A personal piece I wanted to finish before starting the 'Steampunk Myths' CG Challenge in earnest.

This summer we went to an historical re-enactment event not to far from home, it was very well organized and extremely interesting, with music, theatrical performances, medieval fighting groups and artisans, from cobblers to blacksmiths, from carpenters to candle-makers and public scribes.

One scene caught my eye, a child utterly mesmerized by a scribe writing calligraphy with a goose quill, it was a perfect moment, made to be translated into a painting.
My wife has been urging me for quite a while to paint my own idea of some well known character in a classic legend and the scene, with its mentor-pupil undertones made me think of a young Arthur and a not-yet-that-old Merlin. As I see it, this is the moment in which for the child Arthur letters first come together as words.

Photoshop CS 4