grow

Hello! Sorry I disappeared for a while. I've been drawing! It's for Illustration Friday, something I've been daring myself to do for a while, and well, here it is.

Edited to add: Apologies to anyone not comfortable with the nudity in this picture. I didn't think twice about it to be honest, but that might be because I'm Swedish. I blame it on that in any case.

The theme for this week was Grow and I was inspired by skogsrået, a mythical figure of Swedish folk tales. She was believed to be a young woman living deep in the woods, in fact her name derives from something like Lady of the Forest, and she would lure young men to their death (a pleasant death at that!), much like a mermaid would. I interpret it as another invention to discourage children and youngsters from straying too far away, physically or mentally. However, in my mind I imagine her as a caretaker of the forest, wandering its depths, knowing every little plant and creature and encouraging them with her magic to grow.

This lady was exquisitely beautiful and mesmerising, always a little way ahead behind the trees, disappearing into thin air as soon as the victim closed in and reappeared further into the woods. Sometimes she was completely naked, obscured only by her long, thick hair, sometimes she would be wearing beautiful clothes. Sometimes you could see a fox's tail sticking out from underneath her skirts, sometimes you'd catch a glimpse of her back underneath the hair - only to see a hollow tree trunk. She was no innocent maiden, that's for sure.

Anyway, for this drawing, I was thinking of skogsrået in the Swedish 70s cult film Äppelkriget, where this dainty woman with flowing brown hair down to her thighs portrayed her, swiftly moving from tree to tree with small steps. She's with the good guys then, as are all the creatures of the countryside and forest. I love that film by the way, especially all the mythical figures, including näcken, the naked guy sitting in the streams playing his fiddle and luring young girls to their death. But that's another story. Watch the film though, I thoroughly recommend it if you can find it.

Comments

[Angie]

Doesn't it feel good to dare to do something :-) Great job and I like the story behind it!

[Valaine]

Wow! Great story and beautiful line work :) I'm eager to look up this folk tale and find out more!

~Valaine

[tofusquirrel]

Pretty drawing!

[caroline]

Angie - yes it does feel good!

Valaine - thank you! Enjoy!

Tofu squirrel - (love your name) thanks for dropping by!

[abbey]

I love this story -- I can so see you writing amazing children's books!

[Amy]

Oh wow, I was so caught up with everything else that I didn't check back to see if you posted up an illustration! And my my, that's a fantastic first! I loved the story -- morbid in a sense, but intriguing!
Congratulations on your first IF post! :D

[caroline]

Thanks Abbey! Wow, childrens' books, never thought of that... That'd be so much fun though, care to join up? ;)

Amy - cheers for dropping by! Oh yes, I'm morbid anyday, can't seem to be able to do cute... :)

[CainRenee28]

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