Fanart Friday: Dorothy of Oz

John R. Neill's Oz illustrations may be the reason I ever started drawing. I've long since lost the urge to imitate his style- it's gorgeous, but it's not mine-- but he's with Arthur Rackham as one of the greats in my heart.


The original Dorothy was so much cooler -- cool as in competent, confident, self-possessed-- than any of her later updates. And she was all of nine. I'm 33 and I still want to be as great Dorothy when I grow up.

I also want to ride a giant lion.

Both of these are equally likely. But at least I can paint a giant lion, and that's also fun.

Daily Sketch: Glenda

Before the sketch, I should note that I am having a shop-wide SALE! Totally free shipping in the US, and half-price shipping internationally! That last makes me nervous, but I'm standing by it. Check out more sales here:
http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5889005&page=1

Ok, now to the blather!

When working monochrome, how could I possibly skip Oz? People who only know from the movie don’t know this, but Oz was distinctive for being multiply monochrome. The Munchkin country was all blue, the Winkies were entirely yellow, and the Quadlings, lead by Glenda, were all red.



Glenda was so awesome. I love the movie, I love the music from Wicked (and so wish I didn’t, when it starts circling my head at 3 am…) but I could learn to despise them both for what they’ve done to Glenda. Blonde? Frilly? Giggly? None of that. Glenda throughout the 14 Baum books is dignified, wise, and thoughtful. She always wears very plain gowns, with only one or two plain accessories, like a pendant or circlet. And because she’s a Quadling, she’s RED HAIRED. Argggh! The Oz books didn’t usually get too specific in description, but is one single color per quadrant so blinking hard to remember?

Her magic wand isn‘t the most impressive tool she uses. Her Book is. Glenda’s Book is sort of a printed internet news feed, constantly updated with everything that happens in the world every moment. It’s huge, and dense, and she knows how to find useful information in it. An introverted serious researcher with no interest in glamour, Glenda is the Nerd Witch. She was one of my many heroes in those books, and an essential part of the Oz worldview that power came from knowledge.

Well, and from two X chromosomes. Women rule in Oz. If you haven’t read the books yet, you really should. They are gloriously weird. If you have to ask me who wrote them, I may weep for your childhood.