Part 1 of 6

Amaterasu was the Japanese Shinto Goddess of the sun and ruler of the Plain of Heaven, whose name means 'shining heaven' or 'she who shines in the heavens'. She is the eldest daughter of Izanagi. She was so bright and radiant that her parents sent her up the Celestial Ladder to heaven, where she has ruled ever since. The Japanese Imperial family claim to decend from her.

When her brother, the storm-god Susanowa, ravaged the earth she retreated to a cave because he was so noisy. She closed the cave with a large boulder. Her disappearance deprived the world of light and life. Demons ruled the earth. The other gods used everything in their power to lure her out, but to no avail. Finally it was Uzume who succeeded, performing comical and obscene dances, to the uproarious laughter of the other gods. Aroused by curiosity, Amaterasu peeked from her cave, a streak of light escaping, which we now call dawn. The goddess then saw her own brilliant reflection in a mirror which Uzume had hung in a nearby tree. When she drew closer for a better look, the gods grabbed her and pulled her out of the cave. She returned to the sky, and brought light back into the world.

This is the first of a six piece portfolio for Independent Study in Digital Drawing, with piece examining a uniquely feminine trait as represented by a goddess. Amaterasu represents vanity.

Adobe Photoshop 7.0, Illustrator 10.0.3 and my Precioussssss
Image © ME!!! 2006
Textures from [link]