Mental Health & Mythical Beasts -- Hamadryad & Seasonal Affective Disorder

Mental Health & Mythcial Beasts — Hamadryad and Seasonal Affective Disorder

Hamadryads are forest nymphs from Greek and Roman mythology with the lower half of a tree and the upper half of a woman. Winter isn’t a jolly time for this Hamadryad, as she is forever placed in a wasteland with no one to keep her company during the chilly season. Don’t worry, Ms. Hamadryad — winter doesn’t last forever!

Read more about Hamadryads.
Read more about Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Mental Health & Mythical Beasts -- Tien Lung & ADD

Mental Health & Mythical Beasts — Tien Lung and ADD/ADHD Type 1

The Tien Lung, or the Celestial Dragon, is regarded as the highest dragon in Chinese lore. As they are capable of reading and writing, this Lung is highly intelligent but has a difficult time focusing on his writing, especially since it’s not something he’s interested in. However, writing about subjects he loves is simply a breeze for him!

Read more about Chinese lung dragons.
Read more about ADD.

Start of November Sketches

Mental Health & Mythical Beasts -- Cinnamon Bird

Mental Health & Mythical Beasts — Cinnamon Bird & Autism

The Cinnamon Bird, or Cinnamologus, is a creature from Arabian folklore, known to build their nests out of cinnamon sticks. The other birds regard this Cinnamon Bird as “odd” as he prefers cinnamon over twigs and grass for nest-building. However, Cinnamon Bird is content with himself and doesn’t need the other birds’ approval.

Read more about the Cinnamon Bird.
Read more about Autism.

Mental Health & Mythical Beasts : Carbuncle & Social Anxiety

The Carbuncle is a rare, cat-like creature from South American lore. It’s said that the gems encrusted in their foreheads are priceless and Carbuncles only give their gems to anyone they find worthy of them. Finding someone to give the gem to is challenging for this Carbuncle, as socializing is greatly discomforting to her.

To read more about the Carbuncle.
To read more about social anxiety.

Mental Health & Mythical Beasts -- Kobold

Mental Health & Mythical Monsters : Kobold & Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Kobolds are sprites originating from Germanic folklore — a house spirit often associated with helping around with the domestic environment and household chores.
Hoping to ease her constant anxiety, this little Kobold ritually washes garments over and over again.

Read more about Kobolds here.

Read more about OCD here.

Inktober Day 7-14 (and Extra Sketches)

Mostly #Inktober Day 1-7

Mental Health & Mythical Beasts -- Androsphinx

This week (October 7 - 11) is Mental Illness Awareness Week! Here is an Androsphinx, the most recognized form of the Egyptian creature and is often associated with wisdom, donning the green Mental Health Awareness ribbon.

To read more about Mental Illness Awareness Week -- http://www.nami.org/template.cfm?section=mental_illness_awareness_week

To read more about the Androsphinx -- http://dailybestiary.tumblr.com/post/89925988213/androsphinx

Mental Health & Mythical Beasts -- Lernaean Hydra

Week 2 of the Mental Health and Mythical Beast project! This week features the Lernaean Hydra from Greek mythology, representing Bipolar Disorder. While they are described having nine heads, I decided mine down to represent the manic state and the depressive state.

 To learn more about Bipolar Disorder -- https://bbrfoundation.org/frequently-asked-questions-about-bipolar-disorder

 To learn more about the Lernaean Hydra -- http://www.theoi.com/Ther/DrakonHydra.html

End of September Sketches

Big sketch dump before the month ends! I might participate in INKtober, so expect more sketch posts!

Pen Portraits

Several pen portraits, including some of my buds and Pascal Campion!

Mental Health & Mythical Beasts -- Golem

 

Introducing my latest weekly project, Mental Health and Mythical Beasts! Every week I’ll draw a random beast from folklore and mythology and associate it with a mental health topic.

This week’s beast is the Golem from Jewish folklore with depression. Depression to me feels like wandering the world inside an empty body, so I felt the association with the soulless Golem was quite suitable from personal experience.

Read more about the Golem here -- http://www.templesanjose.org/JudaismInfo/tradition/Golem.htm.

Read more about depression -- http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_tips.htm

Snooty Sprites

Several sketches for Gwinny over the week! Mostly of snooty sprite girl and a bonus sad Gwinny.

Where the Wild Oni Are

Our assignment for Illustration Capstone was to illustrate a children’s book into an alternate universe.
Here is Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are with creatures from Japanese folklore.

Some Digital Doodles

Several digital drawings from the week, including my age-old tradition of drawing Freddie Mercury a birthday tribute.