Selkie Shorts
Description: Celtic HammerClub <[email protected]> 11:35 AM (8 minutes ago) to me Celtic and Nordic lore is rife with stories of mysterious, shapeshifting creatures of the sea. The Selkies are mythological creatures that can change between human and seal form by donning or removing their seal skin. The legends of the selkies and their counterparts known by other names are by no surprise most prevalent amongst the seafaring cultures of the British, Faroe and Icelandic islands. Be wary though. The selkies can be friend or foe!
Description: The legend of the Selkie, or Seal Woman, occurs primarily within Northern European folklore, and is most commonly associated with the Scottish tales of seals who shape-shift into women through the shedding of their sealskin. I have long been fascinated by this particular mythological creature, in part because of my love of seals. It was an interesting challenge though, to come up with a way to depict the selkie without it being gruesome and still clearly showing both forms. In the end, I’m pretty pleased with the way it turned out, and with how well the ocean space colors compliment it.
Description: This symbol comes from the Picts, a group of people who inhabited areas of what is now Scotland. They are known for their stone carvings, although the meaning behind most of their symbols has now been lost. This symbol is commonly called the "Pictish beast" and is thought to perhaps represent a variety of animals-- both mythological and real-- and perhaps have been of great importance. I have recreated it here in my own style.
