1.24.2011

Modernized Myth #1: Táin Bó Cúailnge (Unfinished)

For my Illustration 5 class I'm modernizing myths from 5 different countries. The first is an Irish myth called Táin Bó Cúailnge. I based this piece on that myth, but in a modern setting. Cú Chulainn, the Irish hero (AKA the Hound of Ulster) is approached by a supernatural woman, Morrígan, who offers him her love. He rejects her, and she takes her revenge by interfering in his battles. In the myth, she messes him up about 3 times in different ways. At the end, Cú Chulainn ends up fighting and killing his best friend and foster brother.

In my interpretation, Colin was approached by Morgan, who had a crush on him. He explains that he doesn't feel the same way, and she turns out to be manipulative and disturbed. She digs her claws into his best friend, and drives them apart. His best friend ends up cornering him and beating him up under the manipulation of Morgan.

I don't know how incredibly solid my take on it is, but I don't really care. It made for a cool illustration.


What I still need to do:

1. Make the guy in the background have a more dynamic pose...maybe more like a superhero looking pose.
2. Make Morgan's face more...vengeful
3. Add an Irish Wolfhound to the left, barking at Colin's friend and Morgan. I want to add the wolfhound because Cú Chulainn is referred to sometimes as "The Hound of Ulster" which is a wolfhound.

The next myth I'm doing is one of the stories from The Mabinogion. Right now I'm leaning toward the story of Manawydan, specifically within the third branch.
Following this will be a Norse myth. I haven't decided on a specific one. Does anybody have any suggestions?

2 comments:

Angie. said...

This is the one you showed me the other day! It looks friggin sweet! :)

Anonymous said...

Yes it's Bridgette who stalks your blog. I have all the Norse myth suggestions forever because I'm creepy like that.

Also that is gorgeous, your picture.