Linktober was something that I have seen floating around the internet every year, but I’d never fully explored it to its fullest extent until this year’s collaboration between our DeviantArt gallery and the Linktober team. In our raffle event, so many pieces of artwork were submitted for this special Zelda art celebration — seeing all the different mediums, styles, and ideas was simply inspiring!
From beginners to veterans, Linktober artists had four different calendars filled with prompts to choose from, and they clearly displayed their love for art and The Legend of Zelda. Here are some of the amazing entries we’ve received for Linktober! If I could feature every single submission we received, I would. There were so many creative pieces to choose from, and I highly recommend giving the gallery filled with all the entries a look after checking these ones out!
Prompt 1: “Monster/Beast” by WebMegami
Talk about starting off with a bang! Webmegami has provided an abundance of lovely pieces for Linktober, but this one stuck out to me right from the start. Such clean lines, a great color palette, and intense shading bring this ferocious Lynel to life! The profile view of this beast makes it look almost like it’s some sort of ancient mural from 100 years ago.
You can also follow Webmegami on Twitter and Instagram.
Prompt 1: “Monster/Beast” by Augusteve
This image by Augusteve popped out to me in an instant. The detailing on that Dead Hand is just terrifying — and I mean that in the best way possible! From the texture of the skin to the gritting teeth of the creature, the artist definitely put their best hand forward into bringing this monster to life! Though I’d probably have the same reaction as Link here if I saw it in reality.
You can also follow Augusteve on Instagram.
Prompt 2: “Princess” by Yamischan
Hilda is a favorite character of mine, so I was instantly drawn to this artwork by Yamischan. However, that blacklight effect was a way to take this already gorgeous piece of art and make it stand out even further! I think it especially works for this character — not just for the symbolic revealing of her character, but the purple just so happens to match as well!
You can also follow Yamischan on Instagram.
Shadow Prompt 2: “Gohma” by JSComix
I have thoroughly been enjoying each entry submitted by JSComix for the Linktober Shadow calendar. The art style chosen is simply whimsical and brings a fun, cartoonish tone to these classic Zelda baddies. Among them, this piece of Gohma had to be my favorite. I could definitely see it appearing in a children’s cartoon — but don’t let that cuteness fool you. It’s still Gohma, after all.
Prompt 3: “Time” by Ambershirelle
I’ve been an admirer of Ambershirelle’s work for a while, so seeing this artist take on Linktober was a pleasure. I instantly fell in love with this piece, which was actually a re-draw of an older piece of work done for a previous Linktober. The three Spiritual Stones are faithfully recreated with beautiful additions to not just adorn them, but shape it into the Triforce.
You can also follow Ambershirelle on Instagram.
Prompt 8: “Weapon” by EthalIris
This piece by EthalIris not only depicts a weapon, but a whole scene and story in addition: The Great Fairy watches as Link admires the new sword she has bestowed to him. The detailing put into the fairy herself is admirable and even those small inscriptions on the sword show such dedication!
You can also follow EthalIris on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Prompt 8: “Weapon” by Lyubendoodles
Similar to the previous piece, Lyubendoodles portrays the bestowing of a weapon — in this case, the legendary Master Sword itself by Hylia. The linework flows so brilliantly, almost resembling an ancient piece of art that the Hylians may have looked back on hundreds of years after the event.
You can also follow Lyubendoodles on Instagram.
Prompt 9: “Castle/Palace” by ChinguCosplay
I remember seeing the trailer for Twilight Princess dozens of times and this scene was always prominently featured. It always stuck out in my mind and is iconic to those who have played the game. ChinguCosplay gives this scene new life by using such a unique style with such precision in the crosshatching!
You can also follow ChinguCosplay on Instagram and Facebook.
Prompt 9: “Castle/Palace” by Orcsan
So many of us are used to the bleak state of Breath of the Wild’s Hyrule Castle, so to see a drawing like this celebrating its glory days is quite refreshing. The watercolor style and intricate textures added in by artist Orcsan help bring the location to life!
Prompt 10: “Link” by Redhead-Alex
I’ve always had a thing for classic Link — there’s just something about him that stands out among the others. Redhead-Alex portrays this iteration of Link as a confident young man who’s ready for some adventure; weapon at the ready and a breeze against his back.
You can also follow Redhead-Alex on Twitter.
Chance Prompt 14: “Bottle/Pot” by TetraD2
Lets face it: We all wanted to do this at some point or another. TetraD2 (otherwise known as Rachel A. DeWitt) was the only one brave enough to put Navi in her place: inside an empty bottle. Clean lines, a pop of color, and an idea that’s sure to get a snicker out of any Zelda fan — what more could you ask for?
You can also follow TetraD2 on Instagram.
Prompt 14: “Food” by Potakusan
It’s October, the perfect time for pumpkin soup! Potakusan creates the perfect scene of Link enjoying a steaming bowl of this delicacy, and I swear I can feel the warmth just by looking at this piece! The warm colors definitely give off that nice, autumn vibe!
You can also follow Potakusan on Instagram and Twitter.
Prompt 15: “Pet/Animal” by Asami-H
Asami-h has not only chosen some very unique creatures for this prompt, but has also brought them to life in a very adorable style! While I think Marin’s big eyes and flustered expression steal the show, there’s no denying how adorable the Cucco that rests on her head is. Not to mention CiaoCiao with her big bow! Who knew something so vicious could look so darn adorable?
You can also follow Asami-h on NekoPlanetarium.
Prompt 18: “Boss” by Cbab00
With just a few colors, Cbab00 has brought the mighty Stone Talus to life. The lack of outlines gives this piece such a painterly feel, almost making it abstract. Of course, if you were like me and stumbled upon this fellow on the Great Plateau, you’ll easily be able to recognize this beast.
Prompt 19: “Phantom/Ghost” by Lunaandromeda
Spirit Tracks had a wonderful idea by finally allowing Princess Zelda to accompany Link in his journey to save the world. In the game, Zelda takes advantage of her new spirit form by possessing the bold Phantom enemies. She probably also had a little fun spooking Link, just like in this art piece by Lunaandromeda!
Prompt 23: “Zelda” by Edonak88
I was immediately intrigued when I saw Zelda as she appears in the animated series in my art feed. I adore the cartoon, no matter how cheesy some may call it, and am very pleased to see Edonak88‘s interpretation of her! She has a very anime-like appearance, making me wish for an updated version of the show.
You can also follow Edonak88 on Instagram.
Prompt 27: “Fairy” by InkPawStudio777
Being a huge fan of the Queen of Fairies, I love to see how much expression is put into this piece by InkPawStudio777. It’s almost like she’s flaunting her power, but with the appearance of a child, it’s playful at the same time. When an artist can express so much in a character without iris’s, you know they’ve done a good job.
As I mentioned before, these were just a handful of the many, many submissions we’ve received for Linktober. It was such a joy to see how so many people celebrated our beloved Zelda series with this art challenge, and I hope it continues to inspire more and more artists with each coming year!
