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Published: 2010-12-03 04:14:15 +0000 UTC; Views: 19009; Favourites: 490; Downloads: 0
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~~~To the Wakiya of the Lakota people and those of the tribes--
The beast from whom lightning sparks from his eyes and his wingbeats slapping with the bang of thunder--
Lightning curling from his horns and the snakes he carries with him over the skies--
As he passes through the clouds, pulling them together with his mighty wings...
RAR.
I've been doing some off-the-wing studies on cryptids lately, giants, ufos, whatever. But I remembered the compelling stories of the 'Thunderbird,' particularly by stumbling upon a random article with one of the much-circulated images of the 'Thunderbird Pteranodon' shot by some western rangers and by the Civil War soldiers - both of which are said to be hoaxes.
But, in reality, the only thing that comes second to the Quran and dragons that invokes such powerful imagery in my head is none save for the exciting stories of the many-coloured eagle with lightning in his eyes and thunder in his wingbeats.
According to primarily the Pacific Northwestern Native Americans, the Thunderbird was said to be a servant/messenger of the Great Spirit. The Thunderbird was a herald of rain and storms, and he would gather the clouds with his wings and blink lightning, shoot lightning from his eyes, and form the largest bolts from the snakes he carried with him. The Lakota tribe called him Wakiya, which means 'sacred' and 'winged.'
He is also said to wage war and defend the people from reptilian monsters called the Unktehila... This is paralled by the stories of the Roc in India and the Zuz in Biblical mythology.
Some oral traditions describe them as being able to transform into human form by flipping their beaks up and over their head, revealing a human face and body, and they would sometimes marry human spouses. Many families are said to have traced their lineage back to such events. One story tells of a tribe who had forgotten the character of the Thunderbird, and they planned to enslave a family who happened to have Thunderbirds amongst it. It is said that the Thunderbirds revealed their true form and destroyed the village who had forgotten their power.
Many tribes and villages along the Pacific Northwest still pay tribute to the Thunderbird by performing elaborate dance ceremonies before great statues of the Bird, and a special instrument called the 'Thunderbird Pipe' is used exclusively at such events. ^^
So yeah.
Thunderbird is pretty epic.
Speaking of which, put ' Pow-Wow ' in your comment if you read all that. ^^
And this started out as a speedpaint but turned full-blown. I did it in a little different style than my normal lineless...but I'm happy with how it turned out.
ENJOY!
Art (c) me.
Rippers will be nuked and swiftly disposed of!
~~~
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Comments: 120
Reaper1998 [2020-11-28 00:37:50 +0000 UTC]
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WhoohashShizzle [2018-01-24 18:12:54 +0000 UTC]
Powerful inspiring Art! Is the vector file available to turn into a car vinyl wrap project?
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TwilightSaint In reply to WhoohashShizzle [2018-01-27 21:53:51 +0000 UTC]
Thanks! Itβs not, but itβs something I could do if youβre definitely interested!
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Multiverse13 [2017-04-24 19:02:32 +0000 UTC]
Cool depiction of a Thunderbird. Its pretty close to the design they used in Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them
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TwilightSaint In reply to Multiverse13 [2017-04-29 08:14:40 +0000 UTC]
Thanks! I did this piece years before the movie came out.
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meliamarie [2015-03-19 14:09:24 +0000 UTC]
Your artwork is awesome. -This thunderbird gives me goosebumps.- I'll follow up with a note about a commission project. -- Pow Wow!
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LucasVN [2013-12-31 16:39:55 +0000 UTC]
Pow-wow. And a beautiful drawing of a legendary creature...
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Ridafi [2013-09-08 00:27:23 +0000 UTC]
I love it. Thunderbird is awesome. The lightningΒ and storm clouds really help set the mood of SUPER AWESOME BADASS SPIRIT COMIN' THROUGH.
Β
Pow-wow!
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TeiOuja [2012-10-14 02:57:09 +0000 UTC]
-Insert Falconzord Joke Here- Honestly though, the eyes are what's fascinating. I love the effects for the eyes.
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CelticIrishgirl [2012-09-12 20:16:53 +0000 UTC]
Yes... I HAVE heard of the thunder bird! I have!
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CelticIrishgirl In reply to TwilightSaint [2012-09-13 19:07:39 +0000 UTC]
Yes, my brother has a book on monsters.
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bluenight12341 In reply to CelticIrishgirl [2013-02-16 04:09:11 +0000 UTC]
I so want to read that book!
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bluenight12341 In reply to CelticIrishgirl [2013-02-21 22:08:03 +0000 UTC]
what is the name?
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TwilightSaint In reply to Thunderbird-Anthares [2012-09-13 15:16:33 +0000 UTC]
Hmm, did I?
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Zedna7 [2012-06-14 20:12:43 +0000 UTC]
POW fricking WOW
This is great work, I instafaved it. I love this drawing.
And I also enjoyed that long description~
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Copper-LightSource [2012-05-30 19:13:45 +0000 UTC]
Oh gosh I was looking for Thunderbird pictures for my report on google-
>looks at this
> Sees Twilightsait
> OMG
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TwilightSaint In reply to Copper-LightSource [2012-05-30 19:16:07 +0000 UTC]
Omg, sweet! XD. You can use it for your report if you want, haha.
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TwilightSaint In reply to Davidpoet30 [2011-08-10 04:59:46 +0000 UTC]
Sure! If you give me the link when it's finished, I'll stick it in my artist comments.
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ashleyweirdo [2011-05-08 00:54:45 +0000 UTC]
POW WOW! X3 Thanks for the info on some of the legend of the thunderbird! This is also a really nice painting; i love how well you captured the sens of movement such a might beast would have as it ripped through the sky.
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Shadowulf1 [2011-04-07 20:46:39 +0000 UTC]
Is it still considered ripping if I ask and gain permission to use it?
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Shadowulf1 [2011-04-06 03:28:50 +0000 UTC]
Goodness that's a lovely bird! I wonder if I could get a watermark-free pic? I doubt you'll do me the courtesy, but it can't hurt to ask, right?
So, c'mon, whaddya say?
If you want to send it to me, I can tell you how to do so without providing the free pic to EVERYBODY. And PS: I guarantee the pic would not be used for profit, I just need it for a wiki.
If you agree, thanks a billion. If not, then dang. Either way, though, I LUVLULUV this pic. Great job.
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TwilightSaint In reply to Shadowulf1 [2011-08-10 05:01:13 +0000 UTC]
(Sorry for the long delay to reply.)
For a wiki? Like a wikipedia page??? Sure, I can e-mail it to you if you give me your e-mail in a note. The pic would be full-size/-resolution that way.
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