It’s been way too long. (Sorry, but honestly all I can say is it’s been one of those years)
But… I’m back and here to talk about one of my favorite yearly happenings…FOLKTALE WEEK.
I so am excited to once again be co-host of this amazing Instagram art challenge...This will be our 7th year of Folktale Week, and I am happy to be part it again. Here's this years prompts if you want to join along.
More info: https://www.instagram.com/folktaleweek/
https://www.instagram.com/debrastyer/
I’ll be adding a bit more in the next few weeks as I work on the illustrations for the project stay tuned for some dark, but fun, folktale art.
I hope you can join along.
Prompt List 2024
I’m joining Folktale Week by Debra Styer
HERE IT GOES…Here’s what I came up with for the 2024 years Prompts:
Folktale Week 2024
Day 1: Mist
#FolktaleWeek2024
Day 1: Mist
I was inspired by the British Folktale "The Green Mist", a story of a dying girl who is saved by the mysterious green mist in hopes she will hang on just a bit longer. The girl says, "I swear I'd ask no more than to live as long as the one of those Cowslips that grow by our gate each year".
In this village, the mist is legendary. After a very long wait, it is finally time and her mother helps her to the doorway where she gives her offerings of bread and salt and says the old words, as the mist finally arrives and covers her.
Soon after the girl begins to heal. She regains her strength as spring returns. She happily hangs out with all the other young people in the village. She even meets a young man. One day as the two are chatting and making plans for their future, he picks one of the Cowslips flowers near the doorway, and hands it to her. She holds it tightly in her hand...
You have to remember the life of a flower is not very long and when it is taken early things must end. The girl died the next day...
Folktale Week 2024
Day 2: Gate
#folktaleweek2024
Day 2: Gate
This was inspired by the Japanese Folktale, "The Ogre of Rashomon". The story is about the brave knight, Watanabe, who fought the giant Ogre who terrorized on the villagers at the Gate of Rashomon in Kyoto.
Even as the terrible Ogre held him tightly in his grasp, Watanabe slashed and slashed with his sword eventually cutting off the arm of the monster. He watched as the Monster ran away in fright, leaving his arm behind...
Will the monster come back to grab his arm, or will he be gone for good?
(Day 3: Blight Coming soon)
Folktale Week 2024
Day 4: Trail
#folktaleweek2024
Day 4; Trail
Today's illustration was inspired by the Grimm's Fairytale "Jorinda and Joringel". It is a story of two young loves that simply go for a walk to discuss their upcoming wedding and forget to watch out for the nearby witches castle.
Suddenly they are encircled by a creepy owl with glowing eyes. The owl circles them three times and poof Jorinda turns into a Nightingale. The Owl flies towards the castle.
Joringel can do nothing, he stands still in fear, when out from the woods an old woman appears holding a birdcage and captures Jorinda within. They soon disappear into the woods
The big question, will Joringel save the day, and get his lovely bride (hopefully in human form) back in time for their wedding day?
Folktale Week 2024
Day 5: Depth
#folktaleweek2024
Day 5: Depth
Today's piece is inspired by the Aesop's Fable, "The Farmer and the Sea". The story is about a farmer that is watching a ship being swallowed owed by a giant wave. He yells, "O Sea, it would be better if no one had ever set sail on you! You are a pitiless element of nature and an enemy of mankind". After hearing the man's complaint, the sea rose up in form of a woman and said, "Do not spread such evil stories about me! I am not the cause of any of these things that happen to you; the winds to which I am exposed to are the cause of them all. If you look at me when the winds are gone, and sail upon me then, you will see I am even more gentle than that dry land of yours."
This fable struck me as pretty darkly appropriate considering the world right now. My take...stop blaming women for everything, dudes.
Folktale Week 2024
Day 6: Bone
#Foltaleweek2024
Day 6: Bones
Today's illustration is inspired by the Mexican Legend of La Loba (aka La Huesera) is the story of the Bone Woman who creeps and crawls all over the land and through the rivers searching for lost bones. Her favorites include wolves, deer ravens and snakes. Once she puts together the entire skeleton, she pops on the skull. She stands over the creature and sings her magic songs. Her voice brings flesh and fur and life back to the body. One more song and the creature can open its eyes and breath once more.
The creature awakens back to life as nothing has happened, and happily darts or slithers off into the darkness.
She has done her job and begins searching once again.
Folktale Week 2024
Day 7: Blossom
#folktaleWeek2024
Day 7: Blossom
On the last day of #Folktaleweek2024, I wanted to leave with a bit of light and hope. Here's my portrait of the Roman Goddess "Flora", for the Blossom prompt. She is the goddess of flowers, spring and fertility.
I may stick with the fertility of good ideas and hope this year, who's joining me?
Of course, there may still be a little thorn of pain in that growth. But we must keep going...
That wraps up another amazing Folktale Week! I hope you like my new illustrations. Prints will be in my Etsy shop asap.
Join us next year, it;’s usually the week before Thanksgiving. Tune in for more starting in October 2025.
