The Dobhar Chú is a vicious “water dog” from Ireland. It is said to resemble a dog or otter, but bigger than either. It lunges out of the water to snatch victims, then mauls them. (Similar to the Ahuitzotl! Don’t you love it when cultures on opposite sides of the world come up with the same stories?) Unlike the Ahuitzotl, however, the Dobhar Chú has flippers instead monkey hands, and it has fur with protective properties. I’ve painted him with little claws at the end of his flippers. While I was working on this, I kept thinking he looked like the Groundskeeper Willie of mythical beasts.
Advertisement

November 12, 2011 at 11:49 am
This is a really nice image for Alphabeasts, I did the Dobhar-Chu too for my entry. Have noticed you like painting mythological creatures. This picture would be nice for a children’s book, it reminds me a bit of some of Ralph Steadman’s work in that field.
November 15, 2011 at 2:28 am
Thank you! I like Ralph Steadman!
January 16, 2012 at 11:47 pm
[...] Chile that causes dangerous whirlpools. It has a claw on its tail, which it uses to…wait, doesn’t this sound [...]