Sybilla posing with one of her sculptures

Recently I wrote a story on some of the wonderful women who are out there in the woods investigating reported encounters, and searching for the truth that Bigfoot is still roaming the forests even today. There are just so many wonderful ladies in the field, and I’m hoping to highlight as many of them as I can for you, so you can to get to know what they do, and why they do it.

I was very lucky recently to have caught up to both a great researcher and artist that I admire. A wonderful role model for the future women of the Woods, Sybilla Irwin, just before she goes off grid and spends full time in the National Forests of Eastern Tennessee collecting and investigating witness accounts.

Here is that chat,

What is your earliest memory of drawing?

As a kid I adored horses. I loved to read stories and taught myself how to draw by studying the books illustrations. I would sit on the floor and pour over those illustrations for hours.

How long have you been interested in art?

I wasn’t seriously interested In art till I took an art history class at Texas A&M. In that class, one of the projects was to do two art pieces. It could be sculpture, or painting, In any medium. I chose to do two oil paintings. I had never painted In oils before. I chose to do two self portraits. One was in a very modern style, from a photograph, and the other was done sitting in front of a little mirror. I painted all through the night. (I still have both paintings).

When my professor saw them, he pulled me aside after class and begged me to leave the Theater Department, and transfer into the Art Department. He tried on multiple occasions to talk me into becoming an art student. I think that the turning point for me, when I realized from his reaction to my paintings…that I had some talent.

Sybilla creating her magic

Do you have a favorite medium?

Whatever medium I am currently working in…that’s my favorite.

I so enjoy the process of creating. Each medium has a different feel. I tend to work in cycles. I may paint In oils for months, then switch to wood burning. I may start the underpainting in acrylics and finish it in oils. I also love the immediacy of pastels.

Then there is sculpture…which I also adore…just so many mediums and so little time. Alas!

Sybilla working on one of her sculptures

I see that you have taught art as well, did you have a favorite class to teach? Or an age group you preferred working with?

I am a Certified Special Education teacher, and honestly my favorite classes we’re learning disabled children. There is nothing that compares to having a student advance four grades levels in their reading ability because you’ve had the time to spend with them.

I taught junior high art classes for nine years, they are my favorite age group to work with. I loved teaching children how to break a complex subject down into its basic shape, then make it look three dimensional with tonal values.

Does the idea for some pieces just jump in your mind, or are they triggered by something you’ve seen, what is your process?

Sometimes the shape of a piece of wood will suggest a sculpture. My creative juices get triggered by everything and anything, including dreams, and music. It can even be a spoken phrase. It’s crazy living with this brain.

How long have you been interested in Bigfoot?

I’ve been interested in Bigfoot, Aliens, Ghosts and all Cryptids since I was a little kid. I experienced a lot of weirdness growing up so I knew if these things were happening all around me, than there must be more going on in this reality than what meets the eye. Some of us are just wired differently.

How long have you been a Bigfoot researcher?

I became a member of the BFRO in March of 2008. Before joining the BFRO I had been reading reports and books on the subject since 2000.

Are you a skeptic or a believer?

I had my first visual encounter in October of 2008 in Honobia, Oklahoma. After you’ve seen, and heard them, you are no longer operating on belief, you’re a knower.

So you have seen them, felt them?

I have seen multiple. And I have definitely felt them around. I am a very sensitive person, I can feel when other things are around as well.

What made you put the two subjects together, the art and Bigfoot?

Another BFRO investigator asked me if I would be willing to work with one of his witnesses. She had found an image that was close to what she saw, but it needed some modifications with the hair. That’s what got me started. Other investigators then began approaching me to help with their witnesses as well.

I absolutely love working with witnesses. My heart goes out to the ones that have been traumatized by their encounters. Sometimes the drawings help them. For some…the nightmares stop.

Witness sketch from an encounter between a researcher and a Bigfoot in Oklahoma in 96′

What has the process like painting from witness encounters?

Typically when I am working with a witness, it starts with a long phone conversation. They tell me about their encounter, and then I ask a gazillion questions. I have to create an image in my mind before I can start. I know what questions to asks to help me build that image.

At the end of the session I will ask them to go to my web site and look at the witness sketches to see if there is anything there that resonates with what they saw. Sometimes they find one that looks very close, sometimes not.

I create the first iteration based on the interview, and I will send it to them. They tell me what corrections to make, and then we ping it back and forth until they tell me it’s perfect, or at least that it’s close as we are going to get. It is rewarding work.

Sketch from an encounter in 76′ in California

Is it harder to put a piece together if it’s a story you are struggling with?

It would be hard to put a piece together for someone that i did not believe was telling the truth.

Have you had Bigfoot art shows? Or are you planning too?

I speak at conferences, and show the witness sketches while telling them about witness encounters.

I have no plans to for an art show at this time, but will be working on a book.

Sybilla doing a convention presentation

Do you have a site where your art is available for purchase?

My art is available for purchase from my website and store.

www.sybillairwin.com

Do you take commissions?

I do take commissions. Anyone wishing to inquire about a commission can reach me by email at:

sybillachristine@yahoo.com

or they contact me through my website above.

Is it hard juggling family, art and BFRO time?

My children are grown, happy and successful people. That enables me to travel and do the research and art that I love.

I am about to embark on a brand new research adventure, living off grid in my little camper in the National Forest, doing art work, and research full time. I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to do what I love.

Could you tell us a bit about your blog?

I started the blog when I was living at a research location in northern Kentucky. I would share some of the daily happenings at that location, including audio, photos. I will probably pick it back up once I am doing field work again full time…Soon!

Do you travel often?

I have been away from my home state of Texas since 2012. I lived on active habituation site for five years. I have been in Northern Georgia, working full-time at “Expedition Bigfoot” The Sasquatch Museum, for a year and a half. If you haven’t been to the museum it’s fabulous!

Now it’s time to get back into the what I love the most…Field work.

copyright March, 2019, property of Sasysquatchgirl and bigfootmountain, all rights reserved

All pictures from Sybilla Irwin’s collection, used with artist permission

In my last post, Courage Under Fire, there were two strange incidents I described that sounded as though something heavy was running at me on two legs. During both times the heavy running came to a complete stop. I didn’t see or hear anything else after those few seconds.

Whatever it was that was making that sound definitely got its point across and I left as soon as I regained my wits. My whole body was screaming “get out of there”. After I released the article I had a few messages from others who had a similar encounter as mine. I’ll share one with you now from Appalachian Paranormal Experiences.

I realize that are stories are different but our experience is similar. I really was stumped. What could or would do this? Then my sister sent along an article about seismic communication If you aren’t familiar with this, Wikipedia describes it as “the process of conveying information through seismic vibrations of the substrate. Which in this case would be the earth itself”. In other words, pounding on the ground. It is also described as an ancient sensory modality used in the animal kingdom. What could be more ancient then a Bigfoot? And they are already using a form of it with wood knocks. They are communicating something with those as well.

The trick is figuring out what they wanted to convey. But since I felt fear and the urge to leave, I assume that the message was threatening. Maybe they were defending their territory or testing me to see my response. Was it even a Bigfoot? This land is near a cemetery, just like the encounter above. Was it something else? I am positive that i have experienced infrasound before. That heavy nauseous feeling it creates has come over me a few times while I’ve been out exploring.

The key for me is to be aware that this is possibly a form of communication, and not something charging up on me. I need to take a deep breathe and open my senses up and try to translate the messages coming at me.

If anyone else has had a similar experience and would like to share it. I would love to hear it. You can message me here, or my email:

sasysquatchgirl@gmail.com

Courage Under Fire:

https://sasysquatchgirl.com/2019/03/03/courage-under-fire/

Thank you to Appalachian Paranormal Experience. Keep an eye out, a book will be coming from him soon.

There is nothing better than a walk In the woods. It really is a spiritual place for me. I think, pray and make some major life decisions out there. Some hikes aren’t always a search for the big hairy guy, often they are just me getting in tune with nature and myself.

I’m usually very relaxed going in, and if strange vibes happen to come on then I’ll trust my gut instinct when and if it happens.

On two occasions, In relatively the same area, I did have those strange vibes come on. To me they translated as I might not be alone anymore and or there may be possible danger. And both times my gut has told me exit stage left and quick.

After I got home and relaxed I thought, how will I ever have that encounter if I don’t give my gut some Tums and keep going forward?

I should start by telling you a bit about these two particular encounters, and then you can help me decide if I made the right call at the time, or if I should have stayed and faced my fears.

The first incident, in a new area to me mind you, the further I entered the woods, the more uneasy I began feel. On the right side of the trail there was a ledge looking down to a small river and field and to the right of me there was thick tree coverage.

Up ahead I saw large tree down blocking the small trail. While I figured out what to do next, I stopped to take pictures of the area. Then I felt it. There was no way I was alone. Then I heard the run, heavy on the ground like a bull charging. A full on heavy footed bipedal run up the hill beside me.

First thing that happened, I froze in my tracks. I think I may have stopped breathing. My heart was definitely pounding. Then it all just stopped. It went from full on to complete full stop. I saw and heard nothing else after. As soon as I regained composure, still standing in the same spot. I flew out of there.

At the time my choice to leave felt like the right thing to do. My gut was screaming run. Then at home I thought, did whatever it was stop to give me a choice? Test if I was ready to see? Or was it as surprised as me and didn’t actually know I was there?

The second incident was on the same conservation land maybe two miles away. I again felt something, this time my gut was screaming whatever was about to happen was menacing. Much heavier feeling came on me then before. On my left on this trail were tall weeds. At my 4″11 I couldn’t see over them and it was far to thick to see through. Then it happened, again. Heavy footfalls charging. I froze a second again. I took a deep breath, because whatever this was, it was close and I wasn’t out running it. And then just like the previous time, it came to a full stop. I didn’t hear or see anything else. Was this the second test? Did I make the right choice? Again my gut said to leave quickly.

I never thought of myself as a chicken. I’m alone unarmed in the woods often, I’ve had a bear encounter and thought on my feet, so why are those two moments in time different?

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I know for a fact Bigfoot was running at me. I didn’t actually see anything. But something was there, and because I left the area I’ll never know what that something was.

There are so many strange goings on in the woods, even strange people doing nefarious things. So how do you decipher what is actually happening?

I’m happy to say I have returned to to these same two spots often. I’ve not heard anything like that since then.

So what do you think? Did I leave to soon? Would you have stayed?

My plan is to stick it out if those vibes hit me again. I walked into the forest relaxed and I’m choosing to leave it that way…

area of first incident

Area of Second incident

When you listen to a lot of Bigfoot encounters as most of us enthusiasts do, you run into the subject of Bigfoot being referred to as an interdimensional being from time to time. Some people call it the “woo” theory. The “woo” belief is that Bigfoot travels back and forth between parallel dimensions. The interdimensional hypothesis was originally started by ufologists. It was a more plausible way for them to explain how ufos could appear and disappear right out of our sight so quickly, and because interstellar space travel would take generations to complete any one way.

Many enthusiasts and researchers don’t recognize this theory, some Cryptid social media sites won’t even allow you to talk about it on their page. I understand this. They are of the belief of blood and bones. A possible species of primate yet undiscovered. This is my belief as well, but I have learned to keep an open mind. I have definitely seen some things that just can’t be explained.

I recently watched an excerpt from an up and coming documentary titled Finding Jay. The video showed the parting of two large branches in an unnatural way, with seemingly nothing around to cause it. After hearing knocks and having rocks thrown near him around the same site, it seemed likely it could be a Bigfoot. But where was he? How could he have done that without being seen? How could he even get from one place to another without being noticed. This type of situation is the reason people sometimes think there is more going on than flesh and blood. But what?

Is there a possibility that being as old and in touch with nature as they may be, that they could potentially manipulate their surroundings in such as way as to blend into nature like a chameleon? Or be stealth like the creature from the Predator movies?

I often wonder about the secrets of the forests and the earth they may hold. If there is a mystical energy around us out there. What truly makes us feel so relaxed when we are hiking along. We sometimes use the expression , getting in touch with nature.

But what if it means more than we think it does, and we just have to be open to accept what exactly that is.

A parallel or a mystical universe…

https://youtu.be/BOOPlV4321k

Clip from above mentioned documentary Finding Jay (May 2019 release date)

www.wpihuntsthetruth.com

https//www.facebook.com/wpihuntsthetruth/

Photo one from google stock

And Bigfoot sketch by Shirley McDaniel

Copyright February 2019, property of Sasysquatchgirl all rights reserved

When you’re wandering in the forest hoping to see a Bigfoot, or signs of a Bigfoot you are aware of every tree, branch, bush and sticks on the ground.

Picture taken by me inside the Freetown Forest, Freetown, Ma.

I am always looking for something that does not fit, or something I don’t feel nature created. You can’t help it, it’s subconscious at this point. One thing that we all have seen are arches made from a branch or a tree. When I see them, I attribute them automatically to something I would use them for, such as decorating my yard, or if I’m lucky, maybe in my future wedding. And it’s because some of us think of them this way, that we tend to think a Bigfoot may have made them and had some use for them.

Since we don’t know if they think like us and they don’t have a backyard to decorate, what would they use them for? To mark their territory perhaps?

And if we aren’t creating them and Bigfoot isn’t creating them, then what makes these trees or branches bend ? Why do we see them everywhere we go?

One of the possibilities is for their need of sunlight. Trees bend and stretch in amazing ways to reach out for that life giving warmth. Sunlight is needed for their survival and there are a lot of trees to compete with in any one forest.

Another factor of course is weather. Ice and snow piled up on top of them puts so much weight on a weak or young branch, that It can’t handle the stress and begins to bend. Storm and wind damage will also reek havoc on them and then there is also moisture from below, if the roots are loosened by excessive moisture they will began to move around and possibly lean, or uproot all together.

Picture taken by me in Uxbridge Massachusetts

I would love to think the beauty of those arches we see out there came from a Bigfoot. And I know I’m no Arborist, but I did chat with one, and we both had the same thoughts, that most likely Mother Nature had her hand in all of these.

lastly, this is just one girl’s opinion, I wanted to write a bit about them because I have been messaged with a few pictures and questions on them, and I, myself, just couldn’t picture what they would be making them for.

I would love to hear more of your thoughts on this subject. What do you think are making them? I thank you for your emails and questions. You can always reach me at:

Sasysquatchgirl@gmail.com

Copyright February 2019, property of Bigfootmountain all rights reserved

Photos property of Bigfootmountain

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