In February 2018 I undertook an art challenge called Month of Love, to illustrate a love-themed image each week in February, each with an additional color theme. I added a theme of folklore for myself as well, and the progression of colors (Black, Blue, Red, Yellow, White) inspired me to include the progressive phases of the moon in the images.
Completing the set with the white full moon is the story of Tam Lin, a human man living in the thrall of the faerie queen. He trysts with Janet of Carterhaugh, a woman from the human world, and she becomes pregnant. Determined not to be a single mother, Janet seeks out Tam Lin again and finds out that the faerie queen means to sacrifice him at All Hallows Eve to pay the faerie’s tithe to Hell. Janet waits at the appointed crossroads on Halloween night and pulls Tam Lin down from his horse, holding tightly onto him even as the faeries change him into a series of horrible monsters, and wins him away from the Faerie Queen.
Ink and watercolor, digitally composited.
