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How Awesome Will It be?

5/22/2016

For as long as I've been doing witness sketches, I have wanted to illustrate their encounter! There is just nothing like a good visual to support the telling of a story.But I have always been constrained by lack of time and a full time job.

I can't tell you how excited I am about the possibility of doing this in the future! For instance... Look at this illustration....

This illustration titled, "Catching a Snack", was created for Dr. Russ Jones's just published book, "Tracking The Stone Man, West Virginia's Bigfoot".

Working on the illustrations for his book was such a joy! It reignited my dream to create scenes such as this for my witnesses. Can you imagine how great it would be to see what the Sasquatch was doing?

The inspiration for this illustration comes from actual stories of Sasquatches helping themselves to fruit trees. It's even happened here in Crittenden. There is a peach tree just behind the house that was so laden with peaches, that the bottom branches were resting on the ground. I checked the peaches frequently because I love fresh peaches, and I couldn't wait to make myself a cobbler, or to pour them over ice cream.
      I left for the weekend to spend time in Tennessee with Ronie Powell, and when I arrived home on Sunday, I instantly noted something was different. (You get really good at this after living on a habituation site).
I immediately walked to the tree and found all the bottom branches were off the ground. There was still grass stuck to them. And there was not a single peach left on the tree. Even at the top.
   Those buggers took every one.

I did find some pits at the base of the tree and I saved them just in case we ever have the funds to have them DNA tested.

Come to think of it.... I've got a lot of weird stuff in my freezer....

I'll tell you about some of it next time!

12 Comments

Why Sketching Encounters is So Important!

5/16/2016

7 Comments

A letter from a Witness....

I had the honor and privilege to meet with a couple of recent witnesses the weekend at the Ohio Bigfoot Conference. I have done their sketches this year... It is such an amazing emotional experience to meet them face-to-face. There is such a bond created between us because of what they have shared, and what we have created together. I presented one of them with this 16 X 20 image.

I asked D.G. several questions by email after his sketches were completed and what he wrote back to me, is so beautiful, and amazing. It totally validates the new road I am undertaking. I asked his permission to share his letter of how his encounter has changed him, and what having a witness sketch created for him, has meant to him:

HOW SEEING IT CHANGED ME?

"Many ways! I say it changed my life. I didn't believe in them before and gave Sasquatch no thought. During the encounter, I was not terrified like most people think you would be. It happened quickly, it was suddenly there, I froze and observed. Now, if it would have lasted longer than 15 seconds or so, or if it made a noise, made a move towards me - It would have been different. Since it made no aggressive moves towards me personally, I was more curious at what I was seeing. I don't know how to say this right, so I’ll just say it. This creature was beautiful and wasn't a scary monster at all to me. That is until it moved backwards. That's when I snapped out of being froze and reacted. I jumped on my atv and pretty much panicked. It was moving backwards but the whole time I was flying up the trail I kept thinking it was running beside me or behind me. In afterthought, I see this creature as a curious being, probably not aggressive unless WE cause it to be. I believe they sense us and our intentions, because this one seemed to be tuned into the fact that I was not a threat and meant it no harm. That we just happened to be occupying the same piece of land, but I was moving on in a bit. I truly feel that due to its look and actions. Since I began researching, I understand that not all encounters are like this, according to others. But I don't think they mean us harm at all. I wouldn't have made it very far if this one meant harm. I was alone at the time. I did have a pistol in my fender bag (and a camera) but I truly never thought about either one. I was too entranced in looking at this. If I would have moved or reached for my bag, I don't know what its reaction would be. I don't want to consider that. So - since I had no history or knowledge of them, I began my experience on a positive note. Had I read half of what I hear these days, I may have panicked as soon as I saw this creature. But it was all NEW to me, and again - this creature was absolutely magnificent. It was simply - Beautiful to look at.

CHANGES: I actually became a bit more spiritual in regards to nature. I always loved the outdoors, but I have so much more respect for it. I was an avid deer hunter, but as of that year I never rifle hunted again. Not that I’m scared to be out there. I actually camp, ride atv’s and research, including at night. But now that I know they exist, I never want to pull up my scope and see one at the end of my rifle. I don't want to kill what these might be eating. Killing animals? I don't do anymore, even for food. I don't care if others do, I believe in hunting. I just choose not to anymore.

ALSO – I’ve jumped right into the research of what I saw, where do they come from, what are they? All the questions we all have. I can NOT stop thinking about this. It’s on my mind 100% of the time. If it’s not them, it’s a conference or a book I’m reading, or I’m out in the woods walking and looking for them or their signs. I actually have been involved with a habituation experience 25 miles west of where this happened, since then. It has just reconfirmed that they exist, and they DO leave signs for us to find.
Another change is I am now an active reader of books again. I hadn’t read a book for a long time. I didn't have the patience to get through it. Now I collect Bigfoot books, mostly science and fact based, many old school. I have about 40 books now and I WILL read every one. I began to collect them, signed. It’s become a hobby but I do read them.

So I went from a non-believer one second, to a full blown knower and researcher and enthusiast the next. ALSO: I now question what else is out there. I never gave that a thought, or not much of one. Visual is what I believed in, except God. I don't need to see God to believe, but everything else - I needed to see it. I needed to at least see undeniable proof that something exists. But now, I am believing in ufo’s-or at least thinking about the possibility. I now question other things like dogman. I would have laughed at that 6 years ago.

I now listen to everybody's stories of encounters with an open mind. I do not walk away like I would have before. These do exist! That's a wonderful knowledge, but now a new responsibility. I have been asked to be on Monster X, and I accepted. It was awesome being able to let it all out, in detail, and to be accepted and not laughed at. Doug Waller asked if he could put my encounter in his second book. I said yes and it’s now in there. So he asked me to speak about it twice, at a Cabelas’s conference and at a library event. I would have never thought I could do that, especially about Sasquatch. But once you see one, you cannot give it back. It’s yours, you own it and it becomes a responsibility to tell people about them. That's a major difference in my attitude about these creatures.

So - this encounter changed me in many ways. I have always been a decent person, I think. But now, I’m more patient with people and with life. It has caused me to think about many things this way and I now take this very seriously. I care more about the world I live in and no longer just want to be satisfied that everything will take care of itself. We need to help by not leaving as big a print on the planet. Those are the biggest changes in my life. It’s not part time for me. I wish I hit the lottery and didn't have to work 40 hours a week. I would live out there amongst them trying to learn more.

WHAT HAVING THESE IMAGES MEANS TO ME?
Wow - it means the world to me. I have been trying to get folks who I meet in groups and claim they are artists, to work with me on this. Several have. I wanted a scene that is similar to the one I was in, and I wanted the Sasquatch done correctly. Not just an image of a Sasquatch - but an image of the one I saw. Nobody could get the Sasquatch correct, and when they became frustrated, I dropped the thought. I wanted this to hang on my wall in my home office. When I look at it, it will take me back to the day that changed my life. When I’m down or thinking negatively, look at it- it will certainly bring positive memories and good feelings to me. I know that. Plus when I look at it, It will remind me of the experience of having it done. Working with you has been a blessing. You are a true professional and have much patience. You asked the right questions. With the history of not being able to get a good replica of this, I was doubtful when Marc told me about this. I even told him, I hope she can pull it out of me, because nobody else has been able to do that. It was actually easy working with you. You are doing the work you were meant to be doing. That's obvious to me.

Another reason this means the world to me, Is I can show friends or folks who are curious about my encounter. The scene and the Sasquatch are the story, not me. The fact that it did this, when they are supposed to be so secretive and shy of humans, causes me to question why? I feel a need to answer that. Why me? Why there? Why then? And how can I reproduce that to have it happen again? I don't think it will, as I understand how rare an opportunity I had, but I still think about it and wonder why constantly. It is what drives me to research, read and attend conferences. The answer is out there somewhere. Small pieces are being answered but the reason why? May never be answered!"

Thank you D.G. for working with me, and for your friendship.... Thank you for your kind words, and for allowing me to share your letter.

I thank all of you that have subscribed! Thank you for believing in my work!

A Huge Hug to you all!
Sybilla

7 Comments

How Awesome Will It be?

Why Sketching Encounters is So Important!

A letter from a Witness....

Sybilla Irwin

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