#ornamentalist

skekMal the Hunter - Make-Up Tray and Accessories Props - Jim Henson Company 70th Anniversary Auction on Julien's Auctions, sold for $2,560 - Lot 203

"A make-up tray with brushes and assorted vessels used by the Skeksis to make the dead body of skekMal the Hunter (performed by Kevin Clash and voiced by Ralph Ineson) presentable for eternal display in the Castle of the Crystal in the ninth episode of the prequel series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (Netflix, 2019), entitled, "The Crystal Calls."

The props are composed primarily of metal and wood. Sponges with wooden handles are present, as well as a group of small brushes. The bottom of the silver-tone bowls reads, "The National Trust/ Gentenary 1895-1995." 

Dimensions: Tray: 19.5 x 14.5 inches; Overall: 19.5 x 14.5 x 4 inches"

SkekTember 2024, prompt 9: Enjoyment (Story below👇)

~"Ohhh, I love this color!"~ squealed the Ornamentalist when his assistant painted the last of his fingernails with a thick, bright golden liquid.

~"It looks really beautiful on you, Master!"~ commented the Gelfling, observing skekEkt's hands with a satisfied smile. ~"Your new nail-polish is really magnificent"~

The Ornamentalist gave a new, shrill squeak at these words.

~"Isn't it just?! It's made with the finest gold flakes mixed with a paste of...but no, stop!~" he snapped, dramatically, ~" I refuse to say more: you know that the ingredients I use for my creations are secret!"~

Leesi, the Gelfling, smiled knowingly.

~"Of course, Master. I would not dream of asking you about that! I just think it looks very beautiful, that's all."~

Nodding with agreement, skekEkt stared at his sharp fingernails, slowly turning his hands so the shifting light would make the golden paint sparkle and shimmer. He was really enjoying the sight.

~"Oh, it's so pretty, so, so pretty! Leesi dear, go to the kitchen now and ask Lord Gourmand for some scented tea and sweet pastries, would you? Go on, don't dawdle! I always get hungry for sweet things when I'm so thrilled!"~

With a small, discreet giggle, the delicate Gelfling maid rushed to the kitchen.

The pearl ornaments on her tiara dangled, making gentle musical sounds next to her ears as she went.

She knew her Master well, and could guess that he would want to chit chat with her and hear more flattering words about his beautiful fingernails. The Ornamentalist loved flattery.

This thought made her smile wider. Chit chat over tea would mean a fragrant, warm cup and some creamy pieces of pastry for herself, since skekEkt was surprisingly generous when he was happy.

She could smell the goods even from the doorway to the kitchen.

~"Well done, Leesi!"~ she thought to herself ~"Now let's get those treats!"~

*DISCLAIMER*

This art challenge is not official or sponsored by the JHC. SkekTember is just a small, fun thing created by a fan, for fans.

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I do not consent to ANY platform to use my artwork, posts, writing or reels to train generative AI tools.

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Artwork © @skekla

SkekTember challenge created by @skekla

All publically recognizeable canon The Dark Crystal characters, designs, settings and situations TM & © Jim Henson / Brian Froud/Universal studios/ The Jim Henson Company

This is one of those pieces where what I envisioned was more extravagant that what I ended up producing. This was largely due to a combination of working full time, having difficulty with backgrounds, and including one of my most challenging creations to draw. I was able to get a general idea of what I wanted done in time for Christmas so I'll delve into it.

Set in my Centauri universe, this scene features a posthuman character called the Ornimentalist whose passion is cultural celebrations throughout history. He especially loves winter holidays such as Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa for the joy, beauty, and the bringing together they represent. Even tens of thousands of years into the future, the Ornamentalist believes such traditions are worth preserving. So Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy Holidays whatever you celebrate this time of year.

As always, comments and critiques are welcome.

Chapter 9's up! Courtier silliness and the Chamberlain being...well...Chamberlain. https://archiveofourown.org/works/24350581/chapters/172499146

“Speaking of the Ritual-Master,” the Collector barreled in, “I can’t have been the only one who noticed them and the Emperor both getting up early from supper last night.” They speared one talon apiece into four pommerfruits from SkekAyuk’s plate, then proceeded to gobble each one off its claw in two juice-smacking bites.

“Ah, yes!” agreed the Ornamentalist at once. “The crowning proof. Well, you all know my theory about the Emperor and SkekZok—”

There were groans all round at this, even a very quiet one from the Gourmand.

“No one wants to hear your theories about the Emperor and anyone,” said the Collector.

“Oh, flit-wits, all of you. Anyway. You noticed that too I trust, Scroll-Keeper dearie?”

“Hm?” The Scroll-Keeper seemed surprised to be called on, but they quickly covered it over by taking off one of their spectacles and assiduously smearing the film on it around with the edge of one sleeve. “Of course I did. A little strange.”

“They left at almost the same time, too,” remarked the Gourmand.

“A little strange!?”

SkekOk all but jumped out of their skin and regarded SkekEkt, who was staring at them as if they had just grown a second head, with the air of a hunted thing.

“A little strange?” the Ornamentalist repeated. “And come to think of it, you’ve been acting a bit off yourself.”

“I don’t,” said SkekOk, as their spectacles slipped out of their talons.

“Know,” they added as they almost managed to catch one lens in their other talons, but fumbled it and sent the things bouncing upward almost to muzzle-level.

“What you’re,” they clarified as they made a robust grab for the pair and wound up almost losing a second one.

“Talking about,” they finished decisively as they bent over to retrieve the spectacles from where they had ended up, dangling on the end of their tether somewhere in the fluted folds of their skirts.

SkekEkt just snickered. “You don’t play coy very well. You should be right here with the rest of us trying to solve this little puzzle, and you’re not. You know something, don’t you?”

“If I knew anything, don’t you think I’d be telling you?” sputtered the Scroll-Keeper.

“Fair point,” brayed the Collector delightedly, hawking up another noisy gobbet. “Of all the terrible secret-keepers around here, you’re the worst…”

This is the thrilling season 2 content that Netflix denied us... it was funnier in my head. -_-'