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Desiree J. Isphording

"Grandmother Spiderwoman" by Desiree J. Isphording

SciFi/Fantasy Picture 15 out of 35 by Desiree J. Isphording.      ←Previous - Next→
 
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SciFi and Fantasy Art Grandmother Spiderwoman by Desiree J. Isphording
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This illustration was commissioned for an article by a certain Raven Hunter for issue no. 64 of Sage Woman magazine. It was directly inspired by certain imagery Raven used in her article. I was really intrigued by her vision of Grandmother Spider weaving together the universe with Her silken strands.     I typically associate the archetype of Grandmother Spider or Spider Woman with Native American traditions. She appears in the myths of the Navajo, Pawnee, Zuni, Hopi, and Keresan tribes. However, I decided to represent Grandmother Spider in a broader sense, much like Starhawk chose to in Dreaming the Dark:
So I speak of the Goddess as weaver, as spider, and I begin to pay attention to the spiders who build their webs in my corners. I experience the web as a rhythm of strands and spaces. I see that there are points of connection and openings, and that this interplay of stuff and space gives the whole web a tension that is taut, yet elastic; that springs. I meditate on the web and it is the feel of that tautness I take in, that I savor until I know it, can call it forth at will. I search in my own life for those points of connection, for those spaces - in words, in relationships - and knowing the feel of the web gives me the power to be able to feel for that same tautness in the knots and the spaces of my life.     And because the spider, the web, are real and contain all the richness of reality, they may give me other powers on other days. As I see the spider draw threads from her own body, I can learn to draw cords of energy from my body, to weave these into new forms; to draw words from my head, my hands - to weave on this page.
Visually, I drew inspiration from many traditions, but did not make my representation intentionally culture-specific. The number eight, and images of the web and spiders are obviously recurring themes.     I really have to thank SageWoman for sending a copy of this image back to me since Kinko's managed to lose my original....



DateNameComment 
10 Sep 200445 Rebecca-Lee S. Hickman
Ihate spiders, but this is so great. the web with the galaxy in it is so pretty. and the figure itself is so well done. nice... I like 003 and 001. Can't believe you got that kind of detail with a 005. Great job.
5 Feb 2005:-) Dean C. Russell
*scratches chin* Very interesting. Great idea! I love! I can barley draw regular people much less old people. Very well done! I love her web! Her gown is great...as a matter of fact: Its all great! Keep it up! You are fabulous!
13 Jun 200545 Anonymous
The eyes are so dark and loving, though a mysterious mischief looms withen them. To say good job would be an insult as the pixilation of her skin is perfect from my veiw.

-almost a master, always a dreamer...
11 Jul 200545 Khory
This peice is well done. Especially making her older. Older people are harder to draw because of their skin, but you did very well on this one. Well, she is afterall Grandmother Spiderwoman (as opposed to Nubile Prepubescent Virgin Spiderwoman).
23 Aug 200545 Christine the Rabbit
Her breasts are sagging, her forehead is involuntarily furrowed, and is she aware that she has cobwebs in her hair?
Brilliant piece, I adore this one (almost) the most- maybe because I'm Chinese and she reminds me of tales my old-fashioned mom would tell me at bedtime.
This is personally not my favorite in the whole gallery because, lo and behold, I too am captivated by deer! Her breasts are sagging, her forehead is involuntarily furrowed, and is she aware that she has cobwebs in her hair? Yes, yes, and yes. She's a crone Goddess after all! ;-)
11 Mar 200645 My name
Her hands are wickedly drawn. I love how she looks like she's spinning a web. Brilliant!
21 May 200645 Anonymous
I <3 it, could you make a younger version of her?
23 Oct 200645 Lilangel
ok...ok,i have to admit! this is so much better than what i can draw. You have a true talent! i really hope you excell in this,even better than what you have here. You are so awsome!
28 Feb 2009:-) Petra Grassingerová
Great picture...
I love her appearance, she reminds me somebody. And I´m glad that you drew old person in this way, she is beautiful 2
12 Dec 2009:-) Dana S Orbek
very very nice work..do you take requests? and by the way I love her webbing...
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'Grandmother Spiderwoman':
 • Created by: :-) Desiree J. Isphording
 • Copyright: ©Desiree J. Isphording. All rights reserved!

 • Keywords: Eight, Grandmother, Myth, Spider, Spiderwoman, Web, Woman
 • Categories: Angels, Religious, Spiritual, Holy, Magic and Sorcery, Spells, etc., Woman, Women
 • Techniques: Mechanical/Technical Pencils
 • Submitted: 2004-04-27 03:10:32
 • Views: 2599
 • Resolution: 414x616

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