In response to the Host's challenge in Episode 0-2 : How to visually depict the Valar

MithLuin

MithLuin

Well-Known Member
Anastasia said:
Hello again,
I couldn't decide whether to edit my previous post or make a new one, but since I am uploading an image, I thought a new one would be best. I have drawn a rough costume sketch of Bre's Nienna (Post elf-contact)

[GALLERY=media, 52]P1000976 by Anastasia posted Feb 18, 2016 at 8:12 PM[/GALLERY]

What do you think of my interpretation of your artwork Bre? I changed the shape of the sleeves, since I thought a bell sleeve would evoke a teardrop, does that work for you?

My only concern with this costume is one of practicality. I am worried about the veil impeding the audience's view of the actor's face, and thus impeding the performance. We have to keep a hood or veil, since that is literally the only physical costume item that Tolkien describes her having, but I'm not entirely sure how to make it work. There are indeed very transparent fabrics in the world, but I haven't seen any that would not obscure the actor's performance in some way. Bre's drawing has a slit in the front of the veil, which will be helpful, since the set costumers will have the option of pinning back the veil to allow the camera to see her face, while keeping this key piece of costuming on her head. But does pinning back the veil, or uncovering her face in some way defeat the purpose of having a veil at all? I'm having trouble visualizing the logistics of it.
Click to expand...

Soooo...I am setting as one of my costume goals this coming year to work on this version of Nienna. Obviously, I would be making the outfit for me, not someone who looks like the actress we cast in the role, but I think it would be really great to have the opportunity to play with some fabrics and work out what it would look like.

So, before I do that...is there any objection to my using your designs, Bre and Anastasia? Obviously, if anyone asks me where it's from, I'll tell them, but there's a good chance that if I make the costume there will be photos floating around the internet without any attribution. (Because I would intend to wear it to DragonCon next year with a group of the Valar, so...if that happens...strangers will take photos not knowing who we are).

I should add the caveat that it wouldn't be a faithful reproduction, more 'inspired by.' I definitely want to do the headwrap+veil, but there will likely be some limitations in how well I can do the rest of it. Like, chiffon is lovely, but I've never sewn with it before, and, well..... Also, I might be adding 'teardrop' trim as decoration. Stuff like that. We'll see. Just an idea right now, but one I'm pretty excited about!
 
Bre

Bre

Active Member
I'm fine with it. Just add "inspired by" with credit if you do a photo post of it online or something like that
 
F

Faelivrin

Well-Known Member
I had a (possibly crazy) thought about the Ainur. To snow that their fanar shapes are raiment, artistic expressions of themselves and veils upon their true (invisible??) glory.

Instead of having just one "elemental" costume and one human/elven costume, for each Ainu... what if we had several of each? Imagine Manwe has several "elemental" fanar and several clothing outfits for his elven fana. All of them fit his visual themes and convey something about his character. But which he's wearing changes from episode to episode, in keeping with something about his role in that episode or its theme. Or even wilder, what if it changed from scene to scene, based on each Ainu's mood? In addition to CGI creating slight changes as his emotions shift within a scene (like Morgan Z's suggestion).

Now imagine that for all the Valar and Maiar, for Mairon/Sauron, and for early Melkor too. Really convey how temporary these shapes are, and how each reveals only a little about the Ainu inside it.

This would probably be craaaazy to do with a real TV series, but we'll never film it, so we don't have to care about practicality. Not to demand extra costumes from the artists, but to say Go wild, draw as many different costumes as you want. Each artist has their own ideas for how to convey each Ainu... why choose when we could use them all? :p
 
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MithLuin

MithLuin

Well-Known Member
Nienna costume is a go! I have been gathering materials for it, and intend to get started this week. I am doing a two-part veil, with the headwrap and sheer veil over it. I have organza and chiffon for the veils and the sleeves, so plenty of sheer nonsense going on ;). For the band/crown holding the veils in place, I want to try something made of leather and stained glass....not sure that's going to turn out at all, so I may completely rethink that. I also have some dupoini silk for the skirts/bodice and an overlay for the weird teardrop shape over the chest.

We'll see how...any...of this turns out.

Unfortunately, I can't see the sketch Anastasia made any more, as the media gallery seems to be acting up on here. Definitely should have downloaded that!
 
MithLuin

MithLuin

Well-Known Member
Nienna.jpg

Here's my first iteration of Nienna. I tried a lace veil, but I probably will switch to chiffon and put the split in it.

For the head piece, I used metal beads and green labradorite stones. I may share some detail shots later.

I am wearing 3" heels, so I am the same height as the actress we cast in this role, and I do have brown hair/blue eyes. None of my other measurements match, though ;)
 
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MithLuin

MithLuin

Well-Known Member
So here are some photos taken of our group that were not blurry selfies in a mirror....

These group shots by Chris and Nadine:


The Valar...aka, yards upon yards of chiffon and endless beads!

All photos below credited to Nathaniel Dukes. Album may be viewed here: https://natedukes.smugmug.com/Bree2019/
Photos were taken at Evening At Bree at DragonCon 2019 in Atlanta, GA on Friday August 30th. Unless otherwise noted, everyone designed and made their own costumes/makeup.

Manwë and Varda:

Manwë: Kathleen https://www.facebook.com/silivrencostuming/
Varda: Kelly https://www.facebook.com/sindoreicosplay/


Yavanna: Cindy Instagram: thackeryearwicket
Aulë: Everett



Vairë: Stacey
Mandos (Námo): Celia https://www.facebook.com/AvalloneCos/ ; Instagram: avallonecosplay


Lorien (Irmo): Marianne
Este: Sabrina


Tulkas: Jon* (costume made by Celia)
Nessa: Mary https://www.facebook.com/contofaire


Oromë: AJ* (costume made by Grace)
Vána: Grace https://www.facebook.com/GoldieCosplay/ Instagram: Riverdaughter Designs


Ulmo: Nax* (crowd-sourced costume made by Kathleen, Celia, and Kelly)
Nienna: Me!!!! :D Thanks to Bre Melvin for inspiration for the costume design :)

And lastly, Melkor: Ben
 
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Halstein

Halstein

Active Member
MithLuin said:
So here are some photos taken of our group that were not blurry selfies in a mirror....

These group shots by Chris and Nadine:


The Valar...aka, yards upon yards of chiffon and endless beads!

All photos below credited to Nathaniel Dukes. Album may be viewed here: https://natedukes.smugmug.com/Bree2019/
Photos were taken at Evening At Bree at DragonCon 2019 in Atlanta, GA on Friday August 30th. Unless otherwise noted, everyone designed and made their own costumes/makeup.

Manwë and Varda:

Manwë: Kathleen https://www.facebook.com/silivrencostuming/
Varda: Kelly


Yavanna: Cindy
Aulë: Everett



Vairë: Stacey
Mandos (Námo): Celia https://www.facebook.com/AvalloneCos/


Lorien (Irmo): Marianne
Este: Sabrina


Tulkas: Jon* (costume made by Celia)
Nessa: Mary


Oromë: AJ* (costume made by Grace)
Vána: Grace


Ulmo: Nax* (crowd-sourced costume made by Kathleen, Celia, and Kelly)
Nienna: Me!!!! :D Thanks to Bre Melvin for inspiration for the costume design :)

And lastly, Melkor: Ben
Click to expand...
Then we can tick this off our to-do list.
 
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