The Full Wolf Moon -January’s Moon & the Story Behind My Art
Behind the scenes of January’s full moon illustration.
Did you know full moons have names? Each name is special, tied to nature, the seasons, and old traditions—a tribute to the way people once tracked time by the rhythms of the earth. The January full moon is called the Wolf Moon, a name that comes from the howling of hungry wolves during the cold winter months.
I didn’t realize full moons could get even cooler, but here we are!
Last year, I decided to turn that curiosity into a series of illustrations, creating a piece for each full moon and bringing their stories to life through art. The collection is now part of my Full Moon Names Calendar, and this year, I’ll be sharing a little about each one—why the moon has its name and the inspiration behind my designs for each month. So, here’s a little behind the scenes on January’s Full Wolf Moon.
Why Is It Called the Wolf Moon?
January’s full moon is known as the Wolf Moon, a name with roots in both Native American and European traditions. It was said that during the coldest, hardest months of winter, wolves would be heard howling more often—either communicating with their pack or searching for food. The name stuck, and it’s been called the Wolf Moon ever since.
The Inspiration Behind My Wolf Moon Illustration
When I started this series, I knew I wanted to focus on the full moon at the center of each piece. This one is a soft lavender-gray to match the winter theme.
In front of the moon are two wolves: one is howling, head tilted back, while the other is curled up, resting. I liked the contrast between movement and stillness—wolves are fierce, but they also have close bonds within their pack. I wanted to portray both the wildness and the sweet, quiet companionship they share.
The border surrounding the moon was my favorite part to draw and is where I really leaned into storytelling. A ring of wolf silhouettes runs along the edge, showing wolves in various stages of movement, as if weaving their way through a snowy forest on a hunt.
Among them, I added Scottish thistles—a little nod to wolves in Scotland. Not all inspiration comes from some deep, mystical place—I was actually watching Traitors while working on this piece and just really liked the Scottish aesthetic! But the connection stuck. Wolves once roamed freely in Scotland before they were hunted to extinction, and there’s been ongoing debate about bringing them back to the Highlands. Including the thistles felt like a way to tie that history into the piece. And to fill out the border, small star elements are scattered throughout the design, adding to the sense of a crisp, moonlit night.
This is just the first moon illustration in the series—each moon has its own unique name, story and symbolism, and I’m excited to eventually share them all. If you’d like to see the full collection, you can check out the Full Moon Calendar here.
