Macha Sees Red

#inktober2021 #inktoberday5

RED ❤️👹💋🦊🌹🔥🍷🩸

Overly ambitious #Inktober today. So there is still a ton of work to be done on this illustration but my hand aches having spent an excruciating amount of hours scribbling on top of a day’s work......and it’s likely there will be nothing more than a stick man left in the tank for tomorrow....But this was a self indulgent interpretation of ‘Macha The Red’ and I couldn’t rest until I’d adorned her with foxes, poppies, locks of blood red dread and a victory decapitation.....

In ancient Ireland, there was a goddess revered by women warriors, feared by men, and known to everyone in all the land.

She is said to be one of three sisters known as 'the three Morrígna', a sovereignty deity that paved the way for many other Machas who sought to emulate her example of possessing power and reliable foresight.

Macha Mong Ruad ‘red hair’, daughter of Áed Rúad ‘red fire’ or ‘fire lord’ was, according to medieval legend and historical tradition, the only queen in the List of High Kings of Ireland.

In a tale of the third Macha, she pops out twins after winning a gruelling horse race..... War goddess, phantom queen, battle fury. She’s baddass.

Indigo too far......

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INDIGO 🌀💙🧿🌎

I fell in love with a Liberian folktale because it evoked such magical imagery inside my thought loaf. Back in a world where gods and humans coexist, a time when you could consume the sky-I mean literally bite chunks out of it. One woman fell deeply in love with the colour indigo, her hunger for the beauty of the bluest blue grew uncontrollable and whilst in this ecstasy, selfishly she devoured more than her fair share. As a punishment, the sky was pulled up out of reach of mortals by the gods leaving only the hue behind.....

Worth Your Weight In Gold

#inktober2021 #inktoberday3

GOLD 🌞🌻🌟⚱️🔱

Summing up the plot of a bizarre Russian Bashkir folktale I happened across called ‘The Golden Hair’

Predictably, a young and beautiful girl sits by a river waiting to be whisked away by a strong and powerful hunter. But her family issues are literally weighing her down.... When finally approached by a guy trying to kill her gran, (who has shape-shifted into a red fox......not even the strangest part), surprisingly unaffected by the unfortunate intro, she spills the beans and explains to him that whilst she is unashamedly gorgeous, her long golden braid (best asset) is made of actual gold and is so heavy she is her own ball and chain. Undeterred, the hunter asks if she will marry him, in fact he asks how much bride money he should pay... (I’m guessing normal dating etiquette flies out of the window when you’re wandering about dangerous woods and the attitude of now or never is adopted). The girl cannot be sold (great moment of female empowerment). But not because she is a feminist....no. Because her father is Poloz the snake who is consequently the owner of the world’s gold. At this point, I would personally have taken this to be a creative but blatant brush off. But the hunter doubles down. He boasts that he will free her and they shall ride off into the sunset forever. The gran, being the older and wiser of the three, transforms back into a woman and intervenes. ‘You couldn’t even manage to shoot me with an arrow, you reckon you can get the better of a weird giant king of the gold snake dad? You are having a laugh. And do you weight lift? Because that braid is a hernia waiting to happen.’ I’m paraphrasing...Persistent, the hunter winds her braid around his arm and the kidnapping is attempted. Snake dad has the magical ability to attract gold and after a night of hanky panky, the girl feels herself being pulled back to the glades. She snips off her hair to release the hunter and disappears. The hunter tries dating girls with regular hair but it’s just not the same. He eventually returns, succeeds in his quest and they live happily ever after in the middle of a snake resistant lake. Yup.

Winking Violets

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Violet 😈🦄🌸🔮💜🚺

Greek legend tells of a nymph named Io, who was beloved by Zeus. To hide her from Hera, his wife, Zeus changed Io into a white cow (obviously!?) When Io wept over the taste and texture of the coarse grass, Zeus changed her tears into dainty, sweet-smelling violets only she was permitted to eat. What an absolute gent......So that’s a weird one.......I’m trying really hard to find a joke in there about the grass not always being greener.....Interesting how many tragic punishments are doled out to the female antagonists for merely existing and being a bit um, sexy. Scandalous!

Legend Of The Green Lady

#inktober2021 #inktoberday1

GREEN 🧚🐸🐍🦎🐉🍀💚

I have chosen ‘colour in folklore’ as an Inktober theme for this year, beginning with ‘Green’. In Scottish mythology and urban legend resonates whisperings of the illusive Green Lady. A malevolent monster of the isles luring men astray and feeding on their blood is one representation (often construed as a vengeful and scorned woman who died heartbroken.....and unable to listen to Gloria Gaynor for female solidarity and motivation, she crumbles taking the form of a sad moping ghost). But many stories describe a beautiful and mischievous fairy of the woods weaving enchanted ‘Witchin’ Claith’ (which was a green fabric). Bad things befell those who wore clothes made from the material.......Either way, a good excuse to sketch out a sexy horny animal lover accessorised up to the nines in nature.