Open Door

This is as close to pure fantasy as I usually get. This is an image that popped into my eyes after reading a novel by Charles deLint, one of my favorite authors. One of the minor characters in the story was a very large woman of the forest, who sometimes had the function of a guide of sorts. I am posting this for Illustration Friday's topic of the week, wide.

Red Riding Hood

A little fairy tale for Illustration Friday!

There is a song by Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs about the wolf in Little Red Liding Hood; how he is going to try to behave himself so that she won't be scared, and he hopes that she might end up liking him. This painting is about how how some girls tame the big bad wolf, safe on her Throne.

Kappa

For IF's challenge: packed.
A kappa is a pretty disgusting creature in Japanese literature, whose head is hollow like a bowl on top. It attacks human beings in a rather rude way and has a fondness for cucumbers. One can trick it by bowing to it; when it returns the bow, it spills the water in the bowl that is its head, and therefore loses its power and becomes harmless. This kappa has had even more bad luck and lost its body entirely. His head is now used for storing light. This drawing was made with graphite on coquille paper.

Journeyman

Today's IF topic is Muscles, so I reckon this guy fits.

When I first posted this drawing, I was reading a lot of Japanese folk tales, in which there are lots of beings imbued with a sort of divine spirit. The spirit is called 'mononoke', which might sound familiar because of the excellent anime film by Miyazaki called Princess Mononoke.

Sometimes, when people can do something really well, it seems like they tap into a spirit like that. It usually takes a long time to develop such ability. Maybe that's where he got all his muscles.

Green Willow 3

'Before the fire sat the good old man of the house, and the two old people didthe very best they could for Tomodata."

Green Willow 2

For IF: imperfect

Ha! This image is certainly that! One of these days I'll fix this poor old girl's face so that it doesn't look smashed in on one side.

The story continues:

On the third day of Tomodata's journey, he encountered a fierce storm. Tomodata became lost and just when he was in despair, the clouds parted and the moon shone on a tiny cottage on a hill. In front of the cottage stood three green weeping-willow trees. Tomodata called out at the door and at once the door was opened by an old woman, who was dressed poorly but neatly. The old woman welcomed him in to rest and eat.

Green Willow 1

There is a Japanese folktale called Green Willow in which a young samurai named Tomodata is sent on a misson by his daimyo, the Lord of Noto, to deliver a message. The daimyo ordered him to ride without fear of enemies, weather or terrain. "Above all, do not look any maid between the eyes. Ride, and bring me word again quickly." This is a portrait of Tomodata. It is an erased charcoal drawing.