[Art] Virginia Opossum as Totem

[moonvoice]

The absolutely awesome iphin suggested this one, who just happens to be so cool that he has a horseshoe crab as a significant animal guide. *grin*





$65 US / AUD
18.5 x 20.5cm (or 7.4 x 8 in)
illo's board, fineliner, aquarelle, pencil, metallic paint

Comments

[jesspark.livejournal.com]

Beautiful, as always! Goodness gracious, how quickly can you crank these out? You're like a well-oiled machine of awesomeness! =)

And I ♥ horseshoe crabs. :D

[nar-kiranka.livejournal.com]

I love it, its everso cute...

Now, my sick mind did read...

"vagina possum"

I know... I know... I'm sorry :P

[halfapersona.livejournal.com]

Very pretty. I love the white face. S/he looks so cute!

^_^

[earthguardian.livejournal.com]

he's really cute!

[aleia-kali.livejournal.com]

Beautiful :)

[scarletwildfire.livejournal.com]

I love it!

[zenosaur.livejournal.com]

I love Virginia Opossums! I've seen a lot of them too (since I used to live in Virginia).

[lupabitch.livejournal.com]

Cute!!!!

I Dunno About This One

[perzephone.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've actually objected to any of your art - this one is just as pretty & awe-inspiring as your other works, but I'm just not feeling the 'real' here, lol.

On the times when I've encountered live possums, it's been all teeth and hissing and spraying liquid feces or they play dead & lay there in a funky cloud of 'see, I don't just look dead, I smell dead, too!' Some things just don't convey 'cute and furry' in nature - possums are one of the ones conveying more of that 'angry and stinky' message.

[paleo.livejournal.com]

Awwww! I've gotten to work with actual opossums a few times and they can be quite friendly just you *don't* want to be around when they are angry.

Do you feel like the marsupial spirits of Australia consider opossum kin, one of the clan, or is the geographic and temporal distance so great that no connection really exists between them?

[lightgoddess-69.livejournal.com]

This is just awesome!! I lurve the purple on opossum's face and body!! It's quite fitting, I think. =)

[praetori.livejournal.com]

I never thought I'd end up saying this, but that is one cute opossum! The purple swirleys balances it out nicely. Another great piece you've done. =)

On a side note, where do you sell prints? I'd love to have prints of some of your totem pieces (well, all of them actually, but my budget keeps that from happening).

Surprise! Possum!

[perzephone.livejournal.com]

Awwww! I've gotten to work with actual opossums a few times and they can be quite friendly just you *don't* want to be around when they are angry.

It seems like all my encounters with possums were not just, "Oh, look, a possum" but more like, one day trying to clean the attic, flipping over a box - "Aaagh! Possum!!" Or helping my dad liberate an engine from a dead truck - "Aaagh! Possum!" Or picking up the garbage can lid to add trash to said garbage - "AAagh! Possum!" It's been more exciting than, "Aaagh! Spider!" and not quite as alarming as "AAagh! Gator!" but it's always been unpleasant.

[rainsingingwolf.livejournal.com]

I love it! The colors!

Re: I Dunno About This One

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

I suppose I'm not really trying to convey a 'message' in this one (i.e. I wouldn't use this image as an illustration for a totem file), but more just a facet of their personalities.

One of the people on DeviantArt rehabilitates them, and indicated that I showed a lesser known, but still present aspect to their personality. But maybe, if you're only encountering opossums while they're feeling and acting defensive, it's the only thing you'd associate with them.

Like people who have been swooped by magpies in Perth who think that they are malicious, vicious creatures.

But that said, I would've done a more snarly spin on Opossum if I'd been doing a proper totem illustration; so maybe it's just their most accessible view. :)

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

Do you feel like the marsupial spirits of Australia consider opossum kin, one of the clan, or is the geographic and temporal distance so great that no connection really exists between them?

I don't really feel that much of a primal connection actually, but then opossums and shrew opossums belong to the family Ameridelphia, and everything else to Australidelphia.

They remind me a little of quolls simply because they have reputations of being ferocious - but that said, quolls remind me more of cats, since that's the niche they fill in Australia. Heh.

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

My print store is here:

http://ravenari.deviantart.com/store/?itemtypeids=1-2-11

But a lot of the latest things, like the tiger etc. aren't being offered as prints because of their awkward size. But that's my full list. :)

Re: I Dunno About This One

[perzephone.livejournal.com]

It's good to know that even unpleasant animals have fans out there somewhere - not everything can have the charisma of a tiger or panda, lol.

[praetori.livejournal.com]

Okay =) Thank you ^^

Will you be doing commissions again anytime?

[her-candle-eyes.livejournal.com]

Wow. I didn't expect to see one of these and am pleasantly surprised with the colours!

[iphin.livejournal.com]

OMG OMG OMG!!! I wasn't here yesterday...and I come to read your LJ and find this beautiful fantastic creature here!!! OMG...I am SPEECHLESS...it's so amazing...like seeing a portrait of a family member!!! Because I have had a bond with possums for as long as I can remember. I have so many possum websites bookmarked and even had a plush toy *blush* Oh this is just BRILLIANT...I am blown away and so so happy to see this!!! :D :D :D

[micalela.livejournal.com]

I totally LOVE the colors. I'm blown away. Just beautiful!!

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure at this point, I'd like to though. But I'll need to change the pricing structure of my commissions - and include the fact that I will be open to some trades and barter.

Re: Surprise! Possum!

[paleo.livejournal.com]

I don't blame you for being nervous around opossums given your experiences. I've had heartracing encounters with them, too. Imagine trying to break up a fight between a psycho housecat and a 'possum! When they are scared they will go into a mode where they will do anything to survive.
I was just lucky enough to spend time with a very sweet and tame opossum gal who was an educational animal for a wildlife rehab center. Because she was so socialized to humans, I got to see a more laid back and open side to her species. Still, I'd always urge caution around the wild ones.

Re: Surprise! Possum!

[perzephone.livejournal.com]

Imagine trying to break up a fight between a psycho housecat and a 'possum!

Um, waterhose? 10-foot pole & a suit of armor?

Re: Surprise! Possum!

[paleo.livejournal.com]

10-foot pole actually. :-) I slammed a timber rod between them to break my cat out of her killing trance and then used it to prod and herd her back to our house.