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[bellesbadartblog]

Collection of pixie like legends:

The sources for all of these myths and legends come from a lot of different books and places, and due to the nature of folklore and such tales there are lots of variations in depictions and descriptions of each myth. This is simply my collection of descriptions I’ve come across that I find the most interesting.

Redcap: Border folklore

Creatures said to inhabit ruined castles, especially those that were the scenes of tyranny or wicked deeds. Descriptions from Briggs, Katharine's “An Encyclopedia of Fairies,” and  Henderson, William's “Folklore of the Northern Counties of England and the Borders,” depict them as short old men with “long prominent teeth, skinny fingers armed with talons like eagles, large eyes of a fiery red colour,” and “grisly hair streaming down (their) shoulders.“ Their most prominent feature however is of course their red caps, which are soaked in the blood of their victims. They attack travellers that enter their lair by flinging stones at them, and are said to be unaffected by human strength. They can be driven away by words of scripture or crucifixes, which cause them to “utter a dismal yell and vanish in flames, leaving behind a large tooth.” Similar to Far Darrig, also known as Rat Boys, as they are said to be fat, have dark, hairy skin, long snouts, and skinny tails. They are said to be the creatures that replace babies with changelings.

^ artist depictions of far darrig/Redcap

Image 1: https://twitter.com/O_Draws/status/1033428567017877508

Image 2: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/569705421606504718/?amp_client_id=CLIENT_ID(_)&mweb_unauth_id={{default.session}}&from_amp_pin_page=true

Image 3: https://www.deviantart.com/yuikami-da/art/The-Faerie-Ring-Far-Darrig-Rat-Queen-610054873

Muki: Andes Region myth

Goblin like creatures that live underground, specifically as miners in mines. They are small and brawny with deep husky voices, long, bright blonde hair, a hairy red face, very pale skin, and a long white beard. Its eyes reflect light as if made out of metal. In some mining traditions, he has two horns that are used to break the rocks and point at the mineral veins. Sometimes he is described as having pointy ears. His legs sometimes take the shape of a goose or crow’s. Sometimes he shape-shifts into an animal or a blonde white man to appear to the miners and deceive them. Muki can make metal veins appear and disappear, and are known to use this power to make pacts with miners in exchange for coca or alcohol. They live forever, and prefer to live alone. They like to whistle loudly. They are known for stealing children (which when mixed with european mythology became most commonly unbaptised children.) However, other myths say it is instead unbaptised children that are kidnapped by goblins who then become the Muki. 

https://www.southamericatotheworld.com/el-muki/

Púca: Celctic Folklore

Irish (Gaeilge) for spirit/ghost, púca are considered to be bringers of good and bad fortune. They can choose to help or hinder rural/marine communities. Púca are said to be shape-shifters. They typically have dark or white fur or hair. They’re known to take the appearance of horses, goats, cats, dogs, and hares, as well as humans with animal features (such as ears or a tail.) Most frequently it takes the form of a sleek black horse with luminescent golden eyes. They are often mischievous in nature, and are known to entice humans to ride on their back, only to give them a wild and terrifying ride before dropping them back where they were taken from. Other stories recount them acting as guardians or helpful spirits- doing work for farmers that gave them gifts or intervening before an accident or interaction with a malevolent spirit. They are scared off by sharp things, perhaps stemming from the irish belief that cold iron has the ability to ward off the supernatural.

Image 1: https://irishamericancivilwar.com/2016/12/29/fairies-puca-new-years-eve-an-1860s-irish-folktale-for-irish-americans/

Image 2: http://www.guymckinley.com/PUCA-Festival

Image 3: https://gods-goddess.fandom.com/wiki/P%C3%BAca

Image 4: https://www.behance.net/gallery/16701637/Puca

Image5: https://www.connollycove.com/pookas/

Goldhorn: Slovene folklore

A legendary white mountain goat/antelope with golden horns. One story says that its horns are the key to finding a treasure hidden in the mountains around Triglav, however when a hunter shot and pursued the creature up a dangerous mountain path, it went to a trail of healing flowers which it ate. Once healed, it ran at the hunter who, blinded by the creatures horns, lost his footing and fell to his feath. Similar in description is:

Image 1: https://cryptozoologypedia.fandom.com/wiki/Goldhorn

Image 2: https://aaron2310.artstation.com/projects/A9a1vm

Image 3: https://aminoapps.com/c/mythology/page/blog/the-tale-of-goldhorn-zlatorog/3DQZ_DouBuG0Bvxv18zY7WNJzrd4wDKYNn

Ceryneian Hind: Greek mythology

An enormous female deer with golden stag antlers and bronze or brass hooves. The creature was said to be so fast it could outrun an arrow. It was sacred to Artemis, goddess of the hunt, animals, and unmarried women.)

Image 1: https://malacandrax.tumblr.com/post/140871462543/in-greek-mythology-the-ceryneian-hind-was-an

Image 2: https://www.deviantart.com/adonis2k17/art/The-Ceryneian-Hind-692704384

Image 3: https://www.inprnt.com/gallery/kwonger/ceryneian-hind/canvas/

Kitsune: Japanese mythology

A fox yokai. Countless stories and legends depict kitsune as intelligent creatures with paranormal powers and impressive abilities. Kitsune is simply the japanese word for fox, but they have become closely associated with inari okami, the japanese kami (spirits/godlike phenomena) of rice, tea, sake, fertility, agriculture, industry, and of general prosperity and worldly success. They are believed to be the messengers of this kami. The more tails a kitsune has (which can be as many as 9) the older, wiser, and more powerful it is.

Image 1: Print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Image 2: https://www.japanitalybridge.com/en/2017/03/japan-folklore-kitsune/

Image 3: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Kitsune

Image 4: https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/206926450/?utm_source=OpenGraph&utm_medium=PageTools&utm_campaign=Share

Wechuge: Athabaskan legend

A creature that has been possessed or overwhelmed by the power of an ancient spirit animals. The creatures are crafty, intelligent, and powerful. One becomes a wechuge by breaking a taboo and becoming too strong. They are often depicted with wings, and vary from being half-human, half animal to made of ice (one legend says the only way to kill a Wechuge is to throw it into a fire until it melts.)

[bellesbadartblog]

Art of Laputa Castle in the sky.

I’m particularly inspired by the moment in the mines where the character Uncle Pom talks about how the rocks speak to him. It reminded me of trips I took to Welsh mines as a kid, and the tour we did. Mines are terrifyingly quiet and dark, so it’s not suprising there’s legends of Cornish pixies that can be heard speaking in the mines; it’s a place where your mind can play tricks on you. Miyazaki was in fact  inspired by his visits to Welsh mines, however he turned the more unsettling nature of the mines into something rather awe inspiring, focusing on the beauty of the mines rather than the fear that comes from being alone in the dark somewhere so dangerous and far below ground. 

I’m similarly inspired to use mines as one possible landscape for my game: perhaps drawing on the idea of Cornish Knockers, a mythical creature believed to cause the knocking on cave walls that are caused by the creaking of earth and timbers before giving way. This meant that Knockers were believed by some to be malicious creatures that banged on the walls to try and cause a collapse, and others believed they were the spirits of people who had died in the mines trying to warn miners of the imminent danger. 

Miyazaki’s creation of the metal Aetherium is more closely related to the myth of Bluecaps, blue flames that were believed to be fairies or ghosts that inhabit the mines. 

I’m interested in the many variations of pixies around from various english folklores. I like the cheeky, and possibly dangerous nature of them, as it really captures a certain essence of the fear that comes from the exciting but dangerous nature of the wild (whether it’s creatures you find when lost in a forest at night, or spirits found deep down alone in the mines.) Possible other pixies/spirits to research into:

Brownie/Hob

Muki

Lares (possible Roman origin of many pixie myths)

Tutelary Deity

Kobolds

Púca

Links/Sources for images in order of appearance:

https://www.iamag.co/castle-in-the-sky-100-concept-art-collection/

https://www.iamag.co/castle-in-the-sky-100-concept-art-collection/

http://www.oeker.net/bbs/board.php?bo_table=comic&wr_id=4227482

https://gifmagazine.net/post_images/18941

[bellesbadartblog]

Art of Princess Mononoke.

Links/ Sources in order of appearance:

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/505247651948784989/

http://insbride.ru/cz1hcnRyb3NlbHluYmxvZy53b21lbnNib2R5c3VpdC5ydSZwPTYwNDg4OTQtY29uY2VwdC1hcnQtZm9yZXN0LXByaW5jZXNzLW1vbm9ub2tlLTI0LWlkZWFzLWZvci0yMDE5LWlubjIzLmh0bWwmaT0yMw==

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/505247651948784992/

https://characterdesignreferences.com/art-of-animation-4/art-of-princess-mononoke

https://characterdesignreferences.com/art-of-animation-4/art-of-princess-mononoke

https://characterdesignreferences.com/art-of-animation-4/art-of-princess-mononoke

[bellesbadartblog]

Inspiring character art.

Source links in order of appearance:

https://darksideof.tumblr.com/page/2

http://usak.nahupi.com/image.php?id=447510

https://characterdesignreferences.com/art-of-animation-4/art-of-princess-mononoke

http://conceptartworld.com/books/the-art-of-journey/

https://www.deviantart.com/lissa-quon/art/Journey-Doodles-555166366

[bellesbadartblog]

Early Inspiration:

My earliest interest in this project stemmed from concept art I found on pinterest. I started gathering pieces together whilst mulling over what specific parts I liked and wanted to bring to my own piece: do I want a realistic style? Giant but real looking creatures? Fantasy creatures? Hints of old religions? Hints of unknown, made up religions? Fantasy forests? Abandoned landscapes? Busy fantasy cities? All of these images have an atmosphere and quality that I like, and I just have to figure out what exact imagery and ideas I want to build from.

links/ sources in order of appearance:

https://homesthetics.net/forest-concept-art/

https://www.worldanvil.com/i/26858

https://homesthetics.net/forest-concept-art/

https://www.artstation.com/artwork/Provo

https://theartofanimation.tumblr.com/post/100937069133/goro-fujita

https://spiridt.tumblr.com/post/147022720833/old-stuff-from-my-past-life-some-slight

https://www.messynessychic.com/2017/04/13/the-underappreciated-art-of-imaginary-wastelands/ 

https://rpgrules.tumblr.com/post/175469442448/the-call-maxime-schilde-from-artstationcom

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/ATcRmGNlI8GkecNyy99ggKx4LcwOIXZUVRRgMM_fetObgLqcwRRLnO4/

https://theartofanimation.tumblr.com/post/89897023508/ben-andrews

https://soupsane.tumblr.com/image/174185611504

https://weheartit.com/entry/238978668

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/Aed_Vx-HZFP0kMRyZmZV4G4EQw5jvQfjpJyIkGgTyYnBzXHoOvK1KIY/

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/505247651948958169/

Pinterest board:

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/hellamelon/possible-next-project/