Cryptozoology Contest Submition. Original Gabchik Artwork.
One of my favorite steemanians @jungwatercolor, suggested that I participate in the Cryptozoology contest, which is about creating something related to a mystical creature.
Decided to go with the "Samodiva" from the Bulgarian folklore. Lately, she has been an inspiration for me. You can also check out the tattoo design I did with another here.
About the samodiva
She is a woman so evil that she is not wanted even in hell. Others say that she is a girl who passed away as a virgin. Her magical power is in her clothes and vail. She can be seen by people born on specific days. Her look can kill, but she is not always wicked.
The samodiva can give herself to a man who helped her and raise him a strong child. But she can also become a terrible parent, as in the case her veil gets stolen, she has to give herself to the theif and raise him a child. She would always want to get her freedom back.
About the illustration
My samodiva is singing to the herbs and her song elevates them, to enpower their healing properties (something I came up with).
There are specific places in Bulgaria which are considered as their haunts. When they can not be seen, they can be heard -
sometimes to sing, sometimes to talk about the herbs.
On the left is the Mursala tea, which is typical for Rodopha mountain (one of their haunts). On the right is the Thyme, typical for Pirin - their favourite mountain. By the way, I have a tattoo of both plants.
The image above is the what came out of my sketch. Did some shadowing & coloring and was about to submit it for the contest; however, because change of plans, I am now going to a birthday party in the mountain and will not be able to finish the piece before the deadline. Found out too late about the challenge. Because I started this specially for it , the least I can do is submit this version. I dedicated a lot if time and will need more to finish it.
Saw some amazing submitions and chances are low for me to win, but still it was done for fun. I will make a deeper research and share more about the mystic samodiva information, either when I finish it or the other samodiva tattoo.
Don't be shy to comment and let me know what you think. I often upvote comments if they are meaningful.
Best wishes!
Thank you for that ''one of favorite'' :) I am happy now that I send you a link, this is so nice, and she is Vila truly, we have them also in Serbian forests, but here in our myths they are catching people and travelers from roads, seducing them to kill them :( We have pretty bloody mythology...
But this one of yours is so pretty flying over woods and protecting them :)
The stories about ours are the same :D They kidnap sometimes and nobody came back. Decided to go with the good part of them, as from what I read they are into herbs. In this drawing she will be singing to two of my favorite herbs.
Can't wait to see the finished work :)
This is very cool and I love hearing about the folklore behind this! Thank you for the participation :)
Thank you for participating to the contest great entry!
Thank you :) too bad I was not able to finish it off on time.