Return of the Birds by laura_isabel

[laura-isabel.livejournal.com]

Title: Return of the Birds
Artist Name: laura_isabel/Adanwen
Prompt: Return of the Birds by Mediaeval Baebes (listen here)
Description: Fem!Merry enjoying spring at the banks of the Brandywine
Rating: General
Warnings: none
Artist's Notes: inspired by the lovely song and this tumblr post.

Comments

[baranduin.livejournal.com]

I love every little thing about this, from the inspiration of the tumblr post to the vivid colors and the textures that complement each other!

[laura-isabel.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much, I'm glad you like it!<3 I really wanted it to have typical "hobbit colours", with lots of green and yellow.:) You have a lovely username, btw!;)

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Oh, that is unusual! Also bright and spring-y and really happy. I took one look and was smiling. Love the composition and the strong colours and Merry's sweet face - she's quite perfect,

[laura-isabel.livejournal.com]

I'm glad that it made you smile!:D Hobbits should have that effect!:3 Thank you!

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

Beautiful! What wonderful colors! And yay for Fem!Merry! (-:

[laura-isabel.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!<3 I was trying to have hobbit-y colours, that also fit the river.:)

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

What lovely bright and cheerful artwork!

[laura-isabel.livejournal.com]

Thank you!^^ I thought a spring picture should be just that - also the song just makes me happy!<3

[hhimring]

How cheerful!
And in the sky above, the birds returning!

[laura-isabel.livejournal.com]

Exactly!:D I almost forgot about them, tbh, but I thought they should be in there!;)

[binkaslibrary.livejournal.com]

Love the colors in this. Great piece of art!

[laura-isabel.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!<3

[astris-eldalie.livejournal.com]

I really love this! The colors you picked are gorgeous, and genderswapped characters are always and wonderful thing. And the detail in Merry's hair, wow.

[laura-isabel.livejournal.com]

Thank you!:3 I agree, I love the creativity and freshness of genderbent and racebent characters. I'm glad you like her hair! I wasn't too sure about the shading, because I don't have that many brown colours with the markers I bought.

[with-rainfall.livejournal.com]

This is gorgeous. The expression on Merry's face is so peaceful.

[laura-isabel.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I was going for thoughtful and maybe pondering something wondrous, but she's definitely content.<3

[tanis2014.livejournal.com]

I dunno, this looks a lot more like a fem!Pippin than Merry to me , but the artistry is awesome! The detailing in the vest and sleeves, the beading around the hem of the glove, the hair - golly, the way the fingers curl around the apple -- just amazing. She looks as if she's sitting for a painting, to me, and she's found something very amusing to watch over the painter's shoulder. Loved the intensity of the colors too, and noticed you mentioned to someone else you intentionally used hobbity colors. It comes through beautifully in all the greens and golds and browns.

And is that Old Man Willow down there trailing in the water?

[laura-isabel.livejournal.com]

I based her heavily on the fancasting post with Carrie Mulligan and she just screams Merry to me, but naturally that's subjective! Thank you so much!<3 It's these little details that give me the greatest pleasure in drawing.
I like that headcanon - who might be painting her? It seems a good idea for a drabble to me.:D Glad you like the colours too! The river of the town I live in was a big inspiration for them, as well as the thought of hobbity colours. It just always makes me think of the Brandywine when I walk there.x3
Good eye!;) Well, it's not him, since she's supposed to be in Buckland, but I definitely had him in mind when I put that willow there. Willows just belong to a river in my head.:)

[suzll.livejournal.com]

Oh, this is absolutely lovely!!!

[laura-isabel.livejournal.com]

Thank you!:D

[blslarner.livejournal.com]

Primula might well have looked like that! Lovely work.

[laura-isabel.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I wish we knew more about her from the books, but alas, that's what fanfiction is for, I guess.:)

[greatandgrey]

I love the colors here, and especially how you did Merry's hair. :)

[laura-isabel.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!!!:3

[ysilme]

This is a great answer to the prompt and a great illustration to it. I was very curious what that prompt would inspire, as I heard the song and the group for the first time when I went through the prompt list, and have become quite the fan since. *g* This just evokes a merry group of Hobbit girls singing and dancing, and Merry being one of them. I like how her bodice seems to melt into the background, making her one with nature around her, with her blouse reflecting the warmth of the sun and the awakening earth.

[laura-isabel.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!<3 Yes, I love their music too - I was very happy that the prompt hadn't been taken yet!:D Awww, I love that mental image! Wow, I actually didn't even intend her clothes to melt into the background like that, but I wanted the colours of what she wears and the nature around her to fit. Green and yellow and my favourite colours (yes, I actually think I'm at least part hobbit), so it was a natural choice and a joy to colour!<3

[elliska.livejournal.com]

Lovely work! I especially like the hair. Well done.

[laura-isabel.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much!:D

[independence1776]

I love the colors and Merry's face!

[elleth]

Eeeeee! I'm fond of genderswap fanworks, and your Merry is lovely! And the colours - all the Hobbit-ish green and yellow; this is looking so cheerful and alive. ^^