HOME | DD
Tete-DePunk β Guess Who?
Published: 2018-09-10 03:55:50 +0000 UTC; Views: 436; Favourites: 22; Downloads: 0
Redirect to original
Description
Done at the eleventh hour, but here it is!
Here's Gerda for OC-Training!
Will reveal more in the next assignment!
Related content
Comments: 51
My goodness, the firebird just looks incredible! 
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you so much, Amanda! Thank you!
This was my first attempt ever at drawing/designing a firebird! And it amazed me how excellent this turned out for my first time!
Initially, I really worried about the glaring colors, but the Copic markers are incredible- you really can control color hue and shading with Copic markers!
Thank you! Gerda has had and is having a very rich and varied life, and it seemed fitting to give glimpses of such a life through facial expressions here.
π: 0 β©: 1
It is entirely my pleasure!
Really? Well that is an amazing and great first time for sure!
Oh yes copic markers really are a wonder!
Indeed, it was a great decision! It also draws us, the audience, in to her whole life story~
π: 0 β©: 0
Not looking at the lower comments!Β Sorry for being so late to this, but I still want to have a guess on this fantastic artwork.
First of all, that phoenix is incredibly well done and looks gorgeous.Β I'm in awe of it's details!Β
I know the firebird to be a symbol of rebirth; like someone rising from the ashes of the past.Β Gerda's story has something to do with a humongous change in her life.
From her features and outfits, she seems to be middle-aged woman from a northern country.Β Β She's had many experiences in her life--but her adventures are far from over.Β She was a bright and happy child who found love in her youth.Β Maybe she was a bit naive then, and was initially excited about being married... but her fortune ran dry and the situation turned very dark.Β She was abused by her husband.Β Somehow, hopefully, she gets out of that situation...
Not sure what else to guess, but I'm eager to learn more about her!
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you so much, Raye! Thank you for taking time to comment on Gerda's Guess Who!
Thank you! How well the Firebird turned out even surprised me- perhaps the Firebird is a harbinger of good vibes and success?
Definitely! The Firebird plays a huge role in the story itself- it definitely heralds a major change in Gerda's life.
Your guess is remarkably accurate- esp where Gerda is from and her age! Definitely wanted to show she was past youth- it's rare to see middle-aged female characters serving as the main protagonist in fantasy (or in most fictional genres, for that matter) and not relegated to brief cameos that aid the main hero. (Nothing wrong with this, but it's liberating to break from tropes and learn about Gerda and her life.)
Ironically, Gerda escaped the common fate of marital abuse that hounded many of her fellow women. However, she could not escape the accusation of malevolent sorcery because of her skills as a healer and midwife (and the fact she is really a mage who hides her powers in fear of the very persecution she faces).
However, when she encounter a grim reaper whose death calling-card is death by frost, she finds herself in a new world with a new life with her sons.
π: 0 β©: 0
I dunno if you've even posted Profile yet so huzzah even though I'm late I can still take a guess!
Gerda has got to be someone important with the Phoenix theme. So, someone with an important bloodline like royalty. But, she also seems to be traveling, so either she's not a widely known heir and the next heir is trying to keep it that way, or she is well know but either she or the relative before her was a really crappy leader and the people are kicking her out.
Either way, she's on the road now and actually enjoying it! She's getting to meet new people and see new places.
π: 0 β©: 1
Ah! You're sort of close!
Here's a spoiler- Gerda actually transforms into the firebird herself!
She is definitely forging a new road in her life!
Your guess is elaborate- you should take the premise you just presented and turn into a story- you really should.
π: 0 β©: 0
I'm so late with the guess on this, but here it goes:
Gerda is a young woman from northern Europe (judging by her outfits, the fur suggesting she lives somewhere where it's cold) who's had hardships in her life. She has suffered abuse, but she's risen like a phoenix above it all. Now she is worried about her future, but determined to do whatever she can to brave through it. The bird may suggest not only her endurance but also her lively, bold, impassioned temper, representing her own association with the element of fire.
I love the portraits of her and her design, the central piece especially. They are all very expressive and I can't wait to see her wardrobe task for a better look at those lovely outfits! Also, I like how the bird framed the entire piece.
π: 0 β©: 1
Ah! Thank you so much for commenting on Gerda's Guess Who assignment! Thank you, your feedback is something I treasure deeply. Thank you.
You and charcoalfeather , along with MegaMaeve guessed Gerda's background with remarkable accuracy!
Yes, she does hail from an alternate/fictional culture inspired by Northern Europe (Norse and Rus), and her life, while it's had more than share of its hardships, she fights to maintain a resilient spirit of cheer optimism, even though she is terribly shy and worries frequently.
As for spoilers, if you have no objections (you probably know since you read the profile summary), she actually turns into the firebird herself! 
Thank you so much! So glad you like her outfits! Can't wait to show them in detail in the next assignment!
And expect more artwork of Gerda in firebird form!
π: 0 β©: 0
Gorgeous artwork! The Phoenix is really amazing
I think she has something to do with it, maybe she died and reborn...
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you so much!
It was a real joy to draw the Firebird/Phoenix- if you don't object to spoilers, Gerda takes on the form of a firebird in her life.
π: 0 β©: 1
Thanks! Check out her profile for more background!
π: 0 β©: 0
A girl who lives in a snowy region and has a phoenix as a imaginary friend? She looks pretty. Great work!
π: 0 β©: 1
Snowy region is correct! But wait until the next assignments- you will discover what the firebird (phoenix) represents!
Thanks so much! Gerda herself doesn't consider herself pretty, but she needs encouragement, for she is, in actuality, pretty cute!
π: 0 β©: 0
Oh, you also use markers?
Gerda is a woman who's led a rather turbulent yet not unhappy life so far. I enjoy how you showed her throughout various stages of her life. Gerda lives in a colder climate, and for most of her life, she was rather well off, wearing nice, patterned fabrics and furs, as well as golden earrings. As a girl, she may have been somewhat shy and curious, and she grew up to be a spirited, relatively happy woman who enjoyed simple and fine things, such as flowers and nice jewellery. 
The firebird/phoenix that covers a large part of the artwork (and dare I say, her life?) may be a spirit she encounters, or a being she may be able to transform in (quite like a spirit animal?) - the bird may also represent a fire that burns within Gerda: one of warmth and beauty and hope? Gerda may go on a long journey - a worrying path she has yet to thread - to discover the fire inside her. I'm looking forwards to learning more about her story.
π: 0 β©: 1
Yes! And so sorry for the late reply! You have no idea how much I value your comments, Maeve!
Copics are just the best thing that happened to me- they cost a bit, but are SO worth it! Amazing color abilities! It was awesome to finally get the right texture and color, plus shading flesh tones!
GOSH-you are a guessing master!
Yes, Gerda hails from a Kievan Rus/Old Norse fictional culture, and often faces the winter season. She actually wasn't always well-off, but she is self-sufficient. She wears golden earrings as a symbol of her beliefs.
She is a content soul, trying so hard to keep cheer under bleak circumstances- she creates her own happiness and tries to share this with others.
Her village turns against her when they learn her second husband is a sorcerer and assume she is one too. When she fails to heal their sick after a plague strikes the village , they assume she cursed their village and flog her- they aim to drive she and her sons from their village. But when they attempt to attack her sons, in her rage, she performs a spell and becomes a powerful firebird and escapes with them.
She does find a safe place within the world of the Other Folk, esp when she goes into the service of the Frost Lord.
But yes, Gerda's association with the firebird goes beyond her magical form- how you described that the firebird represents the fire within her- I never thought of that before!
But yes, Gerda is on a long journey, and it is indeed worrying path to discover the fire within her. Her journey takes her through dangers, but she must find her own strength within for her sons and her new friends.
It is just amazing how understand Gerda, her personality and story so well!
If you're interested, Gerda has her own story being posted on her in chapter installments.
π: 0 β©: 0
Gerda definitely looks like a person who travels a lot, so I think she has some kind of fire powers (that she's sought for and must run away) or was sent on a journey by that fiery bird goddess.
π: 0 β©: 1
She does indeed travel, but to another realm.
And she does possess powerful magic-though not quite consisting of fire. The firebird is actually a form of hers-spoiler alert!
But good guess, nonetheless!
π: 0 β©: 0
Great work on the firebird and your colours have really been improving lately! I would say that Gerda is a woman who lives in a fantastical world that's based on Northern Europe (Russian, German and Scandinavian influences) and she is in her 30s or 40s. We see her gradually age in the portraits. She looks a bit tired, perhaps she works a lot and barely has any chance to rest. It seems like she enjoys nature (I see her looking at a flower at the bottom?) and is someone who has faced a number of difficult situations, but managed to survive. Was she beaten up by someone in the lower left corner? I wonder who it was. Someone who betrayed her?
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you!
Sorry for the late reply- you guessed her to a T!
Yes, Gerda does hail from a fictional/fantastical world inspired by Kievan Rus and Old Norse cultures, and she is in her late 30's and early 40's.
Gerda's life is marked by a tiresome grind of life, but her spirit resiliently remains optimistic and cheerful, despite her constant shyness and fear.
She ends up being a sort of the head of an inbetween season- sort of a master of that season between Summer and Fall- representing her own stage in life. She is in that stage of exiting the summer of her life and entering the Fall of her life soon.
And as revealed, it was her village who turned on when she failed to heal their sick and they assumed she was a malevolent sorceress.
Thanks for commenting! Will comment on Sam's assignments soon!
π: 0 β©: 0
Very close guess! You're good!
π: 0 β©: 1
Really? Oh goodie! Β
π: 0 β©: 1
Yes! Expect more spoilers in the future assignments! You'd be surprise how close your guess is!
π: 0 β©: 1
π: 0 β©: 1
Thank you so much!
π: 0 β©: 1
You're so very welcome. Β
π: 0 β©: 0
last minute is best minute !Β
judging by the name and pictures she is a dutch pirateΒ
π: 0 β©: 1
Last minute is thrilling yet harrowing!
Ah- she's not a pirate, and not Dutch- but judging from her clothes and name, it would be easy to mistake her for a Dutch pirate! Good guess, though!
π: 0 β©: 1
Love the phoenix
Gerda appears to be someone who has seen both happiness and disappointment throughout her lifetime, and has ultimately found solice.Β
π: 0 β©: 1
Thanks so much, Kerri!
And Kerri, your guess is SPOT-ON about Gerda and her life's journey! You described her to a perfect T! You really understand her, despite little being posted about her. Thank you so much for understanding her!
π: 0 β©: 1
You're very welcome!
I'm looking forward to seeing more of Gerda!
π: 0 β©: 1
Your welcome!
π: 0 β©: 0
The Peacock goddess!! That's an awesome character design btw!!Β
π: 0 β©: 1
Ah! It's actually a firebird-but good guess! Firebirds and peacocks do have similar forms and anatomy.
π: 0 β©: 0
Oooh pretty!
She looks to be deeply connected to a phoenix.
Her face is bruised, so I'm guessing there is an abusive jerk in her life. 
I wonder if she's a traveler or if that's just the fashion of her country. She loves sporting the braids for her beautiful red hair, though.
π: 0 β©: 1
If you don't object to spoilers, Gerda actually BECOMES the firebird (phoenix)-it's her form she transforms into by aid of a deep and powerful spell.
Actually, it was her entire village who turned against because she failed to heal their sick during a plague- they assumed she was a malevolent sorceress and mete out a harsh punishment.
She hails from a culture not unlike Kievan Rus with some heavy doses of Old Norse. Her headscarf was inspired by this: www.pinterest.com/pin/50531802β¦
She does indeed have beautiful red hair! Though most people are afraid of her red hair, since red hair was associated with magical people.
π: 0 β©: 0
Oh, I really like the phoenix! So vibrant!
Hmm, seems like Gerda is a senior or elderly of the society and faced abuse as a teenager? It seems like their years as a kid was rather fine, seeing how Gerda's smiling there, but beaten up where it shows when they've aged. Holding a cup of liquid- tea, medicine or something else? They seem to have found joy, either in the magic of herbs or the peaceful life they now have.
The phoenix seems to represent something huge, maybe how their life has ups and downs but Gerda comes back up?? That or Gerda made a deal with a phoenix and can't die anymore lol but that doesn't sound right.
π: 0 β©: 1
Sorry for the late reply!
Gerda is definitely past the age of youth, she is in her late 30's for most of the story, which was considered by far more old than what we consider old in our society.
Her injuries didn't stem from a single abuser, but an entire village turned against her when they assumed she was a malevolent sorceress. If you don't object to spoilers, Gerda finds herself in the world of the Fae and is given a role as a nature-nurturer- meaning she nurturer nature, like trees and plants.
The firebird is Gerda's magical form she takes on whenever she is enraged or wants to protect someone dear to her.
π: 0 β©: 1
Don't worry, I don't mind the late reply, real life gets hectic.
Haha, I don't mind spoilers and I'm glad to learn more about her!
Really love the firebird though!
π: 0 β©: 0
YAY! Gerda! She looks like she's involved with a firebird there . . . lots of russian designs too. She looks fairly happy, although someone has beaten her up in the lower left
π: 0 β©: 1
YAY INDEED!
So glad Gerda is finally coming to life now!
Yes, there's a firebird involved-it's actually herself!
And yes, there's heavy Scandinavian and old Kievan Rus designs, much like an old Russian fairy tale or like Stravinsky's Firebird ballet.
Well, that someone who beaten her up was actually a village- will reveal more in future assignments and other pieces. But don't worry- most of her, esp after that unfortunate episode in her life, is a joyful if turbulent journey.
π: 0 β©: 1
Ohhhhh! She's the firebird?! I can't wait to get more information about her then
π: 0 β©: 1
Yes! 
She IS the firebird!
Would you like spoilers now, or prefer to see in future artwork and chapters?
π: 0 β©: 1
I will wait patiently
Well, mostly patiently
π: 0 β©: 1
Ah! Expect a slew of stuff this weekend, hopefully!
π: 0 β©: 0