This design was made as a tribute to the Greek Goddess Aphrodite.
In the Greek Mythos, the Goddess emerged from the sea after a piece of Uranus fell into the seas (Gaia), the piece that held all his love for Mother Earth. From the frothing mass, Aphrodite was born.
It’s said that as she walked from the sea, the water didn’t wish to relinquish her, thus forming a gown to her skin, unwilling to part with her. And where her feet hit the sand, the Earth (Gaia) rejoiced and sprung forward plants and life.
The Goddess is said to be that of love, lust, and beauty, toying with mortal emotions at her whims. But she is also said to be loving and kind to those who ask for her help.
Though the Mythos is old and outdated, the core message of her still stands. Throughout history she was depicted as a rather curvy woman, full of life and folds. This comes from a historical context.
In those times, people with more… curves, were seen as desirable and rich, because it meant they had enough food so as to not go hungry. Though what the Goddess looked like varies from culture to culture.
For this design I wanted to depict her birth, when she first emerged from the sea and how it clung to her in desperation to be closer to the Goddess.
Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.
Though society has phases of what is seen as “desirable”, beauty has always been variable. There was a story I once read about how Aphrodite took different shapes based on who viewed her because beauty was never stoic.
Never be ashamed of who you are and how you look.