This piece is one I created for my Norse Mythology Art Book. To glorify Vikings lore, I've added Norse knotwork and a decorative frame. I'll show you how I construct the border and knotwork, and how to use and make photo references, to help with realism. I will break down my entire process, from the loose sketch and idea to the finished piece. I will also explain how I use acrylic colours to achieve the desired result.
I've been fascinated with Vikings since I was very young, so I decided to make my own version of this wonderful lore. I also wanted to make paintings with some vintage elements like bordures and knotwork. I was influenced a lot by traditional painters from the past, but also masters like Alan Lee and his book Mabinogion, which is full of wonderful paintings and decorative Celtic knotwork and borders. Norse and Celtic knotworks are similar, but a bit different in style.
In this piece, Valhalla, I made Norse gods and Einherjars (warriors) feasting and celebrating in Odin's hall, called Gladsheim. Odin is in the centre of the feast, with his two ravens, Hugin and Munin, pictured above him.
Milivoj has been a professional illustrator since 2002, author of the Norse Mythology Art Book. An artist known for work on Magic the Gathering and Dungeons & Dragons. www.norse-myth.com
MATERIALS
PAPER
Fabriano 5, 300gsm watercolour hot pressed, satinata, extra white
Tracing paper
ACRYLIC COLOURS
Winsor & Newton "Galeria"
Talens "Amsterdam"
MASKING AGENT
Schmincke, Rubbelkrepp
BRUSHES
Watercolour brushes (sable brushes, flat brushes)
PENCIL
Pencils (HB)
MISCELLANEOUS
Rulers
Divider
1 Find the idea
This story is from the May 2022 edition of ImagineFX.
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This story is from the May 2022 edition of ImagineFX.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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DRAW FASCINATING SYMBOLIC ARTWORK
Learn how JULIÁN DE LA MOTA creates a composition from his imagination with a focus on crafting figures, volumetric modelling, and light and shadow
First Impressions
The artist talks about his journey into the mythological world
