Drawing Zodiac Signs As Humans

These illustrations envision what every zodiac sign would look like as a goddess

virgo zodiac sign goddess art drawing illustration — Virgo as a goddess.

Emilee Petersmark has delighted astrology enthusiasts everywhere with a stunning series that reimagines every zodiac sign as a goddess. Originally created as tour posters for the Michigan-based band, The Accidentals, her illustrations went viral in June after they were featured on BuzzFeed.

Petersmark, a full-time member of another touring band from Michigan called The Crane Wives, told INSIDER that she was only "vaguely familiar" with astrology before starting this series. But as she did more research for the project over the past year, she discovered a new appreciation for the mythology behind each zodiac sign.

"I love how connected some people feel to their signs, and by extension, to artistic interpretations of their signs," the musician said. "I really wanted to make something that felt special for those people [...] and explored power and femininity in different ways."

Take a closer look at Petersmark's work below and learn more about the inspiration behind each illustration.

Aries (March 21 – April 19)

People born under this sign are known to be optimistic, determined, and honest.

Speaking to INSIDER, Petersmark said she has been drawing since she was able to hold a pencil. But this series was her first long-term project and she used the opportunity to grow as a professional artist.

For her interpretation of Aries, the musician said she wanted to portray a "mature" attitude and "wild" feel.

Find out more about Aries here.

Taurus (April 20 – May 20)

Taurus signs are known to be reliable, devoted, and responsible.

Petersmark told INSIDER that her poster for Taurus was "super inspired" by activist Emma González, a survivor of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

"I wanted Taurus to have a prominent sense of strength in the face of something ominous," the artist said.

Find out more about Taurus here.

Gemini (May 21 – June 20)

Geminis are known to be adaptable, intellectual, and affectionate.

"I wanted the twins to seem subtly powerful, almost regal with their rustic crowns," the artist said about her poster for Gemini, which is commonly represented by a pair of twins in mythology.

Petersmark added: "It was important to me that none of the women in this series was overtly sexualized, but I wanted to keep some vulnerability and naturalness to this sign."

Find out more about Gemini here.

Cancer (June 21 – July 22)

People born under this sign are known to be loyal, sensitive, and tenacious.

Petersmark's poster for Cancer was inspired in part by a previous experience she had at the Electric Forest Festival.

"I remember loving all the glowing neon in the middle of the dark woods," she said. "I wanted to capture that feeling of finding something otherworldly in the vast wilderness in the middle of the night."

Find out more about Cancer here.

Leo (July 23 – August 22)

Leos are known to be friendly, natural leaders who are the life of the party.

According to Petersmark, the poster for Leo was "extra tricky" to illustrate since it would also be used as artwork for The Accidentals' album, "Odyssey."

"The band and I collaborated heavily to create something that combined both natural, earthly elements and outer space," she said. The artist ended up drawing something that looked like the beginning of a journey, with Leo as the heroine "about to set off in search of something important."

Find out more about Leo here.

Virgo (August 23 – September 22)

Virgos are known to be hardworking, loyal, and analytical.

"Virgo is depicted as a virgin or maiden [in mythology], so I tried to make the sign more youthful," Petersmark told INSIDER.

"My first attempt at this poster made the maiden look too timid, so I scrapped it in order to give her a little more attitude."

Find out more about Virgo here.

Libra (September 23 – October 22)

People born under this sign are known to be diplomatic, charming, and sincere.

According to Petersmark, this poster was based on a Lady Justice sketch she drew in 2017 on the day President Trump was inaugurated.

"While I wouldn't call this piece political by any means, drawing Lady Justice as a black woman was a conscious and pointed choice," she told INSIDER.

Find out more about Libra here.

Scorpio (October 23 – November 21)

Scorpios are known to be resourceful, brave, and passionate.

In this interpretation, Petersmark juxtaposed the "traditional Polynesian-inspired tattoo" on the goddess' back with the "sleek, almost modern elements" she wanted to associate with Scorpio.

Find out more about Scorpio here.

Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21)

Those born under this sign are known to be generous, idealistic, and positive.

As she worked her way through this series, the musician said she became more aware that her illustrations "could use more diversity in body shapes." Petersmark told INSIDER that she tried to give Sagittarius "a body type that was more functional" for someone who "catches her own food and fights epic battles."

She also included a "nod to the traditional representation" of this sign, which is a centaur, with the goddess' horse skull headdress.

Find out more about Sagittarius here.

Capricorn (December 22 – January 19)

Capricorns are known to be disciplined, hardworking, and pragmatic.

"The cool thing about this project was that it taught me quite a bit about the zodiac," Petersmark told INSIDER. For example, the musician learned that Capricorn is commonly represented by a mythical creature called a sea goat.

"I wanted to give this poster a murky, dream-like feel, with the harpoon providing an element of conflict with the softness of the living creatures," she explained.

Find out more about Capricorn here.

Aquarius (January 20 – February 18)

People born under this sign are known to be intelligent, independent, and altruistic.

Petersmark said she wanted this poster to "feel like a creation myth." The musician told INSIDER that she tried to " evoke the thought of Egyptian gods and giant Egyptian monuments."

Find out more about Aquarius here.

Pisces (February 19 – March 20)

Pisces signs are known to be compassionate, trusting, and intuitive.

Compared to other posters in which Petersmark played with perspective to make the goddesses seem more powerful and ethereal, she wanted the female figure in this illustration to be dwarfed by fish.

In doing so, the artist hoped that the goddess would feel "much more human than some of the other signs" while the fish would be "reminiscent of ancient deep-sea monsters."

Find out more about Pisces here.

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