Dryads and Tree Sprites
By Andrew Johnson
7 July 2008
Trees are special. There is something almost magical about listening to the wind blow through their leaves. It can sound almost like the trees are speaking.
It is little wonder that cultures all over to the world associated spirits with trees. The Japanese had the kodama while the Greeks had the whole hierarchy of different nymphs for different trees: Dryads for oaks, meliads for ashes, epimeliads for apples and so on.
These spirits were always female and known for their beauty. They probably influenced the later idea of fairies and have been a subject for artists since ancient times.
Taking my inspiration from them, I've tried to capture the sylvan nature of the dryad.
