The first time Link encounters Levias, the Great Spirit of the Sky, it’s not a pleasant experience. The Thunderhead lives up to its name with dark stormy clouds and sparks of dangerous lightning threatening to knock Link out of the sky. Levias is not in a talking mood, a parasite turning him to the dark side. Fortunately for the great spirit, Link vanquishes the darkness and Levias is able to return to his peaceful self once more. The storm vanishes and bright colours and warm fluffy clouds return. The song in the air is one of peace and has been captured in simple but gorgeous artwork created by Sarah May Art.
Sarah chose to draw the giant whale-like creature in a circular design reminiscent of a bubble. Levias will never be found in the sea but that doesn’t make the shape any less suitable. Unlike the standard portrait and landscape dimensions, the square like layout creates balance. Each line moves the eye around the piece in an endless loop, much like the sky. Levias draws movement to the clouds, and the clouds draws movement back to Levias. Clouds are placed both in the foreground and the background, creating the illusion that Levias is swimming by and continuing that subconscious movement through the piece.
The sky holds many colors depending on the time of day, the position of the sun or the lack of sun entirely. Sarah had a full 24 hours of color schemes to choose from but settled for the oranges, yellows and pinks that are found in an hour of the setting sun. While Levias remains the same grey creature, the clouds make up for it, giving the rather bland character life. The choice of bright colors also makes Levias stand out more in the piece. If the clouds has been white like a cloudy day or dark like a devastating storm, the Sky Guardian would have been lost to the eye.
Levias is happy in Sarah’s artwork. His smile and the slight lift of his head shows it. The colors also aid in creating a rather happy and blissful mood. But, on top of all this, Sarah captures Levias’s singing voice. Although Link doesn’t ride on Levias’ back in the piece, it’s not hard to picture his closed eyes and peaceful smile as he listens to the Sky Guardian sing his part of the legendary song. Or, maybe, Levias just had his fill of Lumpy Pumpkin’s Pumpkin Soup. Everyone’s happier after eating their favourite meal, after all.
