Sunday, September 11, 2011

The Queen of Tyr Moel



An age ago, before public Internet, before cell phones, before iPods, even before widespread use of personal computers, I was a member of a club of young people who ran a kind of private "S.C.A" of Renaissance role-playing. They put on costumes, had parties, and created games and ceremonies for their roles. They chose a young lady from their ranks and elected her Queen. The name of their kingdom was "Tyr Moel," pronounced "turmoil."

I was their court artist. I was tasked to create miniature portraits for each one of the group, Tarot-card-like images inspired by the "Trumps" of Roger Zelazny's "Amber" series. I portrayed them with idealized but identifiable faces and figures, dressed in the costumes of their choice. In the world of art, they could have whatever magical creature or thing they pleased. Since this group all had something to do with Lowell, a city in northeastern Massachusetts, I called this set of card portraits the "Lowell Trumps."

Here is Queen Kate, in royal blue and gold, holding her pet dragonette which is presenting her with a blue flower.

Lowell Trumps are ink and watercolor on Fabriano paper, 3 1/2" x 5 1/2". This one was done in the spring of 1979.