one more before all hallows eve comes to an end!
UPDATED: thanks to @Erisian for introducing me to the Scandinavian skogsrå from folklore!
the original sketch for those interested: kynlo 20201030
and the model → https://www.deviantart.com/silenceinsilver
This is beautiful. It’s enchanting and atmospheric and it makes me think of the Scandinavian skogsrå (Huldra) If she had a tail it would be perfect for that.
Thank you for the compliment and the introduction to Scandinavian folklore! I’ve never heard of a Huldra - i love the idea!! It seems from some short research online that her tail might be that like a cow or a fox - is that correct?
Absolutely correct. I usually think of her as having a fox tail but often she is portrayed as having a cows tail in fantasy art. There are different types of rå named after the area they live in so for example, skogsrå is a forest creature and Bergsrå is a mountain creature.
not a costume - a real fox’s tail would not be so large
this is a depiction of a creature from folklore
@JunoJazz Don’t worry, I’m a vegan and I have no problem at all with her tail. 
@kynlo THAT IS AWESOME! I think the upgrade works extremely well and I’m glad I was able to inspire you. 
This is a northern Rå. Where I’m from, in the south, they don’t have tails but a hollow back like an old tree.
When I bought my first tablet 12 years ago I wanted to do a painting of Odin hunting the Rå. I have the image quite clear in my head, but I still don’t feel I have the skill to paint it with the quality I want for that image. Maybe in twelve years or so. 
agreed - thanks for that!
I noticed some mention of the hollow back and that they try to hide it in some of the articles online. Its difficult to tell what online sources are correct. I feel much better about the sites i’ve read so far knowing that is the case. I’ll have to see if i can find a book that describes more of the folklore. If you or @Erisian have any recommendations, please share 
Is this also called the Wild Hunt or Odin’s Hunt? It would be pretty cool to paint!
I’ll have a look round for you. I found a couple of good sites but they are in swedish. My wife has told me that there are different variations on the rå and some of these are localised as @Bleke says. People tend to be liberal in their artistic interpretations but I’ll have a look and see if I can find a good site with an english translation for you.
Here - this looks good. SKOGSRÅ
thanks @Erisian!! If you do come across the ones in swedish, share them - i’ll find a way to translate them (I might even learn a few Swedish words along the way)!
Short but informative
Well, these are oral traditions and change a bit every time they are told. Either because the story teller misremembers or, I suspect, adjusts the story to suit the occasion.
Imagine a married man getting caught having a bit of hanky panky with a girl from the next village, meeting in the forest. “I was bewitched by the forest hag I tell you! She twisted my sight, made the trail disappear, and she looked exactly like my wife!”
So I’m not sure if it’s fair to say that online sources are more or less correct than the previous alterations of the story. 
As always, amazing work!
It’s interesting how themes recur in different cultures - this reminds me of the Kitsune. 
There’s a lot I like in this piece - the composition, the pose, the interplay between the cool greys and warm light. I also like how you’ve kept emptier passages - creates a more dream-like quality and emphasizes the subject.
wow - I had seen the nine tailed fox spirit from Japanese folklore, but i did not know it’s name, and i really had no idea they would transform to human forms. That is quite interesting!
Thank you!
