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Background for the idea of the drawing:

I was reading this paper this winter and it seems to give further evidence that the highest percent of genetic heritage in modern Bulgarians can be (conditionally) attributed to medieval Slavs, while the rest would ought to be distributed between other groups (such as Bulgars, local population, later migrations, etc). And at one point I had the image in my head of a medieval Slavic toothless peasant girl having to choose between a flea-ridden Vlach shepherd boy and a bow-legged Bulgar horseman. I thought it would be funny if this was represented in this kind of YA-style novel/film of a young woman being in a love triangle during a military conflict (which the Middle ages abound with).

So I thought of this story that takes place in the 9th c. where a young girl whose village was raided by the Byzantines led her to want to join the Bulgarian army. She met resistance from the chiefs, however, there was a compromise - she was still allowed to help out with logistics, cooking and distributing resources among the soldiers, etc. One warrior though believed in her ability to learn to fight and trained her at night, when the others were sleeping, which led to them becoming close friends. Meanwhile she would regularly buy provisions for the army from a local shepherd boy and they also seemed to develop a liking to each other. Political conflict escalates and leads to the battle of Pliska between khan Krum and emperor Nicephorus I, where on the side of the Bulgarians women join the fight. Our girl tastes blood for the first time and it changes her forever..

Things from here on become a little different and I'll keep the rest of the story to myself in case I ever turn this into something, but it's meant to make fun of itself to some extent. I made the drawing in the style of YA poster films and the Menologion of Basil II. The main character was based on the personification of Sclavinia in the gospels of Otto III. Except for the Bulgar boy and the girl's temple ring, the clothes and hairstyles are speculation based on later ethnographic data.

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Redraw of an old idea I had, the gaang if they were Bulgarian/South Slavic.

Aang is inspired by shepherd's clothing mostly as well as some North- and Central- West Bulgarian clothing. Same for Sokka, but mostly CW (from the Shop region). Katara is a mix of Rhodope mountain and again CW styles. The butterflies are just so they don't stare in empty space lol

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a sketch of a Neanderthal woman from a couple months ago

colouring is difficult

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some Disco Elysium fanart, I know there's dozens of pictures like this but I wanted to do it too

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from 2020

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Another long time WIP and another samodiva, this time with her faithful friend. Hopefully they'll be coloured someday.

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This sketch has been around since 2017 and I guess it will never be more finished than this.

A couple of samodivas, some things more true to traditional beliefs than others - I gave them different complexions to reflect Bulgarian women, whereas traditionally they are blonde-haired and black-eyed. Their powers are stored in their chemise, which is unornamented (embroidery is to protect mortals). The different sleeves are based on different 19th-century and medieval chemises from Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. In some beliefs they wear colourful (but mostly green) belts, and green zubuns (outer garments). They are also typically imagined to be archers, riding six-winged deers.

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sketch of a mesolithic and neolithic kid and a doggo sleeping on the same bed

partly inspired by @holo-tape's wonderful prehistoric art

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From the end of last summer; another sketch

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probably as finished as it will ever get

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Archaic man

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A friend; sketch from summer

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Inktober Day 20 - Deep

(it was supposed to be a deep forest, but resulted in only a tree)

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Inktober Day 12 - Shattered

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Inktober Day 4 - Underwater

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