Yemaya

Yemaya is the Yoruban creation goddess, her name is short for Yey Omo Eja, which means ?Mother Whose Children are the Fish?. As legend says, Yemaya?s uterine waters broke caused a great flood, which created the oceans. From womb spilled forth the fourteen Yoruba goddesses and gods. It is also from her body which came the first human woman and man. She is said to be the source of all living waters, which are the surface waters where life is concentrated. Yemaya makes appearances in Haitian Vodou and Brazillian Candombl? because she was brought over to the new world by Yoruban slaves.

I really enjoy filling my images with symbolism and this piece is no exception. The seven flowers in her hair represent each of the seven seas, they are also one of the offerings cast into the sea to ask for her blessing. Her colours are blue, silver and whites and I incorporated them wherever I could. Cowrie shells and pearls are sacred to her, shown in the necklace and headscarf - as are peacocks, represented in her feather earring. In many cultures she is the ocean goddess but also the lunar goddess tieing in the ocean and crescent moon.

This is one of my first serious colour pencil pieces. I know that it has flaws but I am still very proud of how it turned out. I have a feeling I shall revisit Yemaya in the future though.