The 12 Days of Christmas - My Fantasy Way 1

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:

A unicorn as white as the snow!

2023 Inktober 10 - Terence in TLU Style

We wouldn't have Terence without The Last Unicorn, so every so often, I like to draw him in the movie's style. 

 

One criticism I will give Lady Amalthea is that she's not too terribly expressive, although Mia Farrow's voice work really helps to make up for it. And all of the other unicorns are drawn the exact same way, over and over. But their basic appearance is lovely; I love how their bodies "flow" and their manes are absolutely sumptuous. This movie also marked the first time I saw a depiction of a unicorn with a lion's tail.

 

As a kid, it took me a while to get used to the less-horsey aspect. Now I have a vast appreciation for the variety. It's so fascinating to see how the same fantasy creature is portrayed one way, and then portrayed another way.

 

This is probably why I love fantasy so much, because there are really no rules or limits at all. You can tell any story you want, any way you want. All you really have to do is be consistent, and not have magic be an instant solution to everything.

 

And drawing this kind of stuff is so much fun. I did two Last Unicorn pieces for FanX last year, and I'm still immensely proud of them today.

 

I'm in the process of reading the book yet again, I doubt I'll ever get tired of the movie, and I can sing every one of those songs on cue. I especially love to sing "In the Sea" and "That's All I've Got to Say." 

 

And criminy, I realized too late that I forgot Terence's crescent moon mark above his eye. Don't you just love it when you realize your mistakes after your work is done and you've already deleted the original WIP? 

 

Happy Birthday, Terence

The wind is moving
But I am standing still
A life of pages
Waiting to be filled
A heart that's hopeful
A head that's full of dreams
But this becoming
Is harder than it seems
Feels like

I'm looking for a reason
Roaming through the night to find
My place in this world
My place in this world
Not a lot to lean on
I need your light to help me find
My place in this world
My place in this world

If there are millions
Down on their knees,
Among the many,
Can you still hear me?
Hear me asking
Where do I belong?
Is there a vision
That I can call my own?
Show me

I'm looking for a reason
Roaming through the night to find
My place in this world
My place in this world
Not a lot to lean on
I need your light to help me find
My place in this world
My place in this world

Looking for a reason
Roaming through the night to find
My place in this world
My place in this world
Not a lot to lean on
I need your light to help me find
My place in this world
My place in this world

Looking for a reason
Roaming through the night to find
My place in this world
My place in this world 

If I could pick any song for Terence's anthem, it would most likely be this one. He starts out questioning his place in the world, what he can do or what he's even good for. He represents me when high school graduation was just around the corner.

Then he goes on to become something he never imagined he was. Old Beowulf admits Terence took even him by surprise, and Beowulf is not the kind of creature to be easily surprised (if at all) anymore.

Well, the ice cream and the berries are in the freezer now (bought them yesterday after work) and I'll watch a unicorn movie a little later. Most likely, it's going to be The Last Unicorn, although I have watched Legend a couple of times, too.

I definitely got strawberries, but I also got blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries. Terence likes just about any kind of fruit; next to berries, he'll eat pretty much anything involving apples. He'll eat meat on occasion, mostly fish, but he prefers fruit and vegetation. You could say he's a vegetarian who's not afraid to touch meat every so often.

The ice cream is Ben & Jerry's Phish Food, my favorite.

For now, it's time to post the artwork and wish my dear old mate, the one who started it all, a very happy birthday. 

Happy Birthday, Terence!

I've seen the mystics play there
Once or twice, but I knew they had a reason
Enchantment plays its cards all right
Hand in hand

With the workings of the seasons

Legends can be now and forever
Teaching us to love for goodness' sake

Legends can be now and forever
Loved by the sun

Loved by the sun
Loved...

Two and two go so close together
Whether there is hope that is torn apart
In the words of all that's singing
Hand in hand

The beginning is at the start

Legends can be now and forever

Teaching us to reach for goodness' sake
Legends can be now and forever
Loved by the sun
Loved by the sun
Loved...

Who sings of all of love's eternity?
Who shines so bright
In all the songs of love's

Unending spells?

Only lightning strikes all that's evil
Teaching us to love for goodness' sake
Hear the music of love eternal
Teaching us to reach for goodness' sake

Legends can be now and forever
Teaching us to love for goodness' sake...

Sweet songs of youth

The wise

The meeting of all wisdom

Sweet songs of youth

The wise

The meeting of all wisdom

Sweet songs of youth

The wise

The meeting of all wisdom

Sweet songs of youth

The wise

The meeting of all wisdom

To believe in the good in man
To believe in the good in man
To believe in the good in man...

 

Musical May - Day 15 - The Last Unicorn

A piece very near and dear to my heart. That's one book and movie I doubt I will ever get sick of. Of course, it's thanks to that story (in part) that we've got the story of Terence, which led to the story of Reid, and the story of Beowulf, and so on and so on. Talk about a ripple effect! #Day15 of #MusicalMay.

Happy Birthday, Terence!

Thanks for staying strong all those years, old mate, and here's hoping you make it into the public's eye one of these days. The fact that I'm still so passionate about you and your story after all this time, if not more so, must be a sign in itself.

Two Books a Month

Good writing goes hand in hand with good reading. And, I regret to say, it's been quite some time since I read a book from cover to cover. Now that we're in a new month, I got to thinking: I should read two books a month, at the very least.

Here and now, I resolve to fill my brain with good words, and then put those good words to my own ends.

This month, I shall dive into:

(One of my old high school teachers said that everyone must read this book at least once in their lives.)

(I've already read this book several times, and I doubt I'll ever get sick of it.)