It's been a while since the last time I updated my blog.
Currently, I'm working as an intern at a publishing company.
I have to wake up early (not really my life style) and go to work. When I got home, I feel so tired that I don't have the energy to draw anything.
It's a non-paid job because I do it to fulfill the condition my university set to graduate. But I'm pretty lucky to get a job that I like and fit me (I work as an illustrator at a children magazine) also, I get more knowledge from the people at work.
Since today is Sunday, I spent my spare time with drawing this illustration.
There's a story from China which resemble the story of Romeo and Juliet, It's called The Butterfly Lovers. It's a love story of Zhu Yingtai and Liang Shanbo. Here's the story from wikipedia :
Zhu Yingtai is a beautiful and intelligent young woman, the ninth child and only daughter of the wealthy Zhu family of
Shangyu,
Zhejiang.
Although traditions of that era discourage females from going to
school, Zhu manages to convince her father to allow her to attend
classes in disguise as a young man. During her journey to
Hangzhou, she meets Liang Shanbo, a scholar from Kuaiji (present-day
Shaoxing).
They chat and feel a strong affinity for each other at their first
meeting. Hence, they gather some soil as incense and take an oath of
fraternity in the pavilion of a thatched bridge.
They study together for the next three years in school and Zhu
gradually falls in love with Liang. Although Liang equals Zhu in their
studies, he is still a bookworm and fails to notice the feminine
characteristics exhibited by his classmate.
One day, Zhu receives a letter from her father, asking her to return
home as soon as possible. Zhu has no choice but to pack her belongings
immediately and bid Liang farewell. However, in her heart, she has
already confessed her love for Liang and is determined to be with him
for all eternity. Before her departure, she reveals her true identity to
the headmaster's wife and requests her to hand over a jade pendant to
Liang as a betrothal gift.
Liang accompanies his "sworn brother" for 18 miles to see her off.
During the journey, Zhu hints to Liang that she is actually a woman. For
example, she compares them to a pair of
mandarin ducks
(a symbol of lovers in Chinese culture), but Liang does not catch her
hints and does not even have the slightest suspicion that his companion
is a woman in disguise. Zhu finally comes up with an idea and tells
Liang that she will act as a matchmaker for him and his "sister". Before
they part, Zhu reminds Liang to visit her residence later so he can
propose to marry her "sister." Liang and Zhu reluctantly part ways at
the Changting pavilion.
Months later, when Liang visits Zhu, he discovers that she is
actually a woman. They are devoted to and passionate about each other
and they make a vow of "till death do us part". The joy of their reunion
is short-lived as Zhu's parents have already arranged for her to marry a
man from a rich family called Ma Wencai. Liang is heartbroken when he
hears the news and his health gradually deteriorates until he becomes
critically ill. He dies in office later as a county magistrate.
On the day of Ma and Zhu's marriage, mysterious whirlwinds prevent
the wedding procession from escorting the bride beyond Liang's grave,
which lies along the journey. Zhu leaves the procession to pay her
respects to Liang. She descends in bitter despair and begs for the grave
to open up. Suddenly, the grave opens with a clap of thunder. Without
further hesitation, Zhu throws herself into the grave to join Liang.
Their spirits turn into a pair of beautiful butterflies and emerge from
the grave. They fly away together as a pair of butterflies and are never
to be separated again.
I don't really like a sad ending. So, to make it less sad, I drew the scene after their death. They get together and live happily ever after in the kingdom of heaven
