I've been practicing my watercolour. So I thought the best way to get back into it was to practice on some of my own illustrations.
One of my favourite mythological is the haggis, a three legged little furry buddy that runs around the hillsides. Merlin describes them as, "A small three-legged creature that is rather fat and round.* Its speckled spiky fur is naturally the colour of dried grass and dirt. When threatened it can change colour to camouflage itself on hillsides. The food that has come to be known as haggis is so named because of its similar size, shape and colouring to the creature. I have seen the young hagglets shimmer and sparkle as they play, learning to manage their camouflage."
Another portrait I've done is of the wulver. They're a werewolf like creature that lives in the highlands. However, they have none of the menace.
This wulver is named Ulchel and has the loveliest lilac tartan trousers and a big mane of curly ginger hair. In the bestiary wulvers are described as, "Wulver are the gentlest of folk. They have the face and claws of a wulf but none of the instincts that might inspire fear. However, because of their animal features human folk tend to treat them with hostility and mistrust. They are covered head to toe in fur, but often wear some form of leg covering and pinny. They have thick bristly hairs, large as twigs, protruding from their backs. These mimic the lazy detritus of a river which allows them to, should an unwanted man happen upon their quiet fishing place, slip into the water and float away unbeknownst. To my knowledge they have no other magyck."
While, in the final product the illustrations will still be in black and white, I think seeing them in living colour gives me such a feeling of excitement.
Also, some information that everyone needs to know - haggis is both the plural and singular and a family of haggis is called a "huggle"!
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| Ulchel - wulver in black and white |
Check out more from the Bestiary here!
Hope you enjoy!
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