The following excerpt comes from Jo Graham’s LiveJournal:
Long ago, in the first days of the world, there were the First Mothers. Osprey was one of them, nine in all. Nine queens and ninety-nine men, blades and clevermen alike, for that is how people were made. That is how we were born in the ice of the first world, beneath the light of the moon. To each queen were given certain gifts, no two alike, for no two lineages are the same. We all count our names from them, from the First Mothers, and each tells its own story. […] She is queen of mists and shadows, strong in mind, weaving illusions to hide and deceive. She is a white flower, a white bird, a fog rising among the trees. She is the shadow of clouds trailing across the moon.
The first mothers
The tale of the first mothers inspired me to draw Osprey who is one of the first nine Wraith Queens. The resemblance to Teyla is no coincidence because in the episode ‘The Gift’ Teyla dreams of herself as a Wraith Queen, looking like Osprey. More information about Osprey and her first blades and clevermen will be revealed in ‘Secrets’.
The Legacy book series by Jo Graham, Melissa Scott and Amy Griswold is complete and I highly recommend reading it! It’s a riveting story that seamlessly follows the events of Season 5 and sheds light on many secrets. The Wraith finally get the loving attention and cultural background that they deserve. Read more about Legacy and other Stargate novels at –> https://www.stargatenovels.com/
A giant special Thank You goes to Jo Graham for answering my questions and for allowing me to use the excerpt.
Drawn digitally using Photoshop CS3 and Wacom Intuous 3.
Disclaimer:
I do not own Stargate:Atlantis or the concept of the Wraith. Osprey and her blades and clevermen belong to MGM Television, Jo Graham, Melissa Scott, Amy Griswold and Fandemonium.
But I do own the countless hours of work that went into the creation of this so the artwork is mine. Don’t use/post this artwork without my permission. It is specifically for Jo.
Resources:
Please spread the dA love and check out these awesome reference pics I used for the painting:
Lighting ref: http://ariseandrejoice.deviantart.com/art/pastel-planet-154506503
Mountains: http://markieknopflie.deviantart.com/art/Snow-and-ice-155590474
Hilltop: http://doruoprisan.deviantart.com/art/Winter-Wonderland-8-73838581
Aurora Borealis: http://uberfischer.deviantart.com/art/Blue-Mountain-Lightshow-197809879
Blade, reference for pose: http://ahrum-stock.deviantart.com/art/Gratuitous-Swording-20-54902556
Detail view
Further reading and resources:
If you’re a fan of Stargate: Atlantis and the Wraith in particular, these links may help you:
WraithHiveship: Stargate Atlantis Wraith artwork and literature community on deviantART. Check out the amazing work of highly talented people!
GateWorld: One of the best (and most reliable) sources for everything Stargate. If your curiosity is not satisfied after browsing the site’s numerous info pages, you can also register for the forum which is a remarkable friendly place full of helpful people. For Wraith fans in particular, this thread, the Wraith Defenders Club is a valuable resource about every facet of Wraith life. From this thread also stems the Wraith Defenders Club Project, see below.
Wraith Defenders Club Project: Collection of links to Stargate actors’ websites and interesting blogs, includes a Wraith name list as compiled by members of the Wraith Defenders Club.
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