Nyx, Goddess of the Night

Nyx, Goddess of Night, is a soft pastel painting that I created today in my studio and submitted for Illustration Friday’s theme, Hollow:

“If night leaves anything undone in the working of destruction, day follows to accomplish it.” (Sophocles, Oedipus the King 196)

Night can leaving you feeling hollow in your soul, but you can transform it.  Listen to the muse.  Let her speak through your creations.

Nyx is a powerful goddess of the night whose dark light falls from the stars, and who influences not only the world of mankind but also the gods.  She inspires artists to create and the muses have been known to sing her praises.

Nyx is my fifth goddess soft pastel painting in my most recent series.  She is born out of Chaos and her offspring include Aether (atmosphere), Hemera (day), Momus (blame), Ponos (toil), Moros (fate), the twins Thanatos (death) and Hypnos (sleep), the Oneiroi (tribe of dreams), the Hesperides, the Keres and Fates, Nemesis, Apate (deception), Philotes (friendship), Geras (age), and strife. An interesting list indeed.

Here I have painted her as a young maiden, full of hope as she ponders worlds unknown.

Thanks go out to the model, Jessika Napua Akana, who posed for this painting, Georgette Khaziran, the hair and make-up artist, and my husband, Brian, who shot the reference photograph.