suburban avenger studios

Given the location of the shows, I spent the first week of this project doing a deep dive into the rich tapestry of Finnish folklore and Scandinavian mythology. After scrolling through article after article, the concept came into focus with the almighty Tuoni—king of Tuonela, the realm of the dead. The omnipotent watcher is as revered as he is feared, responsible for guiding the deceased to their eternal resting place. At his side are the trio of Norns, the Norse deities responsible for spinning the threads of fate for all living things; together, they control the balance of life and death throughout the lands of the living and the dead.

The second half of this set focuses on Tuonetar, the Queen of the Underworld and wife of the all-powerful Tuoni. Legend cites her as the virgin of death and goddess of the subterranean worlds, giving birth to plagues, diseases, demons, and monsters. She holds the scales of judgment for all souls that arrive at the gates of the underworld, granting them an eternity of peace or punishment. She also has a pet—the Black Swan of Tuonela; I separately illustrated this swan (along with some castle structures) and planned on adding them in post, but they were ultimately left on the cutting room floor.

The 12x24 clayboard originals are also for sale— shoot me an email if you’re interested.