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Holmes-JA — Blodeuwedd

#blodeuwedd #broom #flower #leaf #myth #oak #owl #poppy #woman #welshpoppy #beautifulwoman #botanical #daffodil #daffodils #digitalart #digitalartwork #digitalpainting #digitalportrait #eyes #flowers #leaves #mythical #mythology #oakleaves #painting #paintingdigital #wales #welsh #womanbeautiful #womanfemale #womanportrait #digital_art #meadowsweet #owleyes #oak_leaves
Published: 2017-03-12 14:07:01 +0000 UTC; Views: 2846; Favourites: 107; Downloads: 12
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Description Blodeuwedd (approximate pronunciation: Blo-day-weth) is a figure of Welsh mythology, the wife of Lleu Llaw Gyffes. Lleu was cursed to never have a human wife, so the magicians Math and Gwydion conjured a maiden from the flowers of broom, oak, and meadowsweet, and named her Blodeuwedd, or 'flower-face'. Lleu falls head over heels in love with her, they get married, happily ever after, right?

Wrong. 

Lleu goes away on business, and while he's gone, Blodeuwedd falls in love with Gronw Pebr, the Lord of Penllyn. Love triangles, plaguing stories since forever. 

Naturally, this can only be solved in one way: MURDER.

Lleu is really, REALLY hard to kill. He can't be killed in the day or at night, clothed or naked, indoors or outdoors, riding or walking, or by any weapon lawfully made. So together they concoct the slightly absurd plan of killing him at dusk, wrapped in a net, with one foot on a cauldron and one on a goat, by a spear forged for a year during the hours when everybody is at Mass. 

Surprise, surprise, it fails, and Lleu turns into an eagle and flies off. Gwydion comes along and finds him and turns him back into a human, and he and Math nurse him back to health, before reclaiming his lands from Gronw and Blodeuwedd. 

Blodeuwedd's punishment? Gwydion turns her into...an owl. Apparently they're hated by all other birds. 

Later, Lleu kills Gronw with a spear. 

The End. 

Wasn't that a lovely story? I might go digging through some more Welsh mythology for potential subjects. 

As you can tell, I used a bit of artistic licence, adding in some daffodils (very much associated with Wales), and made her lips from the Welsh Poppy. I had great difficulty working out what to do with her eyes, and last night, after much deliberation, I found the answer. I gave her owl eyes, as a little nod to the end of her story.

Thanks to mar-katheechodragonhoustonsharpnathies-stockpixelstains  and DanLuVisiArt  for sharing their awesome brush packs.
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Comments: 71

Holmes-JA In reply to ??? [2017-03-30 00:24:48 +0000 UTC]

Dankon

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MasterOfAnkh [2017-03-27 00:35:18 +0000 UTC]

An absolutly WOW-cool-WOW job! I'm up and away!        

Nice story, nice maiden, awesome work. The girl reminds me on the race of Sylvari in my favourite game Guild Wars 2 - but much nicer!  

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Holmes-JA In reply to MasterOfAnkh [2017-03-27 00:55:38 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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Nimbue [2017-03-26 18:55:03 +0000 UTC]

Absolutely stunning!

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Holmes-JA In reply to Nimbue [2017-03-26 20:56:36 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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27400 [2017-03-24 06:01:01 +0000 UTC]

Acrimboldo!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Holmes-JA In reply to 27400 [2017-03-24 10:31:51 +0000 UTC]

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Eric-S-Huffman [2017-03-22 18:28:40 +0000 UTC]

Re-requesting cuz I just now found this submission to my group AFTER it expired..
It never showed up during the whole time it was active.
( I keep a pretty good eye on such and sort thru the list every other day )
yes this has been happening a LOT ( as mentioned in the group postings) and no I have no idea why..
DA has been told and as usual is ignoring it..

Eric
? & ?

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Holmes-JA In reply to Eric-S-Huffman [2017-03-22 21:23:47 +0000 UTC]

No worries, mate

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wintersmagicstock [2017-03-22 09:06:05 +0000 UTC]

Exquisite, I love your use of the welsh poppies and daffs. Have you ever read the 'Owl Service' by Alan Garner? that is an adaptation of the story of Blodeuwedd transposed to a modern setting

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Holmes-JA In reply to wintersmagicstock [2017-03-22 10:37:35 +0000 UTC]

Thanks very much! I haven't, but I might have to check it out.

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SamDaly [2017-03-20 17:03:27 +0000 UTC]

Amazing work, well done

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Holmes-JA In reply to SamDaly [2017-03-20 21:33:24 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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SamDaly In reply to Holmes-JA [2017-03-20 22:36:16 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome

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c55m [2017-03-19 21:58:37 +0000 UTC]

Truly wonderful. The story and the Artwork. 

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Holmes-JA In reply to c55m [2017-03-20 00:30:37 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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wahidubaidillah [2017-03-19 09:06:22 +0000 UTC]

great workk ...

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Holmes-JA In reply to wahidubaidillah [2017-03-19 12:26:53 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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wb-skinner [2017-03-17 19:01:08 +0000 UTC]

really beautiful!

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Holmes-JA In reply to wb-skinner [2017-03-17 21:39:53 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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RaisedFists [2017-03-16 20:16:01 +0000 UTC]

Wow gorgeous drawing   

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Holmes-JA In reply to RaisedFists [2017-03-16 20:52:31 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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RaisedFists In reply to Holmes-JA [2017-03-16 21:02:40 +0000 UTC]

 

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skipshot [2017-03-16 16:35:56 +0000 UTC]

In all the kingdom, this is the quiet place for wisdom and tranquility.

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Holmes-JA In reply to skipshot [2017-03-16 17:54:55 +0000 UTC]

Thanks

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Starfall12 [2017-03-14 22:05:29 +0000 UTC]

I love how this piece has it's own strange kind of beauty that it utterly captivating but you really have to look twice because you can't quite believe it's real!

Did that make sense?

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Holmes-JA In reply to Starfall12 [2017-03-14 23:13:46 +0000 UTC]

It did, and thank you very much!

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Starfall12 In reply to Holmes-JA [2017-03-15 22:36:46 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome ^^

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Sabine62 [2017-03-14 21:28:01 +0000 UTC]

A Stunning beauty

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Holmes-JA In reply to Sabine62 [2017-03-14 23:13:52 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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StelfySkya [2017-03-14 14:13:58 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful work...interesting story...well done!!

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Holmes-JA In reply to StelfySkya [2017-03-14 17:32:17 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much!

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CrimsonSunset218 [2017-03-13 18:26:21 +0000 UTC]

Wow!  This reminds me of Persephone.

*reads your story*

Weird story.  Now I want to go see if I have any Welsh mythology books in my used book shop.

I love that you gave her owl eyes.  A wonderful touch!

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Holmes-JA In reply to CrimsonSunset218 [2017-03-13 19:58:40 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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Irbisty [2017-03-13 12:57:39 +0000 UTC]

Oh, it look like an eternity to finish all these details! AMAZING 

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Holmes-JA In reply to Irbisty [2017-03-13 13:22:18 +0000 UTC]

I was seeing daffodils in my sleep by the end of it

Thank you!

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Irbisty In reply to Holmes-JA [2017-03-13 13:32:12 +0000 UTC]

ahaha   You're welcome!

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SuddenDeathlyHymour [2017-03-13 11:41:01 +0000 UTC]

Such an interesting tale - I do love old myths!
Really love the picture! Very pretty.

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artjuggler [2017-03-12 18:27:02 +0000 UTC]

That is very interesting and unusual, I like the way you worked with the ideas from the legend, and that you explained them in the description.

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Holmes-JA In reply to artjuggler [2017-03-13 12:02:30 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much!

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artjuggler In reply to Holmes-JA [2017-03-13 21:02:43 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome, thanks for the llama!

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Holmes-JA In reply to artjuggler [2017-03-13 21:15:11 +0000 UTC]

Welcome!

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Holmes-JA In reply to artjuggler [2017-03-12 21:25:54 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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TheWarOfTheRing [2017-03-12 18:24:12 +0000 UTC]

I get the impression the people who wrote these myths didn't have a terribly high opinion of women in general

This looks incredible!

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Holmes-JA In reply to TheWarOfTheRing [2017-03-12 21:27:52 +0000 UTC]

Ha, most likely not.


Thank you!

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TheWarOfTheRing In reply to Holmes-JA [2017-03-13 01:35:08 +0000 UTC]

Welcome!

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delaverano [2017-03-12 17:51:33 +0000 UTC]

Holy... This is AMAZING!   So detailed!

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Holmes-JA In reply to delaverano [2017-03-12 18:16:25 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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SarahBethiaArt [2017-03-12 17:36:42 +0000 UTC]

This is actually so beautiful  

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Holmes-JA In reply to SarahBethiaArt [2017-03-12 17:46:49 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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