Gooday everyone,
Welcome to the Deacon Corner. If you’re new here, these galleries dive into the inspirations behind the images you’ll find throughout the books posted on these pages. In these issues, I also like to share the commission details for each project, so readers can follow along with how these images came to life.
If there’s a particular piece you’re curious about, you can find all previous issues under my journal entries or linked directly beneath the images within each chapter.
Now before we begin, none of these beautiful art pieces would exist without the incredible talent of Sickjoe who is the creative force behind all the artwork in these books. Quite literally the heart and soul of this visual world. If you appreciate his work as much as I do, I encourage you to visit his gallery and explore more of his stunning creations.
Now, without further ado, let's take a look at the featured image and the commission details below.
I’m going to need a piece centered around Clotho and Nona. Just like Morta, Nona is a host for a rather snarky AI called Clotho who helps her navigate the delicacy of weaving mortal fate. In this particular scene, Nona, like Morta, is able to visit her other half within the confines of her mind, however, that is where the similarities end. Nona’s mindscape is vastly different from Morta's and takes the appearance of an enormous ballroom.
Clotho: Clotho manifests as that which Nona values most, innocence and youth. As such, she never ages and always appears as a child. Much like Atropos, she is similar to Nona but different at the same time, as if they shared a father but not a mother. Basically, she has similar features to Nona when she was a girl save for a tanner skin color and a more confident attitude. Clotho wears a girl’s elaborate dancing gown, gems adorning her hair and the tips of her slippers, velvety ribbons streaming from her back, and a princess's silver tiara adorning her head. She is, in many ways, a spoiled granddaughter to a diminishing dynasty.
Nona: We’re going to be bouncing back to teenage Nona and, like Clotho, she is dressed in a rather ornate ball gown. However, unlike Clotho, she is clearly uncomfortable, stumbling over her heels and the revealing nature of her gown. Nona much prefers prudish old-fashioned outfits but, within her mind, it’s Clotho who rules the roost. In this particular scene, Nona is dancing with her bratty, spoiled, kid sister and has to awkwardly bend over to match Clotho’s stature and stride. In reality, Clotho is the one teaching Nona the proper steps and twirls thus, in some small way, attempting to instill a bit of confidence within her host… It’s not working.
Background: As mentioned, the inside of Nona’s mind takes the shape of a grand ballroom. Think of the ornate interior of a royal palace with a sweeping chandelier, marble floors, and gorgeous stained-glass windows with religious overtones. The dance floor has been cleared and many men and women gather, dressed in ball attire, watching Nona and Clotho dance. These ‘guests’ have no faces like the featureless pale skin of soulless mannequins posed and assembled for Clotho’s pleasure. It’s all a rather creepy audience which only adds to Nona’s discomfort, however, to quote Clotho; if the heels are too long, the neckline too low, and the skirt too short, well, isn’t that what you really want?