Universus

So there it is, the entire collection - 31 days worth of ink drawings assembled on my floor, due largely  to the encouragement of my friends :)

Inktober #31!

Redcap
Unless you'd like your blood to be used to keep this murdering fiend's cap red, you'd best stay away from ruined castles between England and Scotland. Just saying.
[English folklore]

Inktober #30

Shirime
Some people like taking walks in the woods. Other people like scarring the former by gleefully surprising them with their naked eyeball butt.
[Japanese folklore....naturally]

Inktober #29

Melusine
If your beautiful wife, with a complicated past, asks you not to disturb her when she's taking a bath, you should take her seriously or risk her transforming into a dragon and flying away.
[European, mostly French, folklore]

Inktober #28

Jenny Greenteeth
Don't stand to close to the river's edge kids, or this green-skinned wizened woman will pull you in.
[English folklore]

Inktober #27

Fenrir
Son of Loki, feared by the gods and bound by the dwarven-forged Gleipnir, with a sword in his mouth. This monstrous wolf, that took Tyr's betraying hand, is destined to break free at Ragnarok and kill Odin.
[Norse mythology]

Inktober #26

Zahhāk
One Arabian interpretation of the this Iranian mythological figure, says that Zahhak, the son of an Arab ruler, was easily influenced by Ahriman (an evil spirit). After killing his own father and gorging himself on feasts, Zahhak granted Ahriman whatever he wanted - and what Ahriman wanted was to kiss Zahhak's shoulders. Snakes then sprang from where his lips had touched and they could not be removed. These snakes had to have a daily diet of human brains or they would turn on Zahhak himself.
[Iranian mythology]

Inktober #25

Yara-ma-yha-who
 He's a small red man with suckers on his hands and feet and if you wake up from your nap, under the fig tree, a little shorter and a little redder than before - he's to blame.
[Australian Aboriginal folklore]

Inktober #24

Xiuhcoatl
The spiritual embodiment of  Xiuhtecuhtli, a fire god, this fire serpent represented the dry season, and was also used as a weapon by Tonatiuh the sun god.
[Aztec mythology]

Inktober #23

Wolpertinger
EVERYONE! Head straight over to Germany to get your strangely adorable rabbit/squirrel/pheasant/deer hybrid right now!
[Bavarian folklore]

Seriously. Go.

Inktober #22

Vodyanoy
Floating down the river on his log, this green algae-covered old man looks a bit like a frog, a bit like a black scaled fish - don't get too close though, he might drag you into his underwater lair to be a slave or just outright drown you.
[Slavic folklore]

Inktober #21

 

Ushi-oni

They come in various forms, but all have a bovine head. The one I tried to do (tried) is a seamonster that attacks fishermen - it has a crablike or spiderlike body.

[Japanese folklore]

Inktober #20

Tokoloshe
Piss off the wrong person and they'll send one of these unpleasant gremlins after you. The only way to stay safe is to put your bed up on bricks... and don't let your toes hang off the end (or call the local witchdoctor).
[Zulu folklore]

Inktober #19

Soucouyant
An innocent-seeming, hermity old woman by day, a vampiric ball of fire by night. The soucouyant removes her skin, places it in a mortar, and then flies though the night as a fireball, seeking it's sleeping prey.
[Caribbean folklore]

Inktober #18

Ramidreju
In the mountains of northern Spain a centenial weasel is born with yellow eyes and green fur, a hoglike snout and long body. Their fur heals sickness, and they can sniff out gold.
[Cantabrian folklore]

Inktober #17

Qilin
The appearance of a Qilin is a good omen, said to mark the arrival (or passing) of a prominent ruler.  Their arrival brings good fortune or serenity, they walk in the clouds so as not to damage a single blade of grass,  however they're also known for punishing the wicked. They're also often compared to mystical western Unicorns.
[Chinese, Korean & Japanese mythology]

Inktober #16

Pamola
The god of thunder and spirit of cold weather, guardian of Mt. Katahdin, Main, USA, the climbing of which is off limits to mere mortals.
[Abenaki mythology]

Inktober #15

Ouroboros
 An ancient symbol of renewal, cyclical universes or rebirth. Ouroboros can be found in Egyptian, Greco-Roman, Medieval mythology. The image of a snake eating it's own tail can also be found in Norse and some South American tribal mythology, usually as a being encircling the world.

Inktober #14

The Nariphon
Legend has it that, to ensure Vessantara's wife could venture into the forest unmolested by those unable to control their lust, the god Indra created twelve trees that bore fruit in her image as decoys.
[Buddhist mythology]

Inktober #13

Manticore
A monstrous creature with human head and rows of shark-like teeth, scorpion tail and a red lion's body. It leaves no trace of its victims behind.

Happy turkey devouring day!

Inktober #12

Llamhigyn Y Dwr
A giant flying frog-like creature also known as a Water Leaper, often blamed for fishing mishaps.
[Welsh folklore]

Inktober #11

Kikimora
A house spirit that typically lives behind the stove or in the cellar. When everything is dandy, she'll take care of your chickens, maybe do some housework, but when it's not she turns into your worst house guest.
[Russian/Slavic folklore]

Inktober #10

Jorogumo
This lovely spider lady seduces men into her lair by playing the Biwa, then strings them up to snack on later.
[Japanese folklore]

Inktober #9

Inkanyamba
A giant snake with a horse-like head, living at the base of Howick Falls, South Africa. Severe summer storms are the result of the Inkanyamba's rage as it flies through the sky in thunderclouds.
Pity I never saw it while I was there.
[Zulu/Xhosa folklore]

Inktober #8

Hippokampoi
Horse in front, scaly fish in the back, occasionally depicted with wings. Useful for pulling sea-chariots and the like.
[Phoenician/Greek/Etruscan mythology]

Inktober #7

Gamayun
Large divinatory bird with a women's head that symbolizes wisdom and knowledge. Looks similar to a Harpy, Sirin or Alkonost  but less detrimental to human health.
[Russian folklore]

Inktober #6

Futakuchi-onna
A cursed woman with an extra mouth at the back of her head. Always hungry, it screeches loudly and painfully until fed. After awhile the hair becomes sentient and feeds the mouth itself.
[Japanese folklore]

Inktober #5

Ekek
Night hunting birdlike human whose favourite meal is the blood of unborn children,  acquired by sticking its long proboscis into sleeping pregnant women. Charming.
[Philippine mythology]

Inktober #4

Djinn
Supernatural beings existing in a dimension parallel to our own. Encounter at your own risk as they are as fickle as we are, good or evil, male or female.
[Arabian/Islamic mythology]

Inktober #3

 

Cipactli
A perpetually ravenous crocodilian sea monster with an extra mouth at every joint.
[Aztec mythology}

Inktober #2

Blemmyae 
Mythical men without heads, their eyes in their shoulders and mouth in their chest.
[Antiquity - Greek and later]

Inktober #1

Well, you gotta start somewhere. 

Amphisbaena
Serpent with a head at both ends, born of the blood dripping from Medusa's severed head as Perseus flew over the dessert.
[Greek mythology]

Vacation Sketches

Isla Mujeres. Haven't sketched like this in far too long.