After a chat with Phil, I decided to rethink my major project and instead of developing my minor project any further will just start over with a fresh new one.
The idea is to come up with concepts and a final 3d model of a character based on english folklore. I researched myths and legends and narrowed down the character to the myth of Black Agnes (also known as Black Anna or Black Annis, personally I prefer Agnes):
"There will be but a few readers who have not heard of the infamous
Black Annis. For virtually every book that refers to Anu or Danu there
is a mention of Annis and about half of these refer to Gentle Annis or
Cailleach Bheur (or Bear e). Black Annis crops up not only in books on
folklore, mythology or witchcraft, but also historical tomes -
especially ones on Leicester.
The Tales
Annis has borne many names over the years - Black Anna, Black
Anny, Black Agnes as well as Cat Anna. Her dwelling was a cave (called
Black Anna's, or Black Annis's Bower) in the low-lying Dane Hills on the
outskirts of Leicester. Annis is supposed to have clawed the cave out
of the sandstone rock using naught but her long, and very sharp, nails.
At its mouth grew a pollarded oak in which Black Annis crouched in order
to pounce on unsuspecting children. These she carried off into her
cave, sucked them dry of blood and ate their flesh before draping the
flayed skins of her victims out to dry on the oak's branches. She wore a
skirt sewn from the skins of her human prey. As she also preyed on
animals, local shepherds blamed any lost sheep on her hunger. Many a
generation of Leicester's young, if either naughty or out after dark,
were told, 'watch out or Annis'll get you'.
By the late 19th century her cave was filling-up with earth. A
housing estate, built just after the first world war, now covers the
area. A 19th century eye-witness said the cave was 4-5 feet wide and 7-8
feet long and 'having a ledge of rock, for a seat, running along each
side'. A tunnel was said to connect Black Annis's Bower with Leicester
Castle and she had the free-run of its length (1).
An account of Annis was related by an evacuee to Ruth Tongue in
1941(2): Three children were sent out by their wicked step-mother to
collect fire-wood. As night descended they feared to see Black Annis who
only came out after dark for, it was said, 'daylight would turn her to
stone'. They heard a snuffling and, through a hole in their witch-stone,
saw Black Annis. Unable to escape her whilst carrying the faggots, they
dropped them and ran. Annis bloodied her legs on the bundles and,
mumbling and cursing to herself, went to her bower to rub her legs with
salve. Then she came back for the children and caught-up with them at
their cottage door. Their dad came out with an axe and hit Annis full in
the face. She began to run for her cave shouting 'Blood! Blood!' but
just then the Christmas bells began to peal and she fell down dead.(***)
The evacuee claimed Annis's howling could be heard as far as
five miles away and, when Annis ground her teeth the sound was so loud
that all the people had time to lock and bar their doors. The evacuee
also said, because the people didn't have window-glass in those days,
witch-herbs were tied above the apertures to stop Annis reaching inside
with her very long arms and grabbing their babies. This was why
Leicester cottages only had one small window. Annis was said to be very
tall with a blue face and long white teeth(2). Other descriptions say
Annis's teeth were yellow rather than white and that she only had one
eye. All agree her face was hideous and blue(3).
A Leicestershire poet, John Heyrick Jnr.,(18th century) wrote of her:
'Vast talons, foul with human flesh, there grew In place of hands, and features livid blue Glar'd in her visage; while the obscene waist Warm skins of human victims close embraced.'(1)(1A excerpt)"(Whitedragon.org.uk, 2017)*
* Whitedragon.org.uk. (2017). Black Annis - leicester legend or Widespread Myths. [online] Available at: https://www.whitedragon.org.uk/articles/blackann.htm [Accessed 25 Feb. 2017].
I did some quick thumbnails, exploring possible shapes for the character and after a recent trip to the Tate Britain in London, I got particularly inspired, specifically by Salvator Rosa and his "Witches at their Incantations"
The overall design and the composition of the painting was so perfect. My next step was to thumbnail some quick shapes and after that exploring my favourite ones further.
