I'd like to use this blog as a place to post some illustration projects- that is, every two weeks post up an image drawn based on a particular theme, and end up (hopefully) having nice collections of images based on set themes/ideas.
So, today I begin my fist illustation project- Opera Characters!
I'm a big fan of Opera for many reasons, one of the main reasons simply being there are some fantastic stories and characters embedded in the old art form. Its a shame that many people don't get to enjoy these stories and characters today, but understandable. I know plemty of people who just dont like the very stylistic singing, some who can't get to a place where opera is shown easily, and some who just don't really know where to start looking.
So, I'm going to be illustrating my favourite opera characters in this project, I hope I'll be able to bring out their personalities and charm. Opera tends to be stereotyped as being old, dull and pretentious, but all my favourite characters from opera are far from that!!
The first character I just had to illustrate was
Papageno from
The Magic Flute!
Rough translation of the german in the image: 'I want a big net so I can catch all the girls I need!'
Long before I ever saw
The Magic Flute live, when I was 16, I read the liberetto and was completely enchanted by the fairy-tale story and the humourous characters, so much so I drew a web comic version of it for 2 years (in that version my Papageno had pink hair!)
Papageno is a strange mix between bird and man, it's not really ever said exactly what he is, and there are many interpretations of him. In the strange world that
The Magic Flute is set in, Papageno catches birds for the Queen of the Night, in exchange for sugar rolls and wine. He bumps into the hero of the opera, and ends up being dragged along on an adventure as a reluctant sidekick!
This simple bird man never dreams too big. And although he reluctantly winds up going on a big adventure with Prince Tamino, all he ever really wants in life is a sweet girlfriend to call his own.
This is my favourite Papageno song, when he decides to use his magic bells to try and wish himself a wife!
