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akitku β€” Calm Seas

#boat #girl #medieval #sailing #sailor #medievalfantasy
Published: 2016-04-01 17:12:49 +0000 UTC; Views: 1463; Favourites: 119; Downloads: 0
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Description A rather recent character, Meleto, serving as helmsman(woman) on a Sicilian trading vessel.

While drawing sketches for this I realized that medieval ships probably didn't have rudders of the same type one can see now... which lead to a terribly distressing attempt to find information about medieval rudders. I only partially succeeded I'm afraid. Plus everything is kind of out of proportion and there is hardly enough rigging. Oh well, artistic license and all that...Still, boats are just so awesome!

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Watercolour, black ink, white ink, markers
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Comments: 57

akitku In reply to ??? [2016-10-09 09:55:01 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much! Haha, I was happy with the gull! So I'm glad you like it!

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ElisaMelis [2016-05-28 08:06:12 +0000 UTC]

I missed so many of your recent works __ waah, i like this so much, the sky is beautiful and i love Meleto! Boats aren't the easiest thing to draw...>_> i agree on that, but i also like how your worked with tones here!Β 

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akitku In reply to ElisaMelis [2016-05-29 12:02:47 +0000 UTC]

Haha, yeah I've been a little more productive lately! At least I've been trying to be...I'm glad you like her. She is a pretty fun character, I enjoy her laid-back attitude.
Yeah, boats are lovely, but difficult to draw.

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Matakoura [2016-05-24 23:25:43 +0000 UTC]

YAAASSSSS more painting!!! Β 
I love the lighting and the detail!

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akitku In reply to Matakoura [2016-05-25 05:46:37 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! I wish I had the patience for more details actually!

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Matakoura In reply to akitku [2016-05-28 00:17:38 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!

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Wolfberry-J [2016-05-01 16:31:10 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful night scene! Love the seagull and the stars. Β I like how the curve of the sail creates an eye-path to the character.

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akitku In reply to Wolfberry-J [2016-05-04 09:02:01 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!

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erinclaireb [2016-04-12 10:58:57 +0000 UTC]

Gorgeous! I love that you put so much thought into the details and researching them to get them right!

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akitku In reply to erinclaireb [2016-04-13 19:36:34 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much for the comment. I guess I get a bit obsessed with technicalities sometimes...on the other hand, sometimes I ignore them completely.

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HelevornArt [2016-04-11 18:15:50 +0000 UTC]

You pay so much attention to the details, historical ones too! I wouldn't have thought about the rudder, but I tried to draw people on a ship once, and not having been on a ship that size made it difficult for me to understand the proportions and all that. You did a great job with the drawing! And the character seems cool, she must be pretty strong

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akitku In reply to HelevornArt [2016-04-14 08:01:46 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much! I'm glad you like the character.

Well, often I ignore historical accuracy actually, or I just don't know enough...But sometimes I just get these little historical obsessions when I can't continue drawing the picture because I just need to know! I've had that with Merovingian hair for example, and with my hospitallers (cappa or surcoat, where does the cross go, would long hair be acceptable). It's an insignificant detail yet somehow I just can't leave it alone...

I know what you mean about the proportions...It's hard to get a feeling of how big medieval ships of the Mediterranean were. I am also lost with this...It's much easier with viking ships or 1with tall ships because there is more material...

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HelevornArt In reply to akitku [2016-04-14 18:19:49 +0000 UTC]

I know what you mean, such specific information is often difficult to find! I noticed this even when I tried to illustrate characters or places that I had already written about - because in the writing I didn't describe all the details, whereas the drawing had to show a lot more! What conclusion did you reach about long hair, btw?

You're very welcome!

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akitku In reply to HelevornArt [2016-04-14 18:38:50 +0000 UTC]

Well, in the case of Merovingian/Frankish hairstyles it's all very specific - there seems to be some academic agreement now as to the hairstyle of the Merovinians themselves (the royal family) and the Frankish aristocracy...
As for the Hospitallers, it's not so clear; First of all, very long hair was generally not that fashionable at the time (13th cent) so even the characters with long hair would generally wear it shoulder length not longer I think. As for the hospitallers themselves, generally I assume that most of them have short hair - there was the whole modesty thing for the military orders and long hair was associated with femininity and/or vanity. But here I'm guessing. Plus a character can always have his own reasons right?
Haha, sorry for rambling...

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HelevornArt In reply to akitku [2016-04-16 12:30:31 +0000 UTC]

Ah, right! That makes perfect sense, with the modesty and all that! I guess they thought long hair is difficult to tend, one ending up either looking messy or spending too much time and effort on their appearance, which doesn't sound like something the hospitallers would want This is really cool

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AyaSenoArtLyricalH [2016-04-05 10:57:49 +0000 UTC]

Wow!!!Very lovely painting! It warms my heart when I look at your artworksΒ Β Β 

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akitku In reply to AyaSenoArtLyricalH [2016-04-06 07:24:24 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!

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InkyRose [2016-04-03 12:26:32 +0000 UTC]

Ooo! Interesting character! Again- phenomenal detail- as always! I love the ropes and the fastenings around the sails in particular and the textures on the woodwork is fantastic!I love the way that the stars seem to 'glow' in the background and the seagull made me laugh- it's a great addition to the piece. Meleto's pose is well drawn and accurate for her profession- well done!

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akitku In reply to InkyRose [2016-04-04 12:01:27 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much dear!! I'm glad you like the details of the boat! I was pretty happy with the wooden boards but I wish the ropes looked more...rope'y...if that makes sense.

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Sleyf [2016-04-03 06:57:36 +0000 UTC]

This looks so great! I love the blue, and the way you added the bird on the stern there! It looks like a pleasant night. I think they were the kind of ship where you could see the rudder, but I think it depends on the ship too on how it would look, I'm no expert of course

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akitku In reply to Sleyf [2016-04-04 12:00:36 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much dear!
I was imagining this sort of calm night with just enough wind to make the steering nothing but pleasure...

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Sleyf In reply to akitku [2016-04-05 08:26:10 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!
It looks that way, relaxing and calm

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snoozielizi [2016-04-02 08:11:37 +0000 UTC]

This looks so awesome, man! if "everything is kind of out of proportion" like you said, it's not really noticeable. Β Β I also really like the colors.Β 

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akitku In reply to snoozielizi [2016-04-04 11:59:31 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much!
I just thought that the boat, rudder etc is improprtionally small...but oh well! I'm glad that doesn't distract!

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Danikatze [2016-04-02 07:22:08 +0000 UTC]

Haha, I avoid drawing boats and cars and planes and all that because it's so difficult X) I think you did a good job ^^
I'm always so happy when you do a night scene, the colours you use are beautiful..
She looks like a cool character too! I love her face

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akitku In reply to Danikatze [2016-04-04 11:58:59 +0000 UTC]

Haha, I know what you mean. I have never tried drawing a car and I don't think I will...
I'm glad you like her! Thanks!

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Gambargin [2016-04-02 03:32:41 +0000 UTC]

This is beautiful the composition has a dreamy feeling . Regardless of the proportion, I find the painting very calming to see

I suck at drawing boat, so maybe i need to work on that department more

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akitku In reply to Gambargin [2016-04-02 07:28:57 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much! I'm glad the proportions don't throw off the balance too much.

Yeah, boats are tricky! Especially if you try to make them historically accurate in a medieval setting. There is much more info about Viking boats and sailing methods than boats on the Mediterranean....At least I couldn't find all that much...I would love to see a boat/ship illustration by you because you really have an eye for detail. I would learn something!

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Gambargin In reply to akitku [2016-04-05 09:33:56 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome akitku! Boats, Boats, they magically transport people over water

You are correct, Viking boats are more popular and there's many archeological evidence (Thanks to their custom of ship burials), but Mediterranean is tricky. There's Cogs and Galleys, but like you said, need more historical research on that. It'll be interesting to incorporate this into the historically wrong sketch series

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my-sword-is-bigger [2016-04-02 03:17:44 +0000 UTC]

Oh wow looking awesome I really really really love the awesome ship design you got here, especially with the wooden boards and the paintings and such. And about the medieval rudders - good point I've tried to search for details on medieval ships before too, and found hardly anything. It kinda sucks. I have a bit more information on Viking vessels, apparently the rudder should be strapped to the back and side of the ship, and it's really simple.

Ooh here found a pic. Viking rudders.

And while I'm at it, found this 13th century medieval ship . Looks like you're pretty damn close, so don't worry about it. Β 

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akitku In reply to my-sword-is-bigger [2016-04-02 07:52:09 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much for the comment! I'm so glad you like the design! Ships are so much fun.Β 
Also, thanks so much for the awesome references! They should be really helpful for next time!

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my-sword-is-bigger In reply to akitku [2016-04-02 10:52:28 +0000 UTC]

My pleasure Why yes, yes they are. My dream is to sail an actual Viking ship someday. xD
No problem it's great to have someone who shares my historical enthusiasm

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CitlaTG [2016-04-01 23:46:05 +0000 UTC]

Wow! I love the colours. Nice work

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akitku In reply to CitlaTG [2016-04-02 07:37:27 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!

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charcoalfeather [2016-04-01 21:57:20 +0000 UTC]

She looks so cute! I love the way she seems to be looking at the audience. Is she suspicious of someone or something? She looks so young and spring-like. I love the practicality of her outfit, and how it is charming and rustic at the same time.Β 

Pssh, about the ship design It looks good and hey, it's fantasy, so don't worry to much about it!

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akitku In reply to charcoalfeather [2016-04-02 07:36:49 +0000 UTC]

Thanks you! I kind of wanted to make her look like she's throwing a glance at the bird...but i guess it didn't work out all that well.
Haha, rustic is the word!

Well, the story is set in a historical world with fantasy elements and sometimes I just get obsessed with details...Even if it won't be totally accurate I would like it to be accurate enough so that a medievalist who looked at it would not cringe! (Well except for the magic, vampires, women outside of their traditional medieval roles and generally increased egalitarianism...so quite a lot really).

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charcoalfeather In reply to akitku [2016-04-02 15:10:53 +0000 UTC]

Oh, I see it now! It makes sense!

Well, for those of us who aren't medievalists, it's all Greek to us anyways, and hey, yeah, it's fantasy, so why the heck not

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Yuukon [2016-04-01 20:58:29 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful drawing! I love the colours, and the flowing of the watercolours!
Thank you for submitting to , and don't forget to check out our April Art Challenge!

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akitku In reply to Yuukon [2016-04-02 07:31:38 +0000 UTC]

Many thanks for the comment!

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joolita [2016-04-01 20:52:37 +0000 UTC]

This is so lovely! Meleto looks so young and innocent! (it may be the freckles ) I love her outfit, it seems very practical but not without personal style.

I know absolutely nothing about shipbuilding, but a rudder located on the side means more pretty ornaments in sight, so i find the solution aesthetically pleasing Rigging, in turn, makes the composition messy, so reducing it to the minimum was probably a wise choice.

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akitku In reply to joolita [2016-04-02 07:31:21 +0000 UTC]

Thank you so much!
Gah...I think I made her look too young actually, in my head she's in her mid-20...And I don't think a sailors life really preserves that youthful look. Ah well, too bad.

I think the rigging could look nice...sort of like a spider's web, but you would have to have a hand for that sort of thing.

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Great-Skua [2016-04-01 20:29:16 +0000 UTC]

Lovely is it water color?

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akitku In reply to Great-Skua [2016-04-02 07:29:09 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! Yes it is!

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maracanda [2016-04-01 19:47:02 +0000 UTC]

She's cute. Β Do you have any more information or background about her? Is she disguised? Is she Christian? Is she from the Tale of Acre?

Don't worry about proportion or the ship, everything is amazing. She looks like an agile steersman. It looks like she and the seagull have a special psychic connection... Love the colours

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akitku In reply to maracanda [2016-04-01 19:56:15 +0000 UTC]

Thanks so much for the comment!
Well, she's just a starting out character so she will get more developed with time. But here it goes: she starts out being fully disguised as a male. As she gets more established she begins dropping the act now and then if she is with a captain/crew she is confident in. She is a Greek from Sicily so yeah she is Christian. She is also very superstitious and wears all sorts of medallions and good-luck charms just in case. She is my character for another story, but hopefully she will appear in Tales of Acre as a minor character as well.
Once again, thank you for the kind comment!

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Azul-din [2016-04-01 19:41:33 +0000 UTC]

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whipstaf… - it appears your drawing was not far out! I love the mood of this one, all alone on the night watch, steering by Polaris- like sailing right off into the stars....

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akitku In reply to Azul-din [2016-04-01 19:52:20 +0000 UTC]

The animation is particularly good, thank you!

There is something quite amazing about sailing during a quiet night isn't there?Β 

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Azul-din In reply to akitku [2016-04-02 06:32:08 +0000 UTC]

You are welcome!

I would imagine so- sadly I have never had that experience, in life. But I have, as you might say, a good imagination...

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akitku In reply to Azul-din [2016-04-02 07:39:03 +0000 UTC]

Really? I was sure, because of the sea-faring chapters in Sulien's story, that you had lots of experience with this!
Are there any lakes for inland yachting in Wales btw?

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Azul-din In reply to akitku [2016-04-02 11:13:50 +0000 UTC]

as I say. not in this life!

There are only Lake BalaΒ  in Snodonia, and Llangorse lake which isΒ  quite near to us- not what you'd call large, exactly , small boats mainly

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