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luciole — Pontianak
Published: 2008-05-14 23:28:08 +0000 UTC; Views: 58976; Favourites: 3027; Downloads: 6216
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Description
A pontianak is a type of Malay ghost of a woman who died during childbirth and becomes the undead.According to the story, the Pontianak resides in banana trees that grow near houses. She appears as a beautiful and seductive woman, usually accompanied with the strong perfume of frangipani, and upon capture of her prey (usually unwary men or pregnant women), she turns into a hideous hag and kills them.
However, if one wishes to capture this beautiful spirit to make her a wife (don't underestimate how desperate some people can be), a red string can be tied or inserted (using needles) into the banana trees's heart/fruit/blossom and the other end tied to the person's window. However, if the string is ever severed, the pontianak will be released and kill her captor.
I wanted to capture the moment when she realized that someone is attempting to capture her. However.. the strings are not tied tightly enough..
This is for pixelbrush.com's Myth contest.
edit: Winner of Pixelbrush's Event #15 Myth contest ^^!!
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Comments: 508
Oh ya I heard of that too! I think there is two ways to capture her.. the paku or the red thread. But I painted the red thread one.. cos the paku woulda been abit quite gruesome.
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Jeeez, such a breathtaking flow, great job.
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wow it is so pretty i think it is amazing I did not think you could do some thing dark but so beautiful and the flowers in her hair are so pretty wow
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I have seen many artist who can do stuff in bright colors and not in dark colors or only dark colors
but then I like earthy tones like the ones I use for sunny Jones
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very kool.... like the story too.....
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Amazing!
The story is beautiful and the art captures it in a very fluid way. The smoothness of the colors is what attracted me, and the composition is well done.
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We have a lot of stories about pontianaks and elemental/supernatural stuff like that.
I love the colors and the detail. Beautiful work.
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Yeahh I love the stories! I'm thinking of making another Malaysian ghost story-inspired pic.
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Maybe you would have stumbled upon some from the Philippines. Our ancestors being Malays, there are a lot of stories similar to those in Malaysia. :] I'm looking forward to that pic. :]
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Oh my! that's gorgeous! Kewlie story behind it.
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This is gorgeous, would love to see what you'd do with a Penanggalan
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Alamak.. that one is too scary,. hahahah
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Wow. I love the fluidity of the colors and shapes. Gorgeous.
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Oh my, this is the first time I've ever heard of such a myth/legend. I find it a bit creepy, but very entrancing. : 3 Beautiful work as always~ <3
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I've heard of a similar legend in Philippine Folk Tales... Very creepy... >.<;;;
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I love the sparkles on her dress~ @3@; <33
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The detail is impeccable, as always~ It seems like you used a new style for the background. It looks more oil pastel-y than your usual water color. But maybe that's just me. XD I think it looks great with the tropical theme you've got going on though.
The fow of her dress and her hair is beautiful
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Thanks 
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XDD ah, how amazing you are! 
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*ahem* flow XD not "fow"
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wow this is amazing. good job and well done i hope you win!
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This is interesting 
Lovely depiction <3! Good luck on the contest!
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Ooo O_O How weird! I think the tiyanak is much scarier than the pontianak..
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Boo, I meant to say "childbirth" 
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wow you captured the emotion and that exact moment in the story so well. you can see it in her face. amazing work ^^.
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Pontianak is actually one of city's name in Indonesia
but in here it your pontianak called kuntilanak (i think so coz anak = child)
asia has manyyyyy ghost stories & it definitely creepier than west ghosts
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yeahh I came across that in my research! How weird ^^!!
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I absolutely love it. I followed it on your website first and waited in anticipation for you to post this picture. It's beautiful, and what is even more beautiful is the research that you put into it. The heart looks so heart like and similar to the the actual blossom on the banana tree. I live in canada, but my family is from the caribbean and looking at this picture makes me feel as if though I am back in the banana fields. You are truly talented, and when I can affored it I hope i can commision your talent. Keep up the great work
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Thank you very much
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That's sad; may I ask: does their anger at losing their child and their own life (or just their own) make them this way? Meaning, make them angry spirits?
I'm very interested in the supernatural/paranormal. I believe in ghosts, and believe that I've seen some. Not many, but a few. It's sad that some spirits are stuck to the physical plane.
Sometimes I wonder: why don't the gods come and help these people?! Especially when it seems like the souls are in distress (remembering some episodes of the famous USA show Ghost Hunters.) But, yeah, I know, if the spirit chooses to stay, no one can do anything...
Anyhow - beautiful picture! 
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Ugh.. I am deathly afraid of ghosts. All my friends know not to talk to me about these things especially at night >< I have a morbid fascination for the stories behind them though, theyre always so interesting..!
Well, some versions of the story says that the pontianak was a beautiful woman who was raped and became pregnant. She died while delivering the child, and so she came back because she was angry and targets men (out of anger) and pregnant women (out of jealousy).
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Hmmmm... 
I'm very afraid too. I'm very interested, but so afraid!
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XDD Curiousity kills the cats (artists!!)
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wow, I would love to hear a story about it :3
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Wow, everything about this is so interesting to me ^^ Beautiful job
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