Shiny new designs!

[merimask]

Oh...I'm in love with my newest mask design.  Ouroboros.

This is the first one I did.  I wanted it to be snakelike only in color, so I initially chose to pattern it like a diamondback rattlesnake.  The design, though, is a bit less snake-like and a tad more dragon-like.  Also I added the fins to give the whole design a triskele shape (traditional Celtic symbol).  I was happy...but I had to keep playing...

...so I did this one, with the pattern of a Southern Copperhead (which is funny since rumdiculous was just saying how pretty those snakes are!).  I just loved the pale neutral browns against that black mask, but I wanted to keep playing so I did this...

...which I just finished today.  It's a false water viper...I have NO idea where they're from but they sure do have pretty patterns.  The monochromatic blue-grays really grabbed me.  This was a whim but now I really like it...it's growing on me.

The Ouroboros is an ancient symbol depicting a serpent or dragon swallowing its own tail and forming a circle. It has been used to represent many things over the ages, but it most generally symbolizes ideas of cyclicality and primordial unity.   I have more related ideas...one which has the serpent coiled into the symbol for "infinity" (which isn't technically an Ouroboros anymore but it'd still be pretty neat)...but that one's still in the works. 

Okay...back to work!

Comments

[zipis1.livejournal.com]

Those are GORGEOUS!! They most certainly appeal to my obsession with snakes (dragons, snakes, lizards...I'm obsessed with reptiles in general, I suppose. ...better make that anything with scales. I love fish, too XD). My favorite's the silver one. I really really wanna touch it. ;P

Your talent is simply amazing, m'dear. *bows*

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Thank you. :-) I'm having waay too much fun with this design. There are so many beautiful snakes I want to just keep going with the different color schemes and patterns.

I like snakes too (not many of us girls do, so we're weird you and I!). When I was a kid I used to catch garter snakes up by the train tracks not too far from my house. I'd keep 'em in an old fish tank in my back yard for a week or two, until I got tired of catching earth worms for them, and then I'd let them go. Later when I got older (13) I got a job at a local pet shop. I was the only one there who was willing to handle the snakes...even the owner used to call me when she wanted to take one out to sell to a customer! I liked being the "snake girl".

S'funny though. Now that I'm older I'm actually a little crawly when it comes to snakes. I still think they're beautiful, though.

[zipis1.livejournal.com]

When I was little, I used to bring rattlers home to my mom. She was HORRIFIED. I'd never seen her make a face like that And I kept bringing her more and more because I thought she just didn't like the first snake, but surely she'd have to like one of the others. I was one of those kids who's parents expected many emergency room bills from, and/or to be eaten by an animal (I practically pet mountain lions :3).

I don't understand why people are so afraid of snakes. They're just not scary. Course, I'm sure there are people who'd find my terrible fear of spiders weird, but, well...snakes don't have all those creepy legs. ...or move so creepily. Or all those creepy eyes and their creepy bodies *shudder* Spiders are just plain creepy. Snakes are better. Yes tes they are. :P

Kinda off topic but I thought it comment worthy: I've had your website on my favorites for ages and never realized it was you until today. I was just looking at one of the masks, when I looked at the name of the site again and went, "...ZOMG it's Meri!!". I felt special :P

[merimask.livejournal.com]

Hee! That's so cute! :-) I did the same thing with Moonphased, sort of. I knew who she was but STILL I get a huge kick that "Kuro" is my LJ buddy. :-) She's so damn neat.