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SciFi & Fantasy Art / Gallery 508 of 1003 / Daniel D. Copeland (the Naked Celt) / Picture 1 of 11 / Banshee

"Banshee" by Daniel D. Copeland (the Naked Celt)

SciFi/Fantasy Picture 1 out of 11 by Daniel D. Copeland (the Naked Celt). ←Previous - Next→

SciFi and Fantasy Art Banshee by Daniel D. Copeland (the Naked Celt)

So I was reading Terry Pratchett’s latest, that being Going Postal, and it was great, but for one thing — it had a male banshee in it. A male banshee. Mrrrggh. Well, the banshee species does indeed have males, but they’re not called banshees, because the word banshee is Irish bean Sídhe, which means “fairy woman”. Get that? “Fairy woman”. If you want a male version, it’s duine Sídhe, which would be Englished as dwinshee. I think. I speak Scots Gaelic, not Irish. But bean is just as unambiguously female in both languages.

Well... yes, all right, my decision to draw a death omen in early November 2004 was influenced by the US election as well.

I spent ages trying to get the moon right, and it’s really annoying to see how obviously non-circular it is on the computer screen. And I think I can only report mixed success in my attempt to draw her with a silvery moonlit sheen. But that’s me, always looking for ways to improve. Pencil drawing, enhanced in PhotoStudio 2000.

Date	Name	Comment
20 Nov 2004	Neil (iolair) Gratton	Loading... I don't think "male banshee" is any worse than "female chairman"... (though I understand "chair" or "chairperson" has become trendier...). What? Oh, the picture... I think the atmosphere is great. What I would have done however, talentless as I am, is draw the banshee and the background seperately, and then married them in PhotoShop after scanning, in order to match the sizes/shapes up more easily.
20 Jun 2005	Guess	Loading... I like this image better than many of the others - there's much more of a sense of power. I think that's because the simple composition is stronger and there's a real tension expressed in her face and fingers. I would like to see more movement and passion in your images. Maybe doing some exercises on large paper with eg. chalks (or even paint on canvas), getting some colour and movement going without such narrow attention to accuracy, would enable you to add more of both to your more finished work. Just a suggestion. I wish you all success!
19 May 2006	Estella 'Brandybuck' R. Hoffman	Loading... I think at some point, anyone who reads Terry Pratchett's books has to realize that... while he loves wordplay.. he does it on his own terms. Meaning that.. well, Discworld Etymology is far different from etymology here on earth. Good drawing, though the legs seem quite awkward, especially its left one. I think that the banshee having no clothes also detracts from it's gloomyness... now, if it/she was wearing really ragged black crepe, that would make the effect all the more dramatic. (just my own $0.02)
6 Jul 2006	Rochelle Green	Loading... Interesting, I like your use of form here. I like the wings, they're grousse. But the harpyish anatomy is by far the most visually interesting aspect of this piece. As for banshees - I'm sure Pratchett knows this. Sometimes its easier to explain in terms everyone gets, or by the fact that a term has passed so far into common useage, mangle it like its been mangled. Haven't you seen Darby O'Gill and the Little People? I'm pretty sure the banshee there has nothing to do with prophetic clothes-washer women by the rivers.
16 Aug 2006	Sabrinames	Loading... And my comment would be improved by the addition of the word "improve"...
16 Aug 2006	Sabrinames	Loading... I think it would this picture a lot if you would add some shadows. I see you did some basic shading on the body, but since the banshee is right in front of the moon, almost everything we see would have to be a lot darker, and she would have a big shadow in front of her.