[Art] Olm (Proteus) as Totem

[moonvoice]

Glen requested this one, because he knew it was one of my favourite animals and also that I'd never get around to drawing it otherwise.

Olms are a guide of mine, one I don't talk about very much but... they are. They're very awesome animals (amphibians that live in caves that rarely - if ever - see daylight, so much that their eyes have regressed back under their skin in the white variation).






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

Comments

[iphin.livejournal.com]

Ooooh! They are SOOOO awesome! I remember that I used to love seeing them in my illustrated animal encyclopedia - I love salamanders and amphibians:) Beautiful!<3

[zuki-san.livejournal.com]

Oooh, so that's what those guys are called. I actually really like the way the pose and layout works for this picture. I imagine the olm is looking up into the blind darkness of the cave from the black water 'e's resting in.

Yeah, I like this one!

[her-candle-eyes.livejournal.com]

Wow. Defintely unique. I've never seen one before.

[cariadwen.livejournal.com]

He looks almost saintly. And I like the fact that you've kept the colours subdued on this one, as it goes so well with him.

[praetori.livejournal.com]

I never knew what these guys were called. I just thought they were cave salamanders or something. I like your choice of light colors here.

[silere.livejournal.com]

I like the feeling i get that their perceptions are so subtle and intricate.. that they don't need the harsh light and colors to see. There's so much more to the pattern than light and color.

[paleo.livejournal.com]

Very cool! I like that you chose to go very, very light on the coloring this time which is very appropriate for a sightless species. I hope one day you decide to share some of your experience with Olm because it sounds like a facinating creature to work with.

[earthguardian.livejournal.com]

hey! those look familiar.

i think that there's a similar animal, but it begins with an A and has an x in it somewhere. I can neither spell nor pronounce it though.

>.>

[lupabitch.livejournal.com]

Axolotl. It's a central American amphibian, but it does have eyes and isn't subterranean.

[rainsingingwolf.livejournal.com]

Ooo, so pale. I love it!

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

I love amphibians too! :D

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

They're awesome, hee. I'm glad you like it!

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

Yeah they're really unusual animals. If I ever get around to doing my next project, they'll probably make an entrance.

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

Saintly, that's a cool word. Looking at him now, I guess he does. I'm glad I'm keeping this one. :)

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I think the choice of colours + silvers actually goes pretty well.

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

I like the feeling i get that their perceptions are so subtle and intricate.. that they don't need the harsh light and colors to see.

That's a really beautiful way to put it, I think. :)

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

It's the first one I've gone this light with, and I always knew I would go with light colours. Conversely, I have a slight (slight) feeling that spotted hyena will want quite a dark colour scheme.

My experiences with olm are often quite strange, I suppose being taught by an almost non-moving, predatorial creature that rarely needs to eat and can't see... inevitably would be though.

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

Yay! I like the pale too. :)

I linkt u a olm

[perzephone.livejournal.com]

(http://mine.icanhascheezburger.com/view.aspx?ciid=1522943)

I saw this & immediately thought of you :)

[paleo.livejournal.com]

You could share about Olm on Lupa's new community (which makes me happy).
I am very unsurprised that Spotted Hyena wants dark colors. She is a totem of more Dark or Crone aspects and is also associated with darker forms of magic and witchcraft. Many of her lessons are very harsh. Spotted Hyena is very important to me because she helped lead me to Dire Wolf because there is much in common between them. I get her but think she would make many people uncomfortable as a guide.

edit

[paleo.livejournal.com]

I meant to say "I'll be unsurprised" as it isn't determined yet. There is more to Hyena than her dark streak, after all.

[moonvoice.livejournal.com]

Interesting you say that about spotted hyena, the colour impressions start coming in often before anything else does (I'm such a visual person though). I say I *think* dark colours, because I can see drier browns and yellows amongst that. But I really do think spotted hyena wants quite dark tones for this first picture.

[tigressmin.livejournal.com]

Somehow I get the feeling from the Olm of loneliness yet being hopeful. Don't know if thats just me, or what XD

[halfapersona.livejournal.com]

Yay! I really like this picture, s/he seems so peaceful. The pale colours (like many others have said) work really well, and I'm really happy I finally got to see your interpretation of this unique creature.

Thank you!

^_^