The Ladies of the Months:
Lady of January
The Ladies of the Months embody time and beauty through twelve goddesses, each dedicated to a month of the year. Each Lady channels the motif of the birthstone and birth flowers along with the artist's unique take on folkloric fantasy inspired by real-world holidays.
View the complete series of Ladies here.
Lady of January, 10×20 inches, watercolors and ink on illustration board with sterling silver leaf accents.
The Lady of January draws upon the themes of Persephone, queen of the underworld in greco-roman mythology. Persephone was cursed to remain in the underworld for part of the year after eating the seeds of the pomegranate. Coincidentally, the raw gems of the Garnet birthstone look very much like pomegranate clusters.
This Lady begins the cycle of the year in darkness, waiting patiently and with surety that the Spring will come. Her purview is the plants, like the Snowdrop flower, that spring up from the snow against all odds. She brings hope and strength to those who are lost and downtrodden.
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See the rest of the Ladies of the Months series here.
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This pen and color pencil drawing of Lady of January was created during Inktober.
Find the original in my shop.
Work-in-Progress Gallery
For more in-depth notes on my creative process, check out my Secret Sketchbook on Patreon! A pledge as low as $1 grants you access to my Secret Sketchbook, Inner Circle, digital wallpapers, & more.
January's Mask
January's matching masquerade mask channels the the Garnet birthstone with its red base and the birth flowers of the Snowdrop and Carnation with its decorative accents. It is limited to an edition of only 10, with each mask being hand-signed and available in my Artisan shop.
January's Mask, carved from vegetable-tanned leather and painted with acrylics. Photographed by Winterwolf Studios.
