#illyrianmythology

[thebalkanwitch]

Afërdita • My Afërdita predates Venus and her swans • She does not step demurely out of a shell, flaxen hair cascading gently down her back... • My Afërdita is raw and fierce She walks with pride, ancient and self-assured; a force to be reckoned with • My Afërdita is the embodiment of sex, and lust, and procreation; the divine feminine spirituality in its varying forms • She is the tie that bonds both sacred and profane love • She is virgin and whore, carnal and caring Primal, Pre-hellenic, Divine • My Afërdita is me, and I am She • I chose my Afërdita • Which Afërdita do you choose to be? • • • #thebalkanwitch #aferdita #aphrodite #venus #birthofvenus #hesperus #isis #astarte #ishtar #freya #mythology #magick #albanianmythology #balkanmythology #illyrian #illyrianmythology #fantasy #fantasyart #witchblr #ancestors #divinefeminine #goddess #womxn #witchyart #albanianartist #albanianart #pelasgian #witchesofinstagram #writersofinstagram #artistsofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv4biy_niUI/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=yn6sjumfo5dm

[artatheartist]

Current work in progress.

Can anyone guess this mythological character? 😏

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[artatheartist]

I'm really excited about this piece! As much as I love the line work, it’s going to look so much better with color 🤩 • • • #ArtaTheArtist #Verbti #Albanian #art #albanianartist #AlbanianArt #Mythology #mythologyart #albanianmythology #illyrian #illyrianmythology #witchblr #witchyart #lineart #linedrawing #tirqi #fantasyart https://www.instagram.com/p/CZU4uUaOk3J/?utm_medium=tumblr

[artatheartist]

Illyrian Tattoo Series Dreri/ Deer • A popular creature in Albanian mythology, many stories and superstitions exist about deer. They were associated with the sun and were believed to have been human once upon a time, therefore it was considered a sin to kill a deer that looked you in the eyes (If you were out hunting, and happened to make eye contact with a deer, you were not to kill it). • Note: There are different names attributed to different types of deer in the Albanian language, which generally vary from region to region. Some are loan words, like “sorkadhja” which comes from the Greek “zarkadi” and “kaproll” which comes from the Italian “capriolo.” • • • #ArtaTheArtist #Illyrian #art #tattoo #tattoodesign #dreri #deer #stag #lineart #witchblr #witchyart #Albanian #albanianartist #mythology #superstition #albanianmythology #illyrianmythology https://www.instagram.com/p/CY6x_WKrJwT/?utm_medium=tumblr

[artatheartist]

Orë • Figure in Albanian Mythology similar to the concept of a Fairy Godmother • • • #ArtaTheArtist #wip #art #ora #fairy #shtojzovalle #albanian #mythology #fairygodmother #albanianmythology #illyrian #illyrianmythology https://www.instagram.com/artatheartist/p/CYWtI6XrDi5/?utm_medium=tumblr

[artatheartist]

Dragua/ Drangue: The Dragonslayer in Albanian mythology. • This heroic character is featured prominently in our folklore. They are born with wings and their identity is kept secret. • As their wings are their primary source of power, one must never use the curse, "tu thafshin krahët," lest you unwittingly kill a Dragua. • (and of course my little dragonslayer is wearing a xhubletë) 😁 • • • #artatheartist #art #albanian #albanianart #albanianartist #folkart #mythology #albanianmythology #illyrian #illyrianmythology #drawing #dragon #Dragonslayer #dragua #drangue #beautifulbizarre #devianart #fantasyart #mythologyart #witchblr #witchyart #xhubleta #artistsofinstagram #illustration #traditionalart https://www.instagram.com/p/CRhG57OLi7U/?utm_medium=tumblr

[artatheartist]

Me: has over 250 different colored pencils Also Me: uses the same red colors over and over and over again 😫😫😫 I wish @prismacolor would sell monochrome packs of pencils... 😅 • • • #artatheartist #art #sketch #drawing #artistproblems #prismacolor #arteza #tonedpaper #coloredpencils #wip #workinprogress #fantasyart #dragon #marigoandthefortydragons #mythology #albanianmythology #illyrian #fantasy #illyrianmythology #mythologyart #beautifulbizarre https://www.instagram.com/p/COv2XePLnP-/?igshid=1td5hzfpgke2

[artatheartist]

Dimër / Winter • • • #artatheartist #albanian #art #ink #albanianartist #albanianart #illustration #dimer #winter #witchyart #magicart #folkart #fantasyart #highpriestess #tarot #illyrian #albanianmythology #illyrianmythology #childrensbooks #coloredpencils #mixedmedia #childrensbookillustration #castlearts #arteza #prismacolor #gelpens #etsy #sketch #drawing #traditionalart https://www.instagram.com/p/CJhBy8IlQ7f/?igshid=15fustke1pmsi

[artatheartist]

Late night sketchity sketch Some questions that arose: does anyone else work on approx 100 different projects simultaneously? am i ever going to finish any of them? anyone else feeling uninspired lately? nothing seems to be coming out well 🤔 • • • #artatheartist #sketch #drangue #dragua #art #albanian #albanianart #albanianmythology #illyrianmythology #mythology #artwip #fantasyart #childrensbookillustration #whimsicalart #folkart #arteza #tonedpaper #dtiys https://www.instagram.com/p/CByDd7JlsRq/?igshid=1ji6xr40cw5sb

[artatheartist]

Taking a short break from the cards to work on my mythology series ♤♡◇♧ I've been thinking about this piece for a while so I'm excited to finish it! Can't wait to show you once it's completed... xhuBLETA 🐝 • • • #artatheartist #albanian #illyrian #art #sketch #penandink #drawing #wip #micronart #mythology #albanianart #folkart #folkartist #albanianmythology #illyrianmythology #malsore #xhubleta #childrensbookillustration #fantasyart #fantasyillustration #magicart #bee #minoan #minoangoddess #honeybee #queenbee https://www.instagram.com/p/CALLshBFElZ/?igshid=174l45wld93dg

[thebalkanwitch]

Dita e Verës Day of summer Ostara of the Balkans March 14th •   Today marks the end of winter and the first day of the new year across the Albanian diaspora (remember, this is also the end of the astrological year as well. Our ancestors knew what they were talking about). • Dita e Verës (or “Day of Summer”) represents the time of year when the earth is reborn, coming out of its wintery hibernation to hail the coming of spring (pranverë) and imminent summer (verë). According to ancient Illyrian traditions, this is the time of year when the goddess Thana also commonly referred to as “Zana e Malit” (or mountain nymph), would emerge from her temple. As she is the goddess of hunting, forests and nature, she is the very embodiment of the season, and is celebrated accordingly. • This holiday celebrates nature’s rebirth and fecundity. Fires are lit, sugar cookies called “ballokume” are baked, sweets are passed out to children and outdoor games commence. • This is a multi-generational holiday; grandparents, parents and children all partake in the celebration. • Most notably, red and white braided bracelets are worn during the festivities and afterwards hung on tree branches, in the hopes that Thana’s swallows will use them to build their nests, and in exchange grant good fortune. • • • #thebalkanwitch #ditaeveres #ostara #springequinox #summerday #hyjnesha #witchblr #witchesofinstagram #witchessociety #pagansofinstagram #magick #magicart #folkart #folkmagic #balkanwitchcraft #albanianmythology #illyrianmythology #illyrian #thana #zana #artemis #artemisia #diana #ancientwisdom #ancestors #wheeloftheyear #ballokume #elbasan #shkumbin #paganholiday https://www.instagram.com/p/B9uJn8gnyYB/?igshid=tcjtvbyprnrc

[artatheartist]

Hope everyone is having a great weekend! Please wash your hands and stay safe lol In the meantime, I'll be spring cleaning and working on some small tattoo designs • • • #artatheartist #hyjnesha #goddess #hyjneshanefron #illyrian #albanian #albanianmythology #albanianartist #albanianart #illustrator #illustration #illyrianmythology #fantasyart #magicart #witchyart #paganart #tattoo #sketch #drawingaday #tattoodesign #lineart #traditionalart #art #evileye #etsy #pencildrawing #albaniantattoo https://www.instagram.com/p/B9cawMjnIEU/?igshid=1jn6aaq7hpq0z

[thebalkanwitch]

#Repost @artatheartist • • • • • • Vitore 🐍 • A mythological horned snake that lays golden eggs and is thought to bring luck to its host family/household • • • #thebalkanwitch #balkanwitchcraft #balkanmythology #albanianmythology #illyrianmythology #witch #witchblr #witchesofinstagram #witchessociety #pagansofinstagram #magic #magick #magicart #art #snake #folkmagick #whimsicalart #witchyart #folkmagic #theartofwitches #snakeart #familiar #snaketattoo #mythology #guardian #fantasyillustration #fantasyart #childrensbookillustration #folkart https://www.instagram.com/p/B27NW-bHfcu/?igshid=1fcbjt17nxij3

[thebalkanwitch]

#Repost @artatheartist • • • • • • Kreshnik • A valiant hero, a knight • • • #kreshnik #knight #illyrian #illyricum #pelasgianillyrian #illyrianhelmet #albanianartist #albanianart #albanianculture #albanianillustrator #thebalkans #albanianfolkartist #albania #albanianlanguage #balkanart #illustrator #fantasyart #illyrianmythology #fantasyillustration #etsy #prismacolor #micron #lineart #calligraphy #wallart #arteza #nurserydecor #nurseryinspo #walldecor https://www.instagram.com/p/B0qsFhVHJwP/?igshid=174bh5mxyz64f

[artatheartist]

I draw men too, just not as often 😆 • The latest in my Albanian Mythology Series. Can anyone guess who this fellow is? (it's a bit of a stretch, I know, but I'm still curious!) • • • #artatheartist #albanian #illyrian #art #sketch #penandink #drawing #folkart #witchyart #lineart #traditionalart #magicart #linedrawing #albanianartist #albanianart #illustration #fantasyart #tonedpaper #childrensbooks #illustration #albanianmythology #illyrianmythology #folkartist #albanianfolkartist #folklore #childrensbooksillustrator #tirqi #plis https://www.instagram.com/p/CJ6qolnFfWQ/?igshid=q6zobf75c25v

[artatheartist]

Work in progress • Just to give you an idea of how long it takes to complete a colored pencil drawing: This took me 45 minutes All I did was color her shirt, half her face and shami. 45 minutes • Longer doesn't necessarily mean better but it is interesting to see my work (as well as the different techniques I apply) develop over time... this is also why it takes me so long to post my finished pieces. • In a nutshell, this particular drawing is going to take A LOT of 45 minute sessions to complete 😅 • • • #artatheartist #workinprogress #wip #coloredpencils #art #drawing #albanian #albanianartist #albanianart #illustration #traditionalart #magicart #marigo #childrensbooks #fairytale #folktales #childrensbookillustration #prismacolor #fantasyart #fantasyillustration #albanianmythology #illyrianmythology #snowwhite #arteza #lineart #artprocess #starttofinish #artistsoninstagram #illustratorsoninstagram #albanianillustrator https://www.instagram.com/p/CJMH-VPFtHb/?igshid=1h2frvjj8xjv7