Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1109293
A The Who When dealing with historical characters and their culture, it is always a good idea to educate yourself. Even if you romanticize the hell out of everything, it will foster respect for the nuances that represent entire populations: pride, ancestry, tradition, religions. Only then can you decide how to best support the emotional content of your story. Vikings. Most of them were initially farmers and fishermen with the weapons of their trades, and a serious attitude. People imagine them looking like a bearded "Conan the Barbarian" and wearing a horned helmet. The reality is, no helmet with horns has ever been discovered by archaeologists. The Where Northern Europe. Scandinavia. Denmark, Sweden and Norway. While there were lots of Vikings in the stunning country of Denmark, it's still pretty flat. I wanted drama so decided to look at Sweden and Norway. When I visited Norway—and was in the middle of a fjord at the foot of a giant mountain—I felt how such a loaded landscape would shape a very special kind of people. Some painters successfully transcribed the breadth of similar scenes. Artists such as Thomas Moran, Frederic Church, Albert Bierstadt and the Norwegians Hans Gude and Adolph Tidemand also served as my inspiration. The When Dark Ages, roughly between 780 AD and 1100 AD. Famous for their longboats, the Vikings designed craft that were stunning, elegant pieces of art. Their architecture was essentially timber B A. FJORD PHOTO TAKEN DURING A NORWAY RESEARCH TRIP IN 2011. B. CONCEPT ART FOR THE ISLAND OF BERK. DIGITAL PAINTING BY PIERRE- OLIVIER VINCENT. C. STAVE CHURCH FROM THE OSLO FOLK MUSEUM. D. THE BOW OF A VIKING LONGBOAT. C D