchan blast the whole in the wall that the Rose Window was built to conceal). The flower in Egwene's palm is a reference to the technique Moiraine used to teach her how to channel. Egwene's sash and the ribbons tied around it will of course be green.
And I think that may actually be everything.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Good God! I had no idea that Elayne's children were being speculated on! I actually had to go read about Calian the Chooser and Shivan the Hunter. I really hope it turns out that way. Is it fair to omit Aviendha's children though? Although, adding a whirl for each of Padra, Alarch, Janduin and Marinna might provide too much clutter.
I was wondering about the doves and thought they signified the peace that the White Tower brought to the lands for three thousand years. The ribbon and the pendant should've clued me in though.
I'm thoroughly dissatisfied that I missed Dragonmount through the Dragon's Fang, though. It's a wonderful addition! That window is seriously amazing.
I was wondering if your heart is set on her sash and ribbons being green. The times and Egwene's mentality not to mention her previous thoughts allude to her being a Green, but red would be a wonderful colour on her too. After the execution of the Black Ajah in rebel camp in The Gathering Storm, there're these parts that describe Egwene walking through the camp wearing a crimson dress with ribbons of red in her hair steaming in the wind. It made for a different not to mention very striking image.
But then again, Rand and the Dragon are entirely in red and gold: red marks, red coat, red hair, red and gold scales etc. Different colours might not be such a bad idea.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Yeah, I doubt they'll come straight out in the last book and say Elayne's twins are Heroes of the Horn, but I'd still bet the speculation is correct
I thought about how doves are usually a symbol of peace when I drew them, but to be perfectly honest I don't think the Aes Sedai have done a great job of that recently. I needed some type of bird to balance the composition ... maybe I should have chosen ravens but whether tied to the Seanchan or the Dark One they seemed to send the wrong message. Maybe should have gone with sparrows or cranes or something. Will think more on that ...
I like the image of Egwene in crimson but I just can't picture her wearing any color associated so strongly with the Red Ajah. I'll have to think on it some more...the bulk of her dress was originally going to be white but I'm rethinking that now.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0