COMICS:
* See my Honours comic HERE.
* See my PhD comic, and thesis HERE.
PORTFOLIO:
* Want to see my professional stuff? go HERE .
SKETCHBOOK:
Below is more of a ‘personal’/informal collection. My art is about exploring my own unconscious, therefore you can expect a lot of esoteric symbolism.
Newer Drawings Are Found At The Top! You’ll find more on my Instagram @merylkeioskie (although, let’s be honest… I’m far too busy to post anything there these days).
I know, I know. I’m too busy nowadays to draw that much. The weblink says 2018-2021, but I can’t figure out how to change it,
so trust the dates here, context is key.
2024.
Get ready for a miniature essay!
“Per Viam Cadueci” for he will always be an arcadian medic amidst an apocalyptic hellscape. Ala de Fallout New Vegas. Note: On the Followers Of The Apocalypse coat, the “Aesculapion” (as per the Greek God of healing, Asclepius) patch for medics has one snake coiled around the scepter (The other shoulder, hidden from view, has the fleur-de-lis cross insignia, the ‘lily’ being a symbol of purity, fitting for the F.O.A) – this is in-comparison to the caduceus, which is messenger of the gods’ Hermes’ staff. This symbol is unfortunately mistaken as medical in nature due to America’s misuse of it back in the 19th Century – this is incorrect. The caduceus symbolizes ‘safe travel’ (the symbol is found on the side of ambulances), particularly for commerce and negotiation (Mercury is associated with writing and eloquence) – just as well, it symbolizes alchemy (Azoth) which would be fitting for the double-connotation of ‘Big pharma’. Ultimately, such a symbol represents trickery, deception… the expected connotation more fitting to a Salesman (not at all fitting for the F.O.A or Arcade). The ‘cross bottany’ of the F.O.A is variation of the cross fluery appears to be directly influenced from the Rosicrucian cross, Celtic cross or the cross of Asturius (also known as ‘the victory’ cross). Likely, the Asturius cross of victory is closest inspiration, with Greek engraving on the original translated to “With this sign the pious are safeguarded. With this sign the enemy is conquered”. The F.O.A cross is however enclosed in a nimbus, which is also found at the cross arm of the Celtic variant – the nimbus represents the celestial sphere – rather, the divine. In regards to Heraldry, armorial bearings known as armory, so-called due to the symbiology being designed to be brandished.
Arcade’s main archetypes in Jungian psychology are observed to be ‘The Sage’ (prevailing, as he references himself as being Virgil to the Courier’s Dante from Dante’s Inferno), ‘The Wounded Healer’ and/or ‘Nurturer’ (Being a healer, and feeling pity for a low intelligence Courier) with a minor ‘Warrior’ (Fighting for what is ‘morally good’ – detesting the Legion as evil) and ‘The fool’ (freedom, liberty and being given to jest) affiliation.
He is ‘The Knight Of Swords’ in tarot, and this is suggested by the playing card that was canonically released for his character, which is the ‘six of spades’ (spades = swords in tarot). The mercurial (communication) aspect linked to Aquarius as per the cards’ alignment is apposite with the character’s intellect, acerbic wit, and somewhat impulsive/reckless idealism (his being outspoken in the face of that which he finds immoral, despite imminent danger – Arcade would rather meet death itself, than abandon his ethical and logical paradigm). Fitting, as his name is ‘Arcade’ (Possibly Arcadius in-full, which has its roots from Zeus’ son in Greek Mythology, Arkas, meaning ‘bow/arch’, to-which, as a hunter, Arkas brandished) – linking to the rustically idealistic region in Peloponnese (Greece), Arcadia which was ruled and established by King Arkas. Further… the adjective ‘Arcadian’ describes someone who is an ‘idealized rustic‘ – someone who is simple in presentation (unassuming in Arcade’s case), yet idealistic. The surname ‘Gannon’ is Irish/Gaelic in origin (‘Mag Fhionnáin’ being the Gaelic form). The surname is diminutive of fionn which means ‘fair-haired’ or ‘white’ (well, that was definitely deliberate on the writer’s part). It is sourced by several early Irish saints. The middle/second name ‘Israel’, was given to him from the writer of his character during a panel/conference. ‘Israel’ has Biblical connotations – referring to Jacob from the old testament being given the name, after wrestling with an Angel. Just as well there is a parallel to the nation of Israel, a nation comprising of those chosen by God and such denizens ‘struggle with/against god.’ For Arcade, the meaning refers to ‘god’ (the character is not inferred to be religious in any manner in-game, thus I am referring to ‘god’ as being interchangeable with Arcade’s concept of the ‘moral ideal’) being the ‘greater good’, to-which Arcade fights beside against opposing forces. Thus, Arcade’s compulsion to do what is moral, beyond even self-preservation is his ‘conatus’.
The obscuring of the left eye in the duo piece isn’t inferring anything occult – rather, it refers to ‘the hidden’ or ‘the unmasked self’. This is alluding to Arcade’s past. The left according to the Greek philosopher, Homer, is representative of ‘evil’ as opposed to the right which is ‘good’. Of course, Arcade is far from immoral or rather, ‘evil’ – this symbolism points to the obfuscation of his past association (through progenitors) with the paramilitary fascist organization, the Enclave. Arcade’s arc (hehe, Arkas) is all about his reconciliation of his past, to thereby liberate him of former haunts (His six of spades/swords canonical playing-card, symbolically represents one ‘leaving the past behind’ – more or less, enlightening Arcade to step out of the shadow of his late Father to which he “…never got over it [his Father’s absence]”).
I attribute my understanding of the aforementioned of Aesclepius and Hermes from “Hermetica: The Greek Corpus Hermeticum and the Latin Asclepius…” by Brian P. Copenhaver, 1995; among other references.
And remember, there are no coincidences.
2022.
2021.
2020.
2019.
2019-2018.
Neopets Sketches from 2013-2016:
These are some of the sketches/drawings done by me when I used to play Neopets back in the day. I source, much of my practice from there specifically. From here, I experimented with a multitude of styles.
Meryl Keioskie 