[Art] Wonambi naracoortensis as Totem

[moonvoice]

darakat_ewr do you want to email me at ophelias.diary@gmail.com to yay or nay this piece?

Wonambi Naracoortensis as Totem

The Wonambi naracoortensis is an extinct Australian python that measured five to six metres long and lived in the Pleistocene Ice Age period.

It is posited by anthropologists that this snake was the famous 'rainbow serpent' or Waugal of the Aboriginal myths (since many of their myths do involve extinct animals that have since been discovered). Waugal sacred sites actually correlate with found skeletons from the Wonambi family.

The Rainbow Serpent was responsible for creating major features in the landscape, and also for creating streams and lakes with its great body. In Western Australia, the Waugal threw up great boulders of granite that are still found in almost all our major waterways.

In this one, I deliberately used the rainbow to hint at the rainbow serpent symbolism, and stuck to a predominantly blue palette to celebrate the rainbow serpent's connection to rain, and Wonambi's connection to being discovered near waterways.

There is purple iridescent paint in the blue circles which didn't show up in the scan.






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

Comments

[darakat-ewr.livejournal.com]

At first I sort of didn't like it, but each time I look at it, it gets better and better. I would love to have the original as I am sure each time I look at it I will say "Hey wow! thats better then last time" again and again!

[sidheblessed.livejournal.com]

You probably didn't like because of what it depicts rather the piece itself. :P

[mirrorred-star.livejournal.com]

Thanks for suggesting it, I hadn't heard anything about it before, and it's connection to the Rainbow serpent is really interesting.

[darakat-ewr.livejournal.com]

Its ok, I wouldn't have suggested it if I hadn't encountered it myself.

[azhure.livejournal.com]

*glmops*

This is *gorgeous*

[wampus-cat.livejournal.com]

This is gorgeous!

[witchchild]

oh WOW.

[greenforest-elf.livejournal.com]

o o rainbows

[vyxen.livejournal.com]

<3<3<3
The name of my reptile rescue/educational programs is called Rainbow Serpent Reptile Rescue. ^^
I always thought/hoped that the Rainbow Serpent and Ayida Wedo (or perhaps Damballah) were connected.

Awww...

[perzephone.livejournal.com]

Someone beat me to it!

Damballah & Ayida Wedo live in the deserts, too - just not as noticeably.

[paleo.livejournal.com]

Pleistocene animals FTW! I'm *still* squeeing over you educating me about Wonambi naracoortensis possibly being Rainbow Serpent. I've been doing research into mythic creatures that could be tales of extinct creatures and every continent seems to have a ton of them.

[silere.livejournal.com]

mmm. This is awesome. <3

I love all versions of the rainbow serpent mythos i can find.

[earthguardian.livejournal.com]

very colorful! i really like this one!

[weishaupt.livejournal.com]

Hail Waugal!

[sidheblessed.livejournal.com]

It's beautiful! I love the contrast with the rainbow and the serpent, very nicely done! Can't wait to hang this one on our wall.

[rainsingingwolf.livejournal.com]

I really like this one.

[mirrorred-star.livejournal.com]

I really love the colours in this. The rainbow and the browns of the snake offset the purples and blues really well.

[firehauke.livejournal.com]

pretty

[makhsihed.livejournal.com]

SNAKE

:D

snake snake scaly pretty~ This is gorgeous. I adore snakeys.

*/late night silly babble*