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HeartGear — Cao Commission: Familial Currency
Published: 2012-09-01 12:44:45 +0000 UTC; Views: 55382; Favourites: 726; Downloads: 1218
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Commission forI'm sure he could recount the history better than I could, but this is an illustration of when Mithridates of Pontus, Queen of what is today Turkey, was betrayed by her daughter Pharnaces. Pharnaces turned over her mother to Pompey (of Rome) in order to have the chance to come to power herself.
Cao is really a decent artist in his own right, and his designs tend to be more elaborate and ornate than mine. Mithridates and Pompey are drawn directly from his references, but Pharnaces hadn't been created yet, so I had some artistic freedom with her.
Cao described Pharnaces as militant, but he also wanted sex appeal. She came out much more belly-dancer than what I started with, but I like the overall affect. I wanted to obscure her face to make it obvious that she was doing something underhanded. The sexual overtones of the belly dancer I tried to play against a hardened expression, scars, and a large sword to create the dynamic of: she hasn't been allowed to be her true self or show her true potential, because of her mother's mandates. As a result, she has turned into a sexual albeit cruel and venomous princess.
Normally I don't go too far in to shibari style bondage... if that's even accurate.... but I felt it worked with the overall feel of the piece. Pharnaces isn't just going to bind her mother, she's going to want to obsessively bind her mother after years of being oppressed. And for good reason: just look at Mithridates hand. If she could escape this transaction, the results wouldn't be death but worse than death. The cruelty compounds.
I built the BG first using mostly the shape and pen tools in PS, and pushed the floor down with the perspective tool. I wanted to create a conspiratorial feel (To say, if Mithridates could only ALERT someone to what was happening none of this would have to occur) and so I thought the atmosphere was especially important.
On a related note: I wanted the style to play with the separation of BG elements and figures, like in paper mario img.gamefaqs.net/screens/e/a/5… . Cute style not-with-standing, I enjoy how this method makes me more aware of the space the characters are interacting in, while still keeping the focus on the characters themselves. Overall I'm satisfied with the result so far, but I'd like to get better and make these scenes even more engaging and immersive. I want it to feel like you could step through the screen and be there.
Well this script has been gone on long enough!
Thanks for stopping by.
~HG
Check out Mithridates fav.me/d46k3p5 and Pompey fav.me/d2pcafz at Cao's DA page, but be warned: the content of most of his page is for mature audiences.
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Comments: 12
I really love this artwork! A picture is worth a thousand words, and indeed I could go on and on in describing how much I like it.
The immediate imagery is plain and simple, but very emotional. The mother, Mithridates, on her knees, enraged and humiliated for what her daughter, Pharnaces has done to her. There she kneels with sweat on her brow, hateful eyes, the grimace around her gag, and her constant struggling against her bonds, but all to no avail.
Pharnaces, stands resolute behind her Mother, sternly displaying her with a like a common slave brought to market. She even is standing on her cloak as if to further abase her. And on the left, the contact Pharnaces was supposed to meet with to turn over her Mother.
I really like the expression on her face. She appears both surprised and taken aback at what Pharnaces has brought to her. It makes me feel that she didn't expect her to be able to pull off kidnapping her Mother, nor ever dreaming what a Queen's status could be lowered to.
Great expressions and emotional content. Excellent rendering. This is simply wonderful!
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Reminds me of Pompey's comment to Menas in Antony and Cleopatra; "Ah, this thou shouldst have done, and not have spoke on't! In me 'tis villany; In thee't had been good service."
Clearly Pharnaces has learned Menas' lesson and has acted without telling Pompey, because otherwise Pompey would have had to tell her not to do it^_^
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I really do love how the rope encircles her hair, and how Pharnaces is tugging on it to force Mithridates' head back, fully showing her off so Pompey can take a good look. The atmosphere of the picture is so delicious <3.
You drew Cao Cao's characters very well, and similarly designed Pharnaces to be just as fun to look at. Well done!
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Don't want to be picky, but I looked up Mithridates of Pontus, and all I can find out about this person is that she's actually a he. [link] Please do correct me if I'm wrong, but all the sources I went to read the same. Poetic license aside of course, it is still a great illustration and story.
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Yes, the historical Mithridates was male.
For people who are actually that interested, I genderswapped the majority of the major players of the period of the Fall of the Roman Republic.
Why? Cause it's sexier that way.
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Oh... uh... I knew that...
Yep, it definitely makes things a whole lot sexier! Cheers!
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Only...decent? ;_;.
Naw, J/K, I commissioned you because it would be totally awesome to see what my characters look like when drawn by an absolute pro :3.
I think the part of this pic that really conveys the entire situation, is the rope that is yanking back Mithridates' hair. That right there gives us the image we need, of someone powerful having been rendered down to helplessness, defeated, humiliated. The fact that it's such a personal level of betrayal, makes it absolutely delicious, and the claw like gesture you gave Mithridates' hand adds to it even more, that less is she furious about being delivered to the Romans, as she is about the identity of her backstabber.
Pompey turned out really, really well in your style. I don't know if I had mentioned it, but historically Pompey was famous for being "child-like and innocent in temperament" and the look of haughty surprise, mixed with a tinge of innocence is read quite clearly in both the face and the body language, the slightly arched back, the small "o" of surprise, the youthful features on her face.
Pharnaces design, is brilliant. I fully intend to keep that as her official design, as she is clearly the daughter of Mithridates, but you have made her different and distinct enough to make her her own, truly visible character. The sword, the scars, all of it portrays someone nearly the opposite of her aristocratic mother, someone fierce, a dagger wrapped in silk. The cold eyes really show off what kind of a character she is despite the veil masking most of her face, although she is doing the Roman's a favor, it's clear that as far as she's concerned, it's really all about herself. It becomes extra special to me in a way, because it won't be long before Pharnaces herself is a prisoner of the Romans- not Pompey, but Caesar!
Some might criticize that the layout is flat, but I think having the long wide angle like this really helps capture more of the mood of the picture. The distance between the characters, the intricate background, (I swear, it almost looks like a photo.) Although the background was done in a different style, it hardly clashes with the characters and serves to mesh quite well. The dark lighting, and the soft blues set off the entire pic excellently, with a sense of royalty, but also furtiveness, subtlety, treachery.
Again, I am really, REALLY super happy with how this pic turned out. I'd say it outstripped my expectations, but that's a lie- I KNEW you'd come up with something absolutely brilliant- it's just part of your natural skill!
Thanks so much 
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I can't really describe how I feel about this. It's a good picture and the characters are well presented, but it kind of makes me feel sad for humanity. It just touches something in me that cries about unnecessary cruelty.
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Yah, I'm rather partial to Cao's Catilina design myself :3
I like the overall feeling I'm getting from this pic. The darkness adds to it as does the whole transaction angle which is always a fun DID theme
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