#femmemyth

[katgbirmelin]

'La Belle et sa Bête' Here's my contribution to @heatherhitchman and her wonderful #JunicornInTerratoff prompt: chain. It was once believed the only way to capture a unicorn was to lull it into a sense of ease via the wiles of a maiden, often a virgin. The beast would lay it's head in her lap and fall asleep, allowing her to slip a golden harness or chain over its head. The lady and the unicorn was a popular theme in medieval tapestries, and are thought to be allegories of the five senses. I was inspired by Italian Renaissance portraits of nobel ladies for this piece. Thanks Heather! #junicorn #chain #mythicalbeasts #beautyandherbeast #unicornart #theladyandtheunicorn #fantasyart #femmemyth #watercolors #unicorn #womenpaintingwomen https://www.instagram.com/p/CBp_m_cDOZR/?igshid=195bshffo9seu

[monthoffearart]

“Jorogumo” By Kat Birmelin Watercolors 10.25 x 5.75 inches https://katgbirmelin.squarespace.com/ Done for Month of Fear challenge, ‘Beauty’. In Japan there are many legends of the Jorogumo, or spider woman, who ensnares men with her beauty,and then feeds on their life force. 

[katgbirmelin]

‘Kuzu-no-ha’ Watercolors and white ink on hotpress paper. 8.5 x 11 inches. For Month of Love: Lies “If you love me, come and visit, in the forest of Shinoda in Izumi, the resentful kudzu leaf.” - Kuzu-no-ha In Japan there is a legend of a white fox who asks a man named Abe no Yasuna to protect her from a hunter pursuing her for her liver (for medicine). Knowing that white foxes are considered sacred beings, he obliges, and fights the hunter so the fox can escape. Yasuna becomes wounded, and after the hunter leaves him, a beautiful woman emerges from the forest and finds Yasuna. She tells him her name is Kuzu-no-ha, and she helps him limp back to his home where she tends to him. In time the pair fall in love and are married, and Kuzu-no-ha bears him a son. The trio live happily together for a time, but one day Kuzu-no-ha lets down her guard, and her son sees her in her true form, a white fox. Because of this she must leave, returning to her true nature and leaving her son and husband behind forever. Yasuna build a shrine dedicated to his wife, known as the Kuzunoha Inari Shrine. To this day, the shrine still stands as a testament to this love and legend in Osaka, Japan. #monthoflove #lies #kuzunoha #inari #kitsune #tragedy #love #byakko #japanesefairytale #japanesefolklore #japaneselegends #japanesemythology #inspiredbyjapan #ukiyoe #watercolors #womenpaintingwomen #femmemyth https://www.instagram.com/p/BtXQP_1FUB4/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ws3181yt4yil

[katgbirmelin]

“Jorogumo” By Kat Birmelin Watercolors 5.75 x 10.25 inches Done for Month of Fear challenge, ‘Beauty’. There are many tales of the Jorogumo, or the spider woman. She uses her beauty to ensnare men, and then feeds on their life force until they are nothing by sad empty husks of their former selves.  #monthoffear #jorogumo #beautifulbizarre #japaneselegend #womenpaintingwomen #femmefatal #femmemyth #watercolors #beauty https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo1PVxPheAf/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1gj6cjb1am724

[monthoffearart]

“Tamamo-no-mae” By Kat G Birmelin Watercolors 8.5 x 11 inches https://katgbirmelin.squarespace.com/ Done for Month of Fear 2018 Challenge, “Lies”. According to Legend, this infamous nine tailed fox spirit, also known as kitsune in Japan, had infiltrated the courts of both China and India, wreaking havoc and the ruin of kingdoms, before turning up in Japan.  She was said to be extremely beautiful and wise, quickly endearing herself to Emperor Toba. Shortly after, he grew ill, and it was discovered that his beloved courtesan was really a malicious fox demon. It has been thought that she was finally exorcised by a Buddhist monk some years later, but who’s to say she wasn’t able to flee again to another country?

[katgbirmelin]

#wip on my first smart school assignment. I'll have to shoot some reference soon, but here's a more developed sketch and some color studies I'm working on. #process #homework #greekmythology #femmemyth #womendrawingwomen #visiblwomen #anesidora #pandora https://www.instagram.com/p/BnvNBUVF_oT/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1frenvptn0n3