Kitsune

Alright, this is just another attempt to draw more regularly.

One reason I don't draw more often is that I'm sometimes not sure what to draw. I'm not skilled enough to draw from scratch, so I usually need a model. However, I don't want to simply reproduce something that already exists.

Having said that, I recently started reading The Ultimate Guide to Japanese Yokai by Zack Davisson, and I thought that yokai would be a good theme to start drawing regularly.

So, here is my first attempt: Kitsune.

In Japanese mythology, kitsune (foxes) are magical beings with the ability to shapeshift. They are often depicted as beautiful young women, but they betray their true form when they lose focus, revealing their tails or ears. Yes, "tails" plural, Japanese foxes sometimes have more than one tail.

For some reason, I often prefer my pencil sketches to my finished drawings, probably because imperfections are less noticeable. So, here is the original sketch, too:

Oh, and of course, I drew it from a model. I'm a little embarrassed to show it to you, as the original is so stunning and my drawing doesn't do it justice, but here it is:

Heron Maiden | Kokyo Taniguchi | Shin Hanga | Japanese Woodblock Print — COLLECTING JAPANESE PRINTS

This early impression is in a fine state of preservation with no conditions problems to note. The impression is razor-sharp with fine embossing throughout the woman’s kimono with a strong wood grain pattern visible in the background. This impression is an excellent printing of this fine design.

COLLECTING JAPANESE PRINTS

It's a woodblock print from the early 20th century called Heron Maiden by Kyoko Taniguchi.

Alright, hopefully, I'll stick with this and expect more drawing of yokai in the weeks and months to come.