You have to look for inspiration in unorthodox places.
We’ve been deep into research mode. I’ve made no secret I was unhappy with the scarecrows this year. I mean they turned out ok, and how I expected, and all. They were just too ORDINARY. What’s more, they really did not have any way to tie in with the eventual planned move to Spider Woman.
So, how does one come up with UNORTHODOX scarecrows? And, what’s more how does one tie scarecrows into Spider Woman?
First up, finding some scarecrows. I’ve been running random searches for some time. Found plenty of scarecrows, scary and cute. Virtually all the standard humanoid being on a cross. None of it was catching my attention.
I forget what the specific search term was that brought up THIS image.
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| From 2011 buildup |
Now, that is something I can work with. It’s spidery as it is, and bears a striking resemblence to Charr as well.
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| From Year of the Charr |
I started seeing friends for Charr…but I can’t possibly store all that…so, lets see where that pic came from, maybe they have some more sources…
Did they ever.
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| From 2011 buildup |
Magic the Gathering, of all things. Not only was it dishing up unique art in spades, it was dishing out a story to go with it.
“Most of the scarecrows of Shadowmoor were built by kithkin cobblesmiths to perform basic farming tasks. Even on that dimly lit plane, kithkin have to raise springjacks and care for their sickly, nettle-infested crops, so enterprising hedge-mages of the douns (the Shadowmoor term for kithkin villages) built creatures to help with the chores. The cobblesmiths could only spare a few tools, bones, or scraps of wood to create the things, which caused the scarecrows to move in an unsettling, herky-jerky way. Some say the first scarecrow-makers used the enchanted wood of dead treefolk, and their movements are indicative of the wood’s intrinsic rage. Whatever the cause of their strange movements, they didn’t do their jobs very well, but at least when dark things in the night snatched them away, the farmers hadn’t lost much.
Over time, as farmers moved or passed away, some of the scarecrows remained. Most of them continue to try to perform their intended actions, but removed of their context, their actions seem bizarre and inappropriate. A scarecrow designed for scything grain, for example, can seem menacing when it comes at you in the dark, its sickle-arm raised high and its empty eyes trying to decide whether you are ripe for mowing. Other scarecrows are more innocuous in purpose, but can still be strange and scary.”
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| From 2011 buildup |
It’s looking like The Harvest might just have another year of life left in it as we prepare to transition…