Man, I don't know nuthin' about nuthin' when it comes to pixel art, but I can tell you that that is a damn pretty picture.

And, since I don't want to be completely useless and tell you something you already know, might I suggest putting some broken statues or something of the sort on the "hell" side?  I think that would make it more symmetrical, while at the same time showing the differences between the two sides.

Instead of statues on the lower half, you could always heap on an extra helping of mythology, and add the serpent that was coiled around the roots of the tree, strangling it. I think that was how it goes.My knowledge of norse myth = zilch.

Finish it, astonish us. :D

not entirely flawed. there was a snake around midgard. which i do not think you could see on this representation, and there was a dragon (Níðhöggr or Nidhogg for those who care to know) nibling at it's roots, which i think should be shown on this piece. also there is an (unnamed) eagle perched on top of the tree whit a hawk sitting between it's eyes (the hawk is called Veðrfölnir) and a squirrel that runs up and down the tree to pass messegas between the two.

not that i'm an expert on norse/germanic mythology, but i read a childrens translation of the edda when i was a kid and i've always preffered them and their stories over those of the greek pantheon.

At this stage I'm finding the colors too soft and pretty.

oh wow everyone thanks for all the comments!

i'll see if i can respond accordingly:

jalonso: what did you have in mind? i'm going for a certain level of emotion here, so color choice is important!

reo: i get what you mean about the rocks; i'll experiment with some different textures and see what fits the best. i could also change the statues to stones, but yggdrasil was from what i've read the tree that contained every heaven and hell of all cultures, so maybe i could integrate ruins AND statues? :)

lucas: thanks man. the roots are supposed to resemble another tree, so they had to be somewhat big. the trunk is a tad too thick though, i'll fix that!

Bosch and Anoni: great ideas. a serpent would add to this scene, i believe. thanks for the backstory, it helps to have knowledgeable people comment on historical art! :)

dpixel: you're exactly right! thanks.

Odinod: good ideas as well! thanks

Pumpkinbot: thanks ;D

you're all great. the more feedback the better. at this point i'll take edits, paintovers, what not, anything to improve upon this piece. i'll post an update later! thanks!

i would disagree. for eaxample: the bridge between asgard and midgard (heaven and earth respectively) was a rainbow, the god of spring is so importantant that when his life is threatned the gods go out into the world and make evrything, from the largest bear to the smallest pebble, or grain of sand, swear that they will not kill him and their idea of the apocalypse was that the sun would stop shining and a century long winter would start. if the old norwegian/germanic tribes would have been pixelartists, they would pick a bright pallet.



i don't know which neo-pagan told you that the but it is decidedly not true. the yggdrasil encompassed 9 worlds, each of which has it's specific people and function. though there are very few sources, and they may be slightly contraditionary, these are generally assumed to be (not in order of position on the tree):

1. migard: Middle-earth, which is the realm of men
2. Asgard: gods'-earth, which is the realm of the gods
3. vanaheim: home of the vana, an other clan of gods, also known as the traveling gods
4. alfheim: elfs'-home, which is the realm of the elves
5. svartalfsheim: dark elfs'-home, which is the realm of the dark elfs
6. jotunheim: giants'-home, which is the realm of the giants
7. mispelheim: marsh-home, wich is the elemental plane of fire
8. nifleheim: mist-home, wich is the elemental plane of frost
9. hel: which is the land of the dead that that lived too insignificant lives to be taken into the courts of the gods

Also It would be very hard to combine the idea of, for example hades, the underground realm of ALL the dead (both of the good AND the evil, or insignificant) from greek mythology, with the idea of the norse/germanic people that men who died gloriously in battle would be given a place in walhalla and reside amongst the gods in asgard (heaven).

Furthermore, the only religion with which the norse/germanic tribes came into contact, of which there is written evidence, is christianity. it is clear from historical sources and archeological evidence that the pagans fiercely fought against the invasion of christianity for a long time. some scholar actually see the rise of the vikings as a sort of crusade against christianity as they where the first to identify tthemselves as 'pious' pagans, by, for examble, wearing a thor's hammer, a hammer shaped amulet as a religious symbol, and a pagan analogue of the christian cross and their prefernce for christian communities, churches and monastries in their pillaging and plundering.

long posts FTW!


Edited by Dhr. Bosch - 29 November 2009 at 5:05pm

the stones are waay better.

i wholeheartidly agree