Orchis, Our Guardian

click on image to send it back to thumbnail state!!!

Extraordinary Life Forms #23, "Orchis; Guardian of Jhavanyah, Sacred Meadow for the Blessed"

11x17 in., 2003

Acrylic, Ink

In the title, "Jhavanyah, The Sacred Meadow" I speak of, is the place where we artists gather and nourish our strength, creativity, and ideas. Pessimistic attitudes and negativity do not exist in this place. Orchis is our magical guardian. She protects us from those who belittle us for being what we are. All of they, who are willing to view, listen to, and read our work, while running for cover when it's time to support us are most unwelcome here. Nor does Orchis take kindly to those who are not into art in the least, but instantly take interest in us if we start making a lot of money and our work becomes "popular." She loathes people who use our work for their own personal financial gain, without seeing that we benefit from it as well. But anyone who flat out steals from us will receive the stroke of death from her!

Aside from Orchis's magic, her hair tentacles are deadlier than any weapon that the unwelcome could possibly intrude with. Not only does her hair act upon precognition and extend as far as it wishes, but within its pores are razor sharp needles carrying the most venomous substance imaginable. If you are so much as nicked with one of these, your life is in absolute peril. One small drop of this poison, quickly makes its way to the center of a person's body. Then it dissolves them from the inside out, completely liquefying all flesh and bone, until the remains burst into flame, and the ashes dissipate into the air. Typically, one doesn't need to worry about this for Orchis's tentacles will rip you limb from limb and behead you, before you're able to worry about such things!

Back to Illustration

Tutorial

All images and text are by Marque Terrynamahr Strickland.