Word Art / Calligraphy / Lettering
Romeo and Juliet: Prologue by William Shakespeare (lettering by Nam-Anh Lê)
Despite not having received as much time and dedication as my other skills, I do love making words look cool.
After reading Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in English class, I came to the conclusion that the language and its beauty makes up for what the story lacks. I loved how poetic Shakespeare's words were, and thought that I might have a try at making them come to life. I spent a month in total on the lettering to the left, first sketching it out on paper, then tracing it and adding finishing touches digitally.
Featuring nearly thirty different fonts, three of which are different forms of cursive, and one of which is my natural handwriting (as a kind of Easter egg), this is only a small example of what my classmates call my "plethora of fonts".
Art - EPIC: The Musical Character Designs
Odysseus
Telemachus
Odysseus
I'm just a man who's trying to go home
Even after all these years away from what I've known
I'm just a man who's fighting for his life
Deep down I'd trade the world to see my son and wife
Odysseus is the king of Ithaca. He left his son and wife for the Trojan War, but after a decade, his journey home was delayed by numerous obstacles that prevented his return for another decade.
All my other EPIC: The Musical designs wear copious amounts of jewelry. Odysseus is the exeption. His only piece of jewelry is his wedding ring. His cloak matches Telemachus' earrings. Fun fact: I based his hairstyle off of that of Faramir from The Lord of the Rings!
Penelope
Telemachus
Odysseus
Though I never thought that these would be the lengths we go for love
I would not have it any other way
And though I never thought that it would end like this
Just know I'll be here waiting...
Penelope is the wife of Odysseus and mother of Telemachus. During the years Odysseus was away from home, she raised Telemachus on her own, and though many thought her husband to be dead and sought her hand, Penelope remained loyal to Odysseus.
In my opinion, Penelope strikes me as someone who has a blue-green colour scheme. I made her simple because one of my favourite things about Odysseus and Penelope is that Odysseus thought she was the most beautiful woman, even when they were younger and popular opinion gave that title to Helen of Troy instead.
Telemachus
Telemachus
Telemachus
Give me sirens and a cyclops
Give me giants and a hydra
I know life and fate are scary, but I wanna be legendary!
Telemachus is the son of Odysseus and Penelope. He was but an infant when Odysseus left for war, and having never known his father and life outside of Ithaca, he dreams of fighting monsters and keeping his mother safe.
As so many Telemachus designs do, mine bears a resemblance to Odysseus. However, his manner of dress resembles that of Penelope, since he was raised by her for his entire youth. However, his earrings match the colour of Odysseus' cloak.
Athena
Polites
Telemachus
Maybe one day he'll follow me and we'll make a greater tomorrow, then they'll see
I know he'll change the world 'cause he is a warrior of the mind
Athena, goddess of war and wisdom, was Odysseus' mentor, who Odysseus saw as a friend. However, they had a falling out, and Athena was absent during many of Odysseus' most difficult years.
I took many inspirations for Athena's designs, and she is undoubtedly the design that I put the most detail into. I wanted to combine her classic and traditional portrayals with her more tomboyish designs. My favourite part is definitely the golden double-headed spear, which I added to give her a distinguished weapon.
Polites
Polites
Polites
This life is amazing when you greet it with open arms
Whatever we face, we'll be fine if we're leading from the heart
Polites was Odysseus' friend and believed strongly in trusting others and being open-minded.
As basically all other Polites' designs do, I included glasses and a headband. I wanted to give him a comfortable, light outfit since he has such a relaxed personality. I also gave him a friendship bracelet, which I think he made one of for himself, Odysseus, and Eurylochus (although Odysseus lost his during his traumatic journey).
Circe
Polites
Polites
If you make one wrong move, then you're done for
Anything I don't approve, then you're done for
Odysseus' crew was turn into pigs by Circe, a queen and witch, who wanted to protect her nymphs.
Out of my designs, Circe has one of the most extravagant costumes and wears the most jewellery, but I like to think she's comfortable in all of it and wears it all for no one's gaze but her own. I gave her a bob cut because I loved the confident and stern vibe it gave her.
Hermes
Tiresias
Hermes
Wouldn't you like a taste of the power?
Wouldn't you like to use more than words?
Hermes, the god of messages, travels, and thieves, shows up twice to help Odysseus get past his obstacles.
Hermes is by far my favourite character in this musical. I am a firm believer in a Hermes who likes mixing metals in his jewelry. As for his tunic, I made it basic but added the completely unnecessary off-shoulder drape since I think Hermes would have found it cool.
Aeolus
Tiresias
Hermes
I am the wind, twisting and turning
I give the fire enough to stay burning
Let's play a game!
Aeolus is the whimsical god of wind. They give Odysseus a bag containing Poseidon's storm, instructing him to keep it closed, but spreads rumours that it contains treasure.
Aeolus's design probably defies the traditional Greek look the most, but I decided that since they were different and whimsical anyway, that made it better. For their tunic, I took inspiration from a pair of shorts I own, which have a flap of fabric in the front, making them look like a wrap skirt.
Tiresias
Tiresias
Tiresias
I am the prophet with the answers you seek
Time, I've unlocked it; I see past and future running free...
Tiresias is a blind prophet who lives in the Underworld. He shares troubling visions with Odysseus.
Tiresias has the most variability in his designs. I believe that in EPIC, he would appear to be at the older end of middle-aged, since in mythology he died by poison (and not age). In mythology, he also spent seven years as a woman, and I like to think that he kept his long hair afterwards.
Calypso
We got all we could want here
All we could need here
Under my spell, we're stuck in paradise
The immortal Calypso was cast away to a paradise island when she was younger, and immediately takes a liking to Odysseus when he washes ashore, keeping him trapped there for seven years.
For Calypso's design, I was going for an Éponine crossed with a tropical island girl look. Many of Calypso's designs have box braids or something similar, so I gave her a few small braids to pay homage to that. Her jewelry is inspired by current trends.
Goober Art
The Fellowship of the Ring
As the nine protagonists of my favourite fictional story ever, Frodo, Gandalf, Sam, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Pippin, Boromir, and Merry have a special place in my heart.
I was really glad to have this opportunity to bring out the goofiness in these characters. Someday, I'd love to have them printed out as stickers.
X-Men '97
Storm
Nightcrawler
Jubilee
Jubilee
Nightcrawler
Jubilee
Nightcrawler
Nightcrawler
Nightcrawler
Morph
Gambit
Nightcrawler
Rogue
Gambit
Gambit
Gambit
Gambit
Gambit