Challenge 116: Mythology: The Cycle of Arawn

So often in fiction we have an angry god tormenting the land, usually the malevolent god of death wishing to cleanse the world of all life. In Edward W Robertson’s Cycle of Arawn the mythology of the realm takes a very different turn. Arawn is the god of death, and is banned from being worshipped by many sects of the Realm, for his worshippers are blessed with his gift, the magic of the nether. The nether is the magic of life and death itself, the magic of chaos but also of growth and change. Instead of wanting all his followers to die early deaths the God of Death waits patiently for all those who take breath. He has no care for how you live, for you are meant to explore life, and when the time comes, you will join him on his starry hill for eternity. He is glad you are free of strife and pain, but sad that you had to leave the physical behind. He is a god of great patience and of great burden.

In the mythology of the creation Arawn had a great mill that ground out the magic of order, the Ether, which rejuvenated and preserved everything perfect and pristine. It was a controlled world, an orderly and simple world. One day the gods conspired from Arawn and stole his mill, dropping from the heavens and cracking it upon the earth. Arawn repaired his mill and when he set to his task, found it ground only nether, causing the world to change, men to be born, and then to die. He in one motion created the spark of life that caused the torrent of change, and also the concept of death. As an exchange he created the starry hill where all those who lived could find rest at his side, watching the world continue to grow and change.

-Marc the Third

Challenge 116: Mythology: Centauress Vorsila

Ellen here, I’m glad to be able to participate in another round at Square Carousel. For this prompt, I kind of approached it last minute like I do most of my art projects. I started with the idea of drawing the Greek sea nymph and goddess Rhode (or Rhodos) because I am traveling there at the end of this month. I ended up with this Centauress that I named Vorsila. Things don’t really ever go as planned for me when it comes to art but that’s what makes it exciting! Anyway I know this isn’t a super original mythological creature but I really liked how this turned out and I’m happy I took on this project. 

Challenge 116: Mythology: Apollo and Hyacinthus

A snippet from the story of Apollo and his dead lover Hyacinthus whose blood became the flower we know today.

Challenge 116: Mythology: Kitsune and Bast

I started with Kitsune since I wanted to go for this simple black and white mini piece and I love animals of mythology. It has now evolved into a series of 6 designs I’ll probably use for my next gallery show next month. I’m really excited to share these two finished pieces as part of the series.

- Natasha Stoppel

Challenge 116: Mythology: Valkyrie

I think it’s so cool that Valkyrie are both angels of death and heroes, emotional women and war gods.  I wanted to try to portray the drama of all those vying forces within an individual, and the weight of her responsibility.  Hooray for female complexity!

Illustrate any aspect of mythology from any culture you want-- could be a character study, a sequential telling of a myth, a scene from a mythological place, or a creature. Greek is cool and totally acceptable, but try thinking outside the box a little bit, too!