Amaterasu by Jade Sheldon Via Flickr: Created with soft pastel and a 6B graphite stick on 33" x 44" Rives BFK paper. Here is Amaterasu, the Japanese Shinto sun goddess, ruler of the Plain of Heaven, whose name means 'shining heaven' or 'she who shines in the heavens. She is the central figure in the Shinto pantheon and the Japanese Imperial family claims descent from her. She was so bright and radiant that her parents sent her up the Celestial Ladder to heaven, where she has ruled ever since. To this very day, the Japanese honor Amaterasu with their national flag. Amaterasu is seen from the waist up and is in the center of the deep permanent yellow, pure orange, and pure kaput mortuum covered page. These colors signify the sun. She is dressed as a traditional Geisha in a kimono with her hair pulled back in a traditional chignon and ornamented with flowers, hair pins, combs and beads. A few strands of hair sweep across her face which signifies her free spiritedness. Amaterasu gazes towards the left and holds the handle of an open parasol in her right hand. The round parasol mimics the shape of the sun and it’s rays. Be expecting six more goddesses to appear soon :) Self with Amaterasu
