#skektemberartbyskekla

[skekla]

SkekTember 2024, prompt 3: Sadness. 👇(Story below!)

~"What's wrong, Master?"

Nari furrowed her brow. That was the third time she asked, yet the Treasurer remained silent, almost absent, his pale eyes staring at some undefined spot beyond the table.

~"Master..." she insisted, softly, ~"Is it your head again?..."

The Skeksis Lord, usually imposing with his tall bearing and his bejeweled robes, produced a miserable hiss and looked pointedly aside, unwilling to acknowledge his suffering.

~"It is, then. Please, let me help. Is there anything I can do for you? Perhaps the Lord Scientist might have some kind of tea or brew that might-"

SkekShod's hissing grew louder at this, and two urgent words erupted from his beak; ~"Not...him!"

~"Why not, Master? He is the one who might have something that can ease your pain. I have seen the scar once, when the podlings were tying your headkerchief on place...I know it hurts. It has to. Please, let me help."

The Treasurer huffed, his eyes looking awkwardly back at the Gelfling who sat beside him. He knew that she could somehow guess how sad and miserable he felt some days, when the old injury stung and ached and he couldn't find his words so to put a full sentence together.

~"Alright", he muttered, stuttering ~"Don't...don't tell him..."

Nari nodded in agreement.

~"I will tell him that the tea is for me, Master. Please, just wait. I will be back in a moment!"

SkekShod watched her rush away, and pressed his hand even harder against his temple.

*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.

Artwork may be shared on Instagram Stories but not be used or redistributed elsewhere without written consent.

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

(No commercial use or copyright infringement are intended)

[skekla]

SkekTember 2024, prompt 2: Anxiety 👇(read story below!)

~"Please don't apply so much pressure, Gelfling! Remember you're making ink, not churning butter!", tutted the Illustrator, staring at her assistant who was sitting on a small pillow, using a pestle to grind coal powder, tree-gum and water into a thick, black substance.

~"I'm not pressing it that hard, Master! I promise!", huffed the Gelfling, smashing the pestle into the mortar with even more enthusiasm.

~"Ink-making is a delicate task. It requires a firm yet gentle hand. You will ruin it if you keep doing that." The Illustrator was starting to anxiously wring her hands.

~"It's these pesky crumbs in the coal powder that make it so complicated...I need them to dissolve but they won't...", replied the Gelfling matter-of-factly.

SkekLa's eyes widened.

~"CRUMBS? Wait, are there crumbs in the powder? Let me see that!" said the Skeksis, leaning forward to glare at the mixture as the Gelfling, stubbornly, kept struggling to crush something with the pestle.

~"Kirie, STOP! That's an ORDER!"

The Gelfling's ears perked up at the mention of her name, and she finally stopped working.

~"Why are you so upset, Master?"

SkekLa's eyes were round and crazed, one of her trembling hands pressed to her temple as she replied in dismay; ~"I have work to finish. I needed that ink right now, and it's ruined...Oh well. Strain off the crumbs.That will do, hopefully. That will do."

*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.

Artwork may not be used or redistributed elsewhere without written consent.

Artwork © @skekla

SkekTember challenge created by skekla_art

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

(No commercial use or copyright infringement are intended)

[skekla]

Second post from 2023's SkekTember event (I will post the entire series for all of you to get to know a bit more about my Fan-character)

SkekTember, day 2: The sworn enemy.

To say that skekLa and skekNa did not get along well would be an understatement.

She would spy on skekNa's confidential talks with his allegiance so to reveal useful secrets to her own allies, openly criticised his work, and considered him a dim-witted brute.

He saw her as a worthless, lame weakling, and had no qualms with saying that to her face. He once brought public scorn upon her and caused the loss of one of her fingers.

Their mutual hatred was not exactly a secret for anyone who lived in the Castle of the Crystal.

* *

Remember I'm ✨️open for commissions!✨️ Please DM me if you're interested.

✨️If you like my artwork, please comment and share to help my art be found by more people✨️

I don't consent to the use of this artwork to train generative AI models.

*DISCLAIMER*

Artwork may not be used or redistributed elsewhere without written consent.

Artwork © SkekLa

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

(Fan art. No commercial use or copyright infringement are intended)

[skekla]

SkekTember, prompt 4: "Ritual of the Self"

(✨️Short story below!✨️)

In a chamber long-forgotten beneath the Castle of the Crystal — a room of bare stone, dust-veiled corners, and quiet echoes — skekUng stood alone.

He had locked the heavy door behind him. Not from fear. Never from fear. But from privacy. The kind of silence one only dares seek when age begins to whisper too loudly in the joints.

The room was cold, but still. A place untouched by the hissing politics of the throne room or the creak of Garthim armor. Here, the light from a single, cracked window spilled across the floor in a pale stripe, catching the slow swirl of dust in its beam.

He stepped into the light.

Thick, clawed feet planted firmly on the flagstones, scuffed leather boots creaking as he widened his stance. His knees bent — low, deliberate. A warrior’s crouch, yes, but more than that. A memory of something older than war.

His left hand braced against the meat of his thigh, fingers splayed like roots gripping soil. In his right hand: the long ceremonial knife. The blade gleamed dull silver, its edge chipped from age, not neglect.

He raised it high above his head.

Stillness.

Time seemed to pause, holding its breath with him. Then it came — a sensation not unlike the quiet thrum of a distant drum. Energy, subtle and certain, tickled the soles of his boots. A warmth rising through leather, through skin, through brittle bone.

It climbed.

Through bent knees. Through hips long stiffened by years of posture and pride. Up his spine, straightening it. Into his shoulders. His neck. His skull.

And then — it bloomed behind his eyes. A spark. Not fire, not flame, but serenity. Brief and dizzying. He tasted iron in the air. He smelled the dust of old stone, the faint trace of the moss that clung to cracks in the walls. He heard the soft, forgotten hum of Thra’s pulse.

It was beautiful.

He stayed like that. Holding the pose until his muscles trembled and the burn began to gnaw. Not pain — proof. That he was still here. Still strong. Still master of form and blade and breath.

When at last he let the stance go, it was slow. A careful release. One limb at a time. His knife lowered with reverence. His hand slid from his thigh. His back rose straight again with a small, wet crackle.

He exhaled — long and low.

Yes, his bones ached. Yes, his joints popped like old wood. But beneath it all, something else remained.

He smiled, small and private.

The strongest of the Skeksis. Still.

And always.

(This drawing is based on both a pose struck by Cheryl Henson (one of Jim Henson's daughters) durying a photoshoot where she modeled high-fashion clothes inspired by skekUng's attire, and by this paragraph about him from the book "The World of The Dark Crystal":

["Much of skekUng's power must have come from his ability to assume positions of geometric harmony, unusual for a Skeksis"] )

*DISCLAIMER*

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

👇

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

👆

Artwork may be reblogged but not used or redistributed elsewhere without written consent.

Artwork © @skekla

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

(No commercial use or copyright infringement are intended)

[skekla]

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.

👇

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

👆

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

(No commercial use or copyright infringement are intended)

[skekla]

Third 2023's SkekTember "wayback" post!

SkekTember, day 3 : The one they look up to.

The Illustrator, with her limping gait and her aching bones, couldn't but admire and secretly envy the adventurous and brave Captain. SkekSa could do so many things she wouldn't; not even in her wildest dreams!

Bold, strong, ellegant and proud, the Captain was everything skekLa wished she could have been.

(This is my personal design for skekSa: a mix of her book descriptions and her old original design from Legends of The Dark Crystal. A little less fluffy, sporting a dark mane and wearing a barnacle-encrusted carapace on her back. What do you think of her looks here? )

* *

Remember I'm ✨️open for commissions!✨️ Please DM me if you're interested.

✨️If you like my artwork, please comment and share to help my art be found by more people✨️

I don't consent to the use of this artwork to train generative AI models.

*DISCLAIMER*

Artwork may not be used or redistributed elsewhere without written consent.

Artwork © SkekLa

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

(Fan art. No commercial use or copyright infringement are intended)

[skekla]

Welcome to SkekTember 2025! More info👇

As seen in the post, this year's challenge is about the charm, absurdity, and individual eccentricities of the Skeksis — their private worlds, their routines, and those peculiar little things they do when they think no one’s watching. This allows for both silly and surprisingly touching interpretations!

There are only 10 prompts, which can be drawn and posted at any time of this month-and in order to keep things simple and fun (since I really want the people who participate to enjoy the experience rather than feel burdened by it), my suggestion would be to draw any type of art you're most comfortable with, whether it's pencil sketches, ink, color or whatever you enjoy the most!)

Have fun, everyone! I can't wait to see what you come up with!

*DISCLAIMER*

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

👇

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

👆

Artwork may be shared on Instagram Stories but not be used or redistributed elsewhere without written consent.

Artwork © @skekla

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

(No commercial use or copyright infringement are intended)

[skekla]

SkekTember, prompt 3: "Meal time Madness" Short story below!👇

The Grand Banquet Hall of the Castle of the Crystal shimmered under the flicker of a thousand candle-clusters, their wax pooling like pale, melting fungi over blackened gold candelabras. The feast was already in full swing — clattering dishes, snarls of approval, slurps, belches, and the occasional shriek of a small, sneaky rat-like creature stealing the leftovers that lay on the floor.

And in the center of it all, upon the very table itself — not beside it, not behind it, but on it — reclined the bloated majesty of skekAyuk the Gourmand.

Swaddled in rich silk and velvet robes, latticed with grease and old sauces, skekAyuk perched like some proud, rotund vulture atop his culinary throne. His long fingers — curled and ringed, glistening with dribbles of broth — hovered over an ornate bowl. It steamed with noodles slicked in cream, buttered tuber-chunks, slivered rootling hearts, slow-seared meats from beasts too exotic to name, all melded in a stew so thick it barely rippled.

He cackled, deep and gurgling.

“More spice! More spice!” he bellowed, his voice wobbling like a jelly.

“Almost perfect — almost divine — but not yet quite... transcendent!”

Around him, nestled between silver goblets and ornate iron bowls, were hundreds of tiny pots, shell cups, and bone-carved bowls, each brimming with exotic spices: crimson powders, glistening black seeds, spiced salts that hissed faintly on contact with moisture, and flaky shavings of something iridescent.

With the delicacy of a jeweler and the glee of a Podling child in a Sweet-sap pot, skekAyuk dipped three clawed fingers into a pot of richly orange dust. He gave it a dramatic sniff — inhaling until his eyes watered — and flicked a generous pinch into the bowl with a flick.

“There! A kiss of fireroot. Subtle. Assertive. Audacious!”

He gave the entire mass a hearty stir with a ladle carved from the horn of a Mounder. A splash of cream arced upward and dribbled down his arm unnoticed. The stew gurgled, sighed, and let off a sudden puff of spice-scented steam.

SkekAyuk inhaled it deeply, lips quivering in reverence.

“Ohhhhhh... yes, yes, yes, you heavenly monster of a dish... you wicked, wicked beauty…”

With no pause for elegance — despite all his talk of perfection — the Gourmand sank his snout into the bowl and slurped eagerly, the sound echoing through the vaulted chamber like thunder. Cream dribbled down his chin, a noodle dangled from his beak, and somewhere behind him a frightened Podling servant dropped a tray and fled.

He smacked his lips. Loudly.

His eyes gleamed with joy.

Then—another pinch. This time, crushed violet bark.

“Too mellow! Not enough sparkle! Needs... something unexpected. Something sharp! Something that sings and bites and dances!” he cried.

He grabbed a jagged lump from a smoky dish marked only with the Gelfling rune for "caution", sniffed it, nodded with imperial finality, and shaved it directly into the bowl.

Around the table, the other Skeksis watched with mild disdain or polite horror. But none dared interrupt skekAyuk in his moment of creation.

“Fools! You eat like animals. I? I compose!” he declared, gesturing with a dripping spoon.

“You devour. I elevate. This—” (he slurped again, eyes rolling back) “**—is art.”

He reclined at last, belly rumbling with smug satisfaction, robes soaked with sauce and pride.

“More spice...” he whispered hoarsely, lovingly, as he cradled the now half-empty bowl.

“Always more spice...”

*DISCLAIMER*

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

👇

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

👆

Artwork may be reblogged not be used or redistributed elsewhere without written consent.

Artwork © @skekla

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

(No commercial use or copyright infringement are intended)