HOME | DD

Published: 2010-12-03 04:14:15 +0000 UTC; Views: 19011; Favourites: 489; Downloads: 0
Redirect to original
Description
~~~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!
~~~
Related content
Comments: 120
Emerald-Hearts [2010-12-03 10:03:23 +0000 UTC]
love it. Thunderbirds ftw (I've always loved them xD) Pow-Wow!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
DrakeZIOP In reply to ??? [2010-12-03 06:05:43 +0000 UTC]
Suggestions? Hell yes.
One word: Pheonix.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
Night-Forager In reply to ??? [2010-12-03 05:07:42 +0000 UTC]
Holy cow! Great job. I really love the colors and subtle shading in this one. Great job researching this, too.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
TwilightSaint In reply to Night-Forager [2011-12-10 19:57:01 +0000 UTC]
Thanks! I love adding the research to the art.
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
drawitout In reply to ??? [2010-12-03 04:33:25 +0000 UTC]
Pow-Wow, I love the feather details.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
DarkChaoticWolf In reply to ??? [2010-12-03 04:21:36 +0000 UTC]
Is it possible to get it as a poster, like to put on a wall or something? I know it's a lot to ask, but this is really amazing art.
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
TwilightSaint In reply to DarkChaoticWolf [2011-12-10 19:57:27 +0000 UTC]
Thanks! And yes, it is! You could commission this from me as a poster, and I could send it to you!
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
DarkChaoticWolf In reply to TwilightSaint [2011-12-11 00:23:05 +0000 UTC]
Oh okay cool! Unfortunately, I don't have any money or points xD Oh well, thanks for letting me know, and great job
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
ShamelessAardvark In reply to ??? [2010-12-03 04:21:23 +0000 UTC]
I'm now ordering you to draw moar birds. 83
His eyes are gorgeous..
👍: 0 ⏩: 1
TwilightSaint In reply to ShamelessAardvark [2011-12-10 19:57:37 +0000 UTC]
I really should, lol. Thanks!
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
WaterTribeKayla In reply to ??? [2010-12-03 04:18:36 +0000 UTC]
i always feel like the watermark ruins it
👍: 0 ⏩: 0
<= Prev |