While the Suitors were talking Odysseus, master of stratagems, had picked up the great bow and checked it all over... with his right hand he tested the string, and it sang as he plucked it with a sound like a swallow's note (Homer's The Odyssey).

Day 8 of the Ides of March challenge, and from now on every illustration will have an additional characteristic or mini-challenge! Odysseus, king of Ithaca, has the minor addition of having Poseidon's water beneath him and Hades' monsters lurking nearby. All while Zeus' lightning strikes behind him. I read the Odyssey and he's one of my favorite parts of the challenge so far. The original idea was to recreate the moment when he attacks the Suitors (Zeus actually strikes to cheer him on in that moment so the moment is pretty damn memorable), but I knew I wouldn't have time to draw the Suitors. Instead I went for more general references to the gods he interacts with on his journey.

If you like this illustration, please stick around! There are 7 more of them to go during this month, and my goal is to post one every day. Although I am no longer confident that I'll be in the right mindset to complete this challenge after recent events.

Go to my Ko-fi to see the sketch layer too.

Additional links: Fiverr, Instagram, Youtube, Artstation