Evil spirits Malawian style

This is where I've got to so far. Elbows were hard to have going the 'opposite' way, as arm joints rotate. So I've just gone for weird angles.

Joints go the way they do for a reason.

Knees were easier. Walking figures is going to be quite a challenge though! Probably base it on an ostrich walking. Doesn't matter if it looks odd - it's meant to be unnatural.(I swapped the legs & bodies, which is why there are gaps in the middle)

Thought for the Day

The greatest artist you can think of started of drawing like this.

Illustrating for another culture is so difficult!
I'm working on the Malawian Pilgrim's Progress, and I have to draw evil spirits in the valley of the shadow of death.

I could draw evil spirits for here - I know what looks spooky or macabre or evil to us. But all I have is a brief description of witches in a book, and a few photos of masks. I'm reluctant to use the masks, as I don't know what they represent (they said they were evil spirits, but you never quite know if they're just saying what you want to hear). I think silhouettes is probably the way to go.

The book description is helpful: protruding teeth, red eyes, discoloured skin, ugly & distorted features, long snouts to eat corpses. But the coolest thing is - arm and knee joints that bend the wrong way. That would make them look really wierd.

But how on earth do I draw it?

I was sitting in my clearing in the woods, looking at the bark of the trees, and how different they all are (some smooth, some rough). In Narnia, the spirits of those trees would have very different characters. So I thought, "I wonder if trees do have spirits"

"Of course not," is the automatic answer. They're merely physical things. Nothing there but what you see. And I felt kind of sad when I thought that.

But are they? Is a dog merely a physical entity? What about a goldfish, or a pigeon, or a greenfly? Do some/all of these have 'spirits'? What is a spirit anyway, and is it as distinct from our body as we think? (I believe that's more a Greek idea.) So, if animals are, in some way, not just physical beings, what about trees? Or stones? or blades of grass?

One thing's for sure: If trees do have spirits, they are not gods or godesses to be worshipped. Rather, they are creations of God, for his glory.

Psalm 148

Praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD from the heavens,
praise him in the heights above.

Praise him, all his angels,
praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars.

Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.

Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for he commanded and they were created.

He set them in place for ever and ever;
he gave a decree that will never pass away.

Praise the LORD from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,

you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,

wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds,

kings of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth,

young men and maidens,
old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

He has raised up for his people a horn,
the praise of all his saints,
of Israel, the people close to his heart.
Praise the LORD.

Isaiah 55:12
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.

Luke 17v37-40
When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
"Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!"

"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

Thought I'd start a blog. Whether I keep it up is another matter. But if I don't it doesn't matter.