About

2nd name's origin

After Ecthelion, the slayer of Gothmog. “Silmarillion” is the most popular position about elven mythology and it’s often studied in families. 2nd names traditionally are from the Silmarillion not only to pay respect to the powerful and legendary ancestors but also to put their care into the child.

"And high and noble as was Elemmakil, greater and more lordly was Ecthelion, Lord of the Fountains, at that time Warden of the Great Gate. All in silver was he clad, and upon his shining helm there was set a spike of steel pointed with a diamond; and as his esquire took his shield it shimmered as if it were bedewed with drops of rain, that were indeed a thousand studs of crystal."

Unfinished Tales, "Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin" (J.R.R. Tolkien)

Childhood

Cecil’s early childhood was in a village, Cotswolds, where mostly elves live. He was an only child and the parents wanted him to socialize with other elven kids.
However, they wanted him to go to music school so they moved to London. While most of the pupils were elves, he could also meet humans.

Cecil, to his parents’ disappointment, had no interest in instruments. Singing was fine but even singing-focused profiles were requiring playing instruments. He eventually learnt to play violin as it was the only instrument which he wasn’t hating.

But he went for a regular non-profiled school for elementary high school, so Cecil had lots of time to experiment with hobbies and find what he likes to do best. Swimming, languages (he learnt Russian, Chinese and French), sewing, embroidery, IT, and many more. But he settled with drawing and painting the most, so it was only natural he went to art high school.

In the high school, Cecil met his best friends he still stick around with a lot. While the high school was rather busy and challenging, especially when he got picked to be school representation, he liked the experience and sometimes miss the high school days.

Education

Graduated Lviv National Academy of Arts, Ukraine.

Main interest was academic drawing and painting, but it’s not available as a major on its own, so went for graphic design - mostly because if he’d not be successful in the academic arts, he’d easily find a job as a designer.
Due to interest in art he was honestly involved in studies and his creativity and out-of-the-box thinking was often praised, so he was good designer with interesting ideas, but in all honesty, it wasn’t even half as entertaining as drawing or painting to Cecil.

His patience and awareness of detail, also being good at observation were quickly noticed and appreciated, and the academy quickly started to promote him by sending his works to all kind of contests, inviting him to be the academy representative in various contests, etc.
As a result, Cecil was a known figure to academic personas and many recognized the surname Carmine. Even if he was mostly exhibited as academy’s representative or in tiny, unknown and hard to find art galleries, he treated every chance like this as a success. After all, his CV and portfolio were better and better with every exhibition.

Being more interested in art than in anything else, Cecil didn’t really make much friends during his uni days however all friends he got were sincere ones. Most of them were already not there - only natural when an elf befriend a human, it’s very fast time to say goodbye to some. But he also befriended an elf who he always call Rumianek, to the point he forgot what’s Rumianek real name was.

Hobbies

Keeping a sketchbook
He loves to draw all sort of things. Animals, flowers, anatomy studies, fabrics. Whenever bored, Cecil picks up a pencil and the sketchbook. Heavily decorated & colorful but also handed with utmost care: with transparent paper between pages glued with washi tape to protect drawings from being blurred. He also keep a separate page inside he puts at the back of page he works on at the moment so everything stays clean. Often colors backgrounds with colorful markers as he believes it’s more cheerful with colors.

Music
Usually listens mostly to soundtracks, studying music compilations or some classics. Favorite composer is Mozart. Anything that goes well to go as background music for all sorts of activities. Sometimes catches some nice song from a radio or from students, but still it’s not in the majority of his picks.

Work

Works in Art Academy, London as academic drawing specialist. Often also teaches about composition and creative-designing fields in the academy. Often spends a lot of the time in university’s garden to sketch local fauna and flora. Is also known to take student on all sorts of trips to expand variety of their drawings and experiences. Even though he’s rather quiet and calm, he’s liked among both teachers and students.

Additional work - drawing courses.
During summer and all longer breaks from work, he opens academic drawing courses for max 5 people in a group for various time frames. He ended up with 2 groups of regulars and 1 of new people, but recently started to check how to plan out 3rd group.
What he didn’t foreseen though, is Orpheus showing up in his life.

Relationships