I began lurking at Fiction Alley, and by early August, I was writing my own story. Only a handful of readers at FA seemed to be following it, so I was convinced it was a flop. In September, I stumbled across Sycophant Hex and lurked there for about a month to see if I was Occlumency-worthy. Before then, I had no idea all the remarkable things “my" Snape had been doing down in the dungeons!
This has been a highly improbable year for me, and one that I never could have predicted. But enough reminiscing. On to more important matters.
sigune has selected the theme for this month's Snape Art Contest and will be the guest judge. Because she will be traveling and unavailable until later in the month, the contest runs through the end of July. This will give all of you more time to work on your paintings and allow you to take a break to read that book that's coming out on the 16th. Remember, you may enter as many paintings as you like, and absurdity is much more important than artistic ability. Click below to read what Sigune has to say.Paint a picture of Snape and yourself posed as Merlin and Vivian in Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones's
The Beguiling of Merlin
( for reference, look at the painting here).
(For those whose knowledge of Merlin's life and times is a bit rusty: Merlin fell in love with the scrumptious Nimue and taught her everything he knew. When Nimue thought she could learn no more, she cast a spell on her lover that would keep him forever imprisoned in, according to the version you read, a tower, a cave, or a hole in the ground. That's why he's lying limply on the forest floor – he's exhausted with, er, teaching, and he's spell-bound to boot. Of course no one will have the presumption of chaining your creativity by asking you to keep this back-story in mind. On the contrary – do let your imagination run riot and by all means make us laugh!)
DO NOT let the painting intimidate you (if such should be the case). It is really no more than one standing figure, one reclining figure and one tree in the background.
Additional rules and options:
- You may choose to pose yourself either as Vivian or as Merlin, depending on whether you prefer to beguile or be beguiled (*wink*).
- Feel free to dispense with Vivian's spellbook – you are in all probability a Muggle and as such will have to resort to other methods in order to get a wizard where you want him. Even if you have Snape do the beguiling, originality is highly encouraged.
- If you do away with the tree, you are kindly requested to insert another vertical element by way of replacement in the composition.
Submissions will be judged by
1) adherence to the model's pose (the model painting should still be more or less recognisable in your work);
2) the originality of the beguilement; and
3) the fits of laughter it provokes in the judges.
Prize:
The winner may pick the next contest's theme. Also, if they really feel the overpowering urge to obtain such a thing, they may, if so inclined, command their own particular Snape drawing from Sigune.