(Now Available at my shop)
Scylla, my #chimera contribution to #mabsdrawlloweenclub Day 13. Not all of Scylla sleeps at once. Must keep at least one eye out for tasty humans.
I spent a lot of time thinking about this one. I love Greek Mythology. Madeline Miller's @madeline.e.miller "Circe" is one of my favorite books, and she tells a fascinating story behind the creation of Scylla (formerly a naiad). Scylla is a monster that hangs from the cliffs of a narrow ocean straight, snacking on a buffet of terrified sailors in groups of 6. Ships must pass between Scylla and a whirlpool; caught between a rock and a hard place.
You may note that Scylla's non-human heads, while often described as either dog or snake-ish, are Chinese Dragons here. These Dragons are chimeras in themselves, having the antlers of a deer, head of a horse, neck of a snake, etc. I also intended for Scylla the woman to be Asian. For the reason of Because I Felt Like It. And because I'm of Chinese heritage and I like to integrate things. I long pondered how to continue the line pattern of her hair into the dragons, and was finally inspired by the flow of Japanese Rock Gardens. Black Versafine @imaginecrafts_ on kraft @cardstockwarehouse , because it reminded me of Greek Urns - black paint upon earthy clay.
Whereas the woman stamp was relatively simple carve, I made 3 attempts at the dragon. The lines weren't lining up, and the wedge angle was too great. I had to slice off a sliver of a degree, and relied on none other than a fresh @excelblades to do a clean job! I made the single open eye by cutting out a piece of eye-shaped paper and placing it on top. I had also tried masking the stamp with an eye-shaped scrap, which also works, but it is finicky.
You may note that I am trying new things, such as representation of the human figure. It may seem sudden, but I've been mentally brewing for a while. I cite my women printmaker influences: @karin_rytter_studio and her breathtaking prints featuring many strong, mythological women; @sofie.tekent for her gorgeous interpretations of women's hair and @amy.hiley.art for her bold and unique use of line and solid color in depicting women. You artists rock!! ...
