Your Favorite Modern Deity Renditions?

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[NibbleKat]

Obligatory mention of Ravenari's "As Totem" versions of:

Set.
Bast-Mut.
Wepwawet.

I especially like Bast-Mut and Wepwawet. (I would like the Wepwawet one, I can *has* the Wepwawet one )

I wouldn't use most of it in shrine though. I identify with traditional, or fairly serious imagery for that.

I love Ravenari's work!

[NibbleKat]

Oh, Pee Ess, to toot my own horn here, I recently did a rendition of Ausir for Nehet... I hope it's okay to post it.

http://nibblekat.deviantart.com/art/Ausir-202687263

[Firaza]

One of my favorite modern depictions of hte gods is:

http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=&section=&q=osiris+family+portrait#/d184tiy

That is beautiful! Thank you for sharing. I'd love to use that for my shrine as well.

[Firaza]

Oh, Pee Ess, to toot my own horn here, I recently did a rendition of Ausir for Nehet... I hope it's okay to post it.

http://nibblekat.deviantart.com/art/Ausir-202687263

NibbleKat, I love your renditions of the Gods. I find that your art captures the regal feeling I mentioned.

[Devo]

I think what this thread is helping me to see is that, for ME, at least, there are definitely modern interpretations of deities that I like.  There are even ones that are not per the norm, such as sphinxmuses' that I like.  Then there are ones that I think are inappropriate.

However, I think that there can be a separation of appropriate images and when and where they are appropriate.  While I wouldn't use an image such as the first one here that you posted on my altar, the chibi form one, I think that it can be amusing. I think that if the deity has a sense of humor, too, it's more appropriate than for a deity that is always serious and demands reverence.

For me, altars are for serious images, even for deities that are much less serious than others.  Outside of that, there are many images that I think some of the deities might find amusing, too... but not every deity. I can't speak for them, however, so it's just total speculation, and I could be way off.

I really think it will depend on your relationship with the god in question. For me, Set is serious, but he's also a jokester. So I think I could get away with something like that on my altar for him. If I was to have something like that of a different deity, I might have a different response- because their demeanour is different.

For me personally, the altar/shrine space is important, but I'm constantly switching things out, rearranging items, because I like to mix it up. Same could be said of the images I like to use. Course, for me, I could have a regal image on my altar, close my eyes to commune with the god, and get a totally different image all together. I guess it's due to my somewhat laid back nature that the various images don't bother me. THat, and the fact that I do art for a living.

-Devo

[NibbleKat]

NibbleKat, I love your renditions of the Gods. I find that your art captures the regal feeling I mentioned.

Thank you. I appreciate it.  Honestly, what I want to do with most of my art is to capture the feel of Catholic icons and transfer it to Pagan art.  It just feels right to me.  Catholic icons were meant to take the deity out of the real world, even Jesus, who was in our world, and create this transcendental version of them; always peaceful, serene, regal... So I am glad that it comes across to you in that manner.

[Nehet]

Now, to add to what I consider modern and appropriate, here's one by T-K Labus that she did for me when I thought I was going to worship Hathor... before I even KNEW there was a Kemetic path. 

http://agaric.deviantart.com/art/Kat-s-Hathor-89107231

Very nice.  That's a good example of the kind of modernization I like.

[NibbleKat]

I really think it will depend on your relationship with the god in question. For me, Set is serious, but he's also a jokester. So I think I could get away with something like that on my altar for him. If I was to have something like that of a different deity, I might have a different response- because their demeanour is different.

For me personally, the altar/shrine space is important, but I'm constantly switching things out, rearranging items, because I like to mix it up. Same could be said of the images I like to use. Course, for me, I could have a regal image on my altar, close my eyes to commune with the god, and get a totally different image all together. I guess it's due to my somewhat laid back nature that the various images don't bother me. THat, and the fact that I do art for a living.

-Devo

I think that, of the three deities I work with, Hermes is (as mentioned before), the one I could most do art of in a very humorous manner. Only, these days, I can't get the 'perfect' image of him down, so I don't try anymore. Nothing I do is good enough for me, and probably never will be.  If I did a picture of him for someone else, it would be okay, but not my personal use... When I DID draw him, I put him in modern clothes, in modern situations, and (to me, anyway), humorous situations.

But he's different, since with him, he's a trickster and even in the Greek stories was put in humorous, even dirty situations.  So, with him, yes. I could definitely see a non-regal picture of him and be perfectly  happy with it. For my altar? It would depend. Not a chibi one, by any means.  One of him in jeans? Yeah.

But like was mentioned above, he's also not one of the Egyptian pantheon, so, no offense to him, but not as 'regal.'

I need to go look at your art, Devo.

[NibbleKat]

I really think it will depend on your relationship with the god in question. For me, Set is serious, but he's also a jokester. So I think I could get away with something like that on my altar for him. If I was to have something like that of a different deity, I might have a different response- because their demeanour is different.

For me personally, the altar/shrine space is important, but I'm constantly switching things out, rearranging items, because I like to mix it up. Same could be said of the images I like to use. Course, for me, I could have a regal image on my altar, close my eyes to commune with the god, and get a totally different image all together. I guess it's due to my somewhat laid back nature that the various images don't bother me. THat, and the fact that I do art for a living.

-Devo

Here's one of yours that I really like.

http://von186.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=48#/d269r1d

Now, I don't have a deity relationship with Anpu, so I don't get any personality feel off of him, but just by looking at the image, I at least -like- it, and don't feel that it's irreverent.

[Helmsman_of_Inepu]

While I wouldn't use an image such as the first one here that you posted on my altar, the chibi form one, I think that it can be amusing. I think that if the deity has a sense of humor, too, it's more appropriate than for a deity that is always serious and demands reverence.

I wonder what a chibi form of Bes would look like? A pancake with big eyes? 

[Devo]

Here's one of yours that I really like.

http://von186.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=48#/d269r1d

Now, I don't have a deity relationship with Anpu, so I don't get any personality feel off of him, but just by looking at the image, I at least -like- it, and don't feel that it's irreverent.

I have various styles I use. Some are more serious (for example- my icon is a serious portrait of Set) and some aren't. The gods appear to me in many ways, and usually the art I create is a reflection or recreation of a mental image I've gotten from them. So in some ways, it's art that was inspired by them, or given to me by them (does that make sense?).

When you get down to brass tacks, I think it really does depend on the god in question, and their relationship with you, as to whether it's okaty or not to have modern/silly/different representations of them. I personally like to see the variety. It's cool to see how others see my gods... even if it doesn't always agree with me.

-Devo

[Nefersedt]

What interpretations do you like? Or do you prefer the ancient iconography? Share!

I do really prefer the ancient iconography actually. Something is captured in it which modern artwork lacks. I'm not sure how to describe it beyond that. I guess its the feeling it evokes for me. If I were to get woowoo about it, I'd say that ancient iconography, including *some* modern renditions done in that style, taps into the body of god. How and why I'm not sure, perhaps it is related to the opening of the god's image (in the form of statues, reliefs, etc) in ancient times, with some of that being carried through to artwork which mimics it. As I said, a bit woowoo, but there you go.

[Nehet]

Catholic icons were meant to take the deity out of the real world, even Jesus, who was in our world, and create this transcendental version of them; always peaceful, serene, regal... So I am glad that it comes across to you in that manner.

You know what?  I didn't think of your artwork that way but now that you say it...yes, it does remind me of some Christian icons.  It isn't so much the way your art looks as the way it evokes that otherworldly serenity.  I've always liked your style    It will be nice to have an image of Ausir for an informal shrine.  Right now my only image of him has to be kept covered. 

[Nehet]

I do really prefer the ancient iconography actually. Something is captured in it which modern artwork lacks. I'm not sure how to describe it beyond that. I guess its the feeling it evokes for me. If I were to get woowoo about it, I'd say that ancient iconography, including *some* modern renditions done in that style, taps into the body of god. How and why I'm not sure, perhaps it is related to the opening of the god's image (in the form of statues, reliefs, etc) in ancient times, with some of that being carried through to artwork which mimics it. As I said, a bit woowoo, but there you go.

Not woowoo at all.  This is similar to how I feel about the ancient art.  

For a formal shrine, I would insist on an ancient Kemetic style representation.  Especially if open statues are involved.  That type of image serves a different purpose than simply artistic expression, so I'd want to keep it very traditional.

[NibbleKat]

You know what?  I didn't think of your artwork that way but now that you say it...yes, it does remind me of some Christian icons.  It isn't so much the way your art looks as the way it evokes that otherworldly serenity.  I've always liked your style    It will be nice to have an image of Ausir for an informal shrine.  Right now my only image of him has to be kept covered. 

Haha, yeah, I deliberately try to capture at least SOMETHING of that feel. Some are more deliberate, like Proserpine with her half-pomegranate halo in the underworld. 

And as for the other bit of your message... *HUG*

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