I have finally finished the Fire Lord Zuko Portrait! He never had one in the show, so I wanted to make one to match all the previous fire lords. I did a lot of research of the others portraits, analyzing them and figuring out a way to make it match the style of the others. I can explain why everything is here. The only thing missing is the texture, but that is because I am printing these on fabric for wall scrolls!


I have prints if anyone is interested, feel free to message me or purchase one if you see me at a convention under the title, "Madeline Lime."

I was asked for a breakdown of the symbolism, so I have done that. I want to also point out that I know tarot, so this sort of thing is very easy for me.

from top to bottom:

-The sun disk/flame is typical in fire lord portraits, they all match exactly. His is larger to accommodate the lotus, which I hope is self explanatory.
-His hair is up, otherwise he looks too similar to his father, something he would have attempted to avoid.
-The sword is his true talent, and something that more than once altered the course of events.
-The long ribbon/sash flowing down around this actually helps to make the image more cohesive, and it has the symbol of the fire nation on either end. This is to symbolize his relationship with his country. He was always fighting for the Fire Nation, even when he appeared to betray. It surrounds him, etc.
-The original draft had his arms down, and both with the swords, and crossed. However this implies heavy control and imprisonment, of which Zuko would not have been as a fire lord.
-The symbols of the elements represent Zuko assisting the Avatar in bringing balance and order back to the world.
-Almost all of the fire lord portraits seem to incorporate some sort of creature and the fire lord standing onto of something, which would also represent his dominion over the land. Zuko was aided by the dragons in bringing back the original source of firebending to the country. They also support him/approve of him/etc, or he would not have survived meeting them.

I also want to point out that visually you eye is continuously drawn back to the four elements, since his curved blade and the angle of the draping cloth points back to them.