A Personal Project: His Dark Materials

[marshfire]

I have started a project to create a series of drawings for His Dark Materials.
The drawings will be 'unofficial' and in no way linked to any 'official' publication.

As this project is at an early stage, I'm currently still going through the book's chapter by chapter. Until the books have been sourced for detailed material, I wont be starting any drawings, I estimate this will take me into the new year.

If you're interested in the project I'll be updating this thread as of when there is something to shout about.

[marshfire]

HDM wiki@:[url] http://www.bridgetothestars.net/wiki/in ... =Main_Page [/url

The wiki site has cataloged a great deal of information already. Most importantly it is easy to access and reference subjects such as; character descriptions/names, places etc. I think It would be a good idea If I use this as a main base for sourcing and finding details about the book. I will make an effort to update content onto the wiki site as I go thru the books with anything that isn't included. (though its pretty full already)

I want to make a note here that in an interview with Philip Pullman he said that Mrs Coulter ''has blonde hair'' and that ''Sometimes you're are wrong about your characters''
The same was said for how Lyra's appearance (in the movie The Golden Compass) ''This is how Lyra should look''.

There is an obvious contradiction about characters written and, now the Golden Compass has been made into a film, what else Philip might intend for certain things he wrote.
All the information I need to setup a drawing is within the books already and there's no need to change any of the details. As far as im concerned I am starting from scratch.
I don't want to simply ignore the films production as just an elaborate storyboard. I believe guys who shot the film did an excellent job. Prior to TGC cinema release the teaser trailers were saturated in a wonderful Golden/Coal Hue, giving the film a nice honey glaze. You can only see this colour grade in the trailers.

Thanks to all the people who have been adding content too the Wiki.

[marshfire]

Interesting enough (basing my assumption that this particular painting is the authors representation of Lyra) the original cover art for Northern Lights (illustrated below) is entirely accurate to the character of Lyra what ended up being photographed for the film. I think stylistically allot of the books imagery can be found in paintings that exist today. Tribute to this notion can be seen also in the cover art for TSK & TAS by the same edition.



Cover Image: Jeune fille en vert rouge, 1944, Balthus.

[marshfire]

It's been a few months since I last updated this thread,

To recap the project:
I'm still traversing the writing's of His Dark Materials.
I am a few chapters into The Amber Spyglass, and amassing a great deal of research.
In hindsight to updating content for the HDM wiki, im keeping all my notes in digital text.
.
Before I attempt any drawing's It's essential that I make an effort to write these notes into wiki format.

[marshfire]

WELL...I've updated a small entry into the wiki,

Projecting Lantern
:http://www.bridgetothestars.net/wiki/index.php?title=Projecting_lantern

Photogram
:http://www.bridgetothestars.net/wiki/index.php?title=Photogram


Just wanted to check with anyone and everyone that I'm not ruining the whole site??


I wanted to get familiar with editing content.
I decided it would just be better to just update the site as I'm going thru the book's. That way any progress is immediate.

Added Quotation In The Book & Page Reference content in these two only.
It's-a-time-eater!
I need to easily access any particular; character, prop or location in the books and know what page it's on and whats going on to describe the scene.
So I don't know if this is the best way to go about things. If anyone can shed some light on a better format for page references please drop me a message here or in the PM.

I'm not sure if the HDM wiki has all the advanced editing options you see over at Wikipedia? If the admin's think I'm messing up the pages please let me know a.s.a.p or maybe direct me with some useful info??

It's funny how these detail's matter to setup a drawing.
I was previously tracking the "coffee tray" (which first appears in the retiring room with Lord Asriel and Thorold) hoping it would stay in the scene until this particular moment...but the butler takes it away...haha It's details like this I hope the page references will be useful to quickly see whats essentially the setup of the story.

Like I said if this is making the pages completely wrong speak up or I'll continue haha.

cheers guys.
I hope to update this thread soon when the img tags are fixed.

[Jaya]

Hi marshfire! Making wiki entries is completely fine! We're planning to get the wiki back up and running and with more content, hopefully soon, we are/were just facing some technical issues with it.

I need to easily access any particular; character, prop or location in the books and know what page it's on and whats going on to describe the scene.

Unfortunately, at the moment the wiki isn't filled up that much. But hopefully some of it will be able to help you, and do feel free to edit it! As for accessing all the entries, perhaps this link might help? The articles are split into three sections (so if you click "AEsahaettr" it actually takes you to a list of all articles from that to "Lake Enara")

[marshfire]

Thank's for the info Jaya.
I tested out the link you suggested, it'll come in handy I'm sure.
I'd like to see more images on the page's. Do you know any info on how to get pictures to show up?
would look great if the Wiki had it's own logo, do you have any plans for that?
Looking forward to the new update's, maybe I'll reserve any further editorial until that's been uploaded.
Thanks again.

[marshfire]

While researching His Dark Materials last month, I uncovered a video from 2010 –
where Philip gives a talk at the Open university, for it's 40th Anniversary Lecture series.

Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KndzWNBxGPI

It's wonderful to hear Philip talk about what he describes as the –

"Borderland"-
"the interaction between word's, picture's and the reader's imagination – The space which opens up between the private mind of the reader, and the book they're reading" – Philip Pullman

-

It's truly a fascinating subject. Throughout this project, It's exactly what I'm aiming to achieve.
To visualize the borderland and explore that which I've been experiencing while reading the books.

Something that I found particularly interesting was a question asked to Philip by Dr Nicola J. Watson at 0:52:30 – which reveals a thoughtful insight into Philips writing.

''there are thing's Id like the reader to be aware of. Thing's which I wouldn't want the reader to ask about.
Where they are (in a particular scene) who's present – where the lights coming from – what the weather's like. If we're in a room (what sort of room is it)."
-
"There's enough there for a starting point" – Philip Pullman

-

On reflection to this lecture, I realized what I love so much about the His Dark Materials trilogy!
It Is the vivid "landscapes" that have left an impression on me whenever I imagine the books.
Though it's wonderful how much of the World I picture, is NOT read within the pages of the books.
This is for me - the most intriguing thing of all.

It's a true credit to the writer. Philip is very conscious that the reader's imagination is vital in the art of storytelling.

"rather than spend all my intellectual and imaginative energy on making this world entirely full and self-consistent throughout every little nook and cranny, I spent my energy writing the story, getting the narrative right.
I let the reader’s own imagination make up any gaps." – Philip Pullman
-
August 2000, at Lexicon, a small literary convention (Unicon 2000) held in Oxford, England.

[starminster]

Hi Marshfire,

Its cloudpine of old, I've just registered, but as cloudpine is already in use I have the new name. I apologise for not being in touch for a long time, and look forward to catching up. Things are so slow at conartand this seems like the HDM house! Anyway all the pics are on flickr now and I'll be in touch.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cloudpine/6757695125/

Kind regards, Starminster

[marshfire]

I found this great book called:
The Definitive Guide to Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials by Laurie Frost.
It's published by Scholastic.
Well I'm glad to have found this anyway, It's a fantastic research tool.