Here are some costumes I designed for the play Medea. They're for my set and costume design class, which is the beginning one, as I'm about to make apparent. Even if these are just cartoons, I really need the figure drawing class I'm taking next semester. Aaanyway, I've written a paper about why I made them this way, but I'll give you guys the Reader's Digest version. If you're interested in reading the play, the full script is available here. If you're not, be wary of spoilers.
So here's Medea, who at first tries to blend in with Creon's kingdom but then goes apeshit-goth and kills her kids (those ribbons she's holding have been around their necks). That's Hecate's Wheel on her corset, a symbol of the goddess that she invokes at the end.
This is Jason, Medea's cheating husband. Like her, he's trying to blend in at the beginning but is later interrupted when his bride is killed in the middle of his wedding preparations. Ouch.
Here's Creon himself, the haggard old king and Jason's intended father-in-law. Clearly he's tired of his kingly duties.
Creon's daughter, who I wanted to be uncomfortably young for Jason. She's wrapped up like a present, which she basically is, given to Jason to increase Creon's power. The mask and cloak are the poisoned ones given to her by Medea.
Medea's kids, ill-fated little chaps with the aforementioned red ribbons:
Aegeus, the travelling king who needs Medea's help to cure his impotency (thus I gave him a huge codpiece). He should look like a once-powerful king that's been on the road way too long, and is worn down and weak.
Finally, the nurse. Vaguely modeled after the Fates, she's just a decrepit old hag.
Whew! So there you go. I did designs for a chorus too, but it's basically people in white robes. That's it for now, but first, here's a sneak preview of my next print. This is the initial sketch:
So here's Medea, who at first tries to blend in with Creon's kingdom but then goes apeshit-goth and kills her kids (those ribbons she's holding have been around their necks). That's Hecate's Wheel on her corset, a symbol of the goddess that she invokes at the end.
This is Jason, Medea's cheating husband. Like her, he's trying to blend in at the beginning but is later interrupted when his bride is killed in the middle of his wedding preparations. Ouch.
Here's Creon himself, the haggard old king and Jason's intended father-in-law. Clearly he's tired of his kingly duties.
Creon's daughter, who I wanted to be uncomfortably young for Jason. She's wrapped up like a present, which she basically is, given to Jason to increase Creon's power. The mask and cloak are the poisoned ones given to her by Medea.
Medea's kids, ill-fated little chaps with the aforementioned red ribbons:
Aegeus, the travelling king who needs Medea's help to cure his impotency (thus I gave him a huge codpiece). He should look like a once-powerful king that's been on the road way too long, and is worn down and weak.
Finally, the nurse. Vaguely modeled after the Fates, she's just a decrepit old hag.
Whew! So there you go. I did designs for a chorus too, but it's basically people in white robes. That's it for now, but first, here's a sneak preview of my next print. This is the initial sketch:
This play sounds amazing! And the way you depicted the characters seems spot on.
ReplyDeleteThough had I not read your "read's digest" I was going to make a comment towards the man with the large crotch.
This looks like it could be the new hybrid version of Sweeney Todd mixed with Repo the Genetic Opera using your design.!
Can't wait to see that print when you get it finished.
i could do better way better it takes an ok artist to do that though but i'm a spectacular artist no ofense but it needs improvment.
ReplyDeleteTo the artist who did these drawings:
ReplyDeleteWow! You're really good! I'm the best artist in my class and even I can't draw that detailed!
To breccan:
The drawings are really good, so I don't see why you're being so critical about them. You can't actually do anything wrong in art. I don't want to start a war or something, but seriously, I'd like to see you draw greek characters that good!
Actually, I agree with Breccan. These are costume designs so it's not really important that the figures aren't spot on, but some of her decisions don't make any sense of me. Like the choices for Aegeus and Creon. Aegeus is a noble king. He's rich and kind yet he was depicted as some haggard gray poor man. Also, Medea is supposed to be from a different land than everyone else, even Jason. Her design doesn't stand out as "other" because nothing is done to tie all of the Greek characters together.
DeleteAnd your comment that "I'd like to see you draw Greek characters that good" isn't really relevant because she seems to have put them in a different time or settings. Their costumes are definitely not traditional Greek costumes. The ancient Greeks did not wear suits. :)
Also, I am speaking as someone who has done costume designs for a production of Medea. I've done all kinds of research on the play and Greek costume so please don't play the "what do you know" card. I know what I'm talking about.