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Murdhuacha of the Kelp Forests – Final

See concept sketch and development phases

Literary Sketch

She knows the seal peoples coming and going. She watches the battles that brew between a race of the sea and a race of the land. Polution is bearing a heavy toll on the creatures of the sea, as the creatures suffer the magic is turning darker. The gentle selkie are not pleased.
Down in the deeps of the kelp forest she makes her home. She does not tolerate strangers well, so beware of bewitched kelp. To avoid the sting and strangle of the kelp you will want to spen dmuch time eating the plants of the sea so your scent and energy are more aligned to them.
She is also extra wicked in her desiring for shining and light filled objects. To win her welcome and get her to share her knowledge you need to use a large fresh water pearl. The properties of the pearl will also calm her temper and bring out her more noble side.

She has been completed for a while now. In some way I have had a hard time feeling done with this. The painting is done, but it has this half made story in my head that wants a more developed world.  I have seen the other creatures in the murky kelp- funky yellow eyed  brown molting and decrepit skin things with sharp teeth and eel like bodies. I need to sketch them out.

I will have to explore that all out more later in both the sketching and in the literary sense. Would like to develop  some amalgamation of a tentacled creature too- because so many limbs would be fun to play with.

I like to test my creations against the imagination and perception of my boys. They say it how it is, but that is great when they find weak areas. They also describe the character to me, and it helps me figure out if I am using the right illustrative language so to speak.

Can’t wait to share the springtime cute paintings I am working on soon. Cuddly bright fuzzy things that are not my usual subjects. Fun! I imagine that will lead to the things popping up in my garden soon as well.

Hope you are all bathed in much inspiration as the spring unfolds and the year continues to bloom!

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Letting Go of an Exercise

Today I am celebrating letting go. In doing so, I am sharing a piece of work that will never ever be finished. I realized a certain distance in that it was not going to work out. I could fight it and make it the best I could- but there is no reason to. I have learned what I needed from the exercise and can move on. The next time I come to the subject I will have a keener understanding of process to render the effects for this subject. I will know what NOT to do- that is huge.

I don’t have to finish everything I start, especially when I have finished learning from the experience. Clearly that is not something that could ever apply to commissions.

Just getting to a place where I can accept letting go has been huge. In the past I would just do all I could to force it to be it’s best so to speak. Knowing it was ludicrous to waste the time on it when the lesson was learned and I could move on to more fruitful things. I suppose this happens in life too.

My next step is to throw the bloody things away. I mean why can’t I throw them out?? Well one thing at a time I guess. I know- I will offer them to the next fire we build in the back yard.

Now I am off to scan the image and share the failure- hope it is liberating as I am so anxious about doing it.
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Murdhuacha of the Kelp Forests – one phase left

Must fix a few areas and work in the others – but happy with the results so far. Next- warriors or beasts.
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Autumn

I love Autumn! The tulip tree outside my window has been kissed, already, by the cool evening wind; and is now showing lovely lovely blushed reds in the higher branches. The cicadas and crickets are singing their farewell serenade and the squirrels are busy everywhere gathering the tree nuts in the back yard. I am craving so deeply to take a pilgrimage out to the old growth forest- the only one that remains in my part of the state. It has been over a year now and I have dearly missed it.
That will have to be planned out, but for today I am focusing on balance. Balance is not something you do once. Life is organic, as with all its facets, and changes constantly. Even walking the well worn path requires constant effort to balance as we stride forward. On the equinoxes I like to reflect on balance on the whole spectrum- mind body spirit.
First I like to look at what needs serious maintenance because I have procrastinated to the point of creating anxiety. I do this first because it is its own way of procrastinating what I really don’t like doing and that is the destroying aspect. It is always the part of balancing that requires a great deal of work and pain. However somethings must come to end for balance to be ensured, and for other things to make way for healthier new things that are to be created. The last is easiest and that is the creating new things to aid balance. That isn’t to say that maintaining a discipline to those things is as easy as starting them. LOL
It, to me, is perfectly illustrated in Shiva’s Dance of the Nataraja. These three laws keep the universe growing and balanced. I made a strong start on the day and have finished a lot on my to do list. There are only about six weeks left till the spiritual new year for me. So a lot of working to do to prepare for the exciting new year ahead, and the beloved season of introspection and stillness that is coming.
Fire, fire, fire, where is the fire I used to have? It is not age or health that has stolen this from me, but a strange and deep lingering shadow. It is this mysterious and unknown phenomenon I have been encoutering so stronly since this time last year. It calls me and I resist, and the fire dims. I seek it, it resists, and the fire dims. Stone will alone summons the steps forward. Dreams and the fold of waking hold glimpses into the mysteries sweet presence. The great WHY eludes me, and I have the audacity to try to rationalize this watery realm- why do I fight so hard to avoid the feelings that are here. Why do I demand a justifying rationalization of their existance to even acknowledge them?
Dearly, do I need this season of introspection, of death, of suspended potential. I plant my seeds, my dreams, my goals. The earth is warm, her womb embraces life, she knows the right season. Time to meditate in all things, time to return to inward stillness. Time for me to surrender- but can I give up the idealism? I suppose I will have to follow the example of the lovely tulip tree. Sooner or later she will have to drop her leaves, brace and bare her raw form in the face of winter winds. She will wake and dream and draw deep into her core, into her roots and wait in working silence in working stillness for the thrust of spring.

(note to self: Do not start entries while starting dinner- the smoke detector isn’t going to save the food.)

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Palaeography and Ancient Manuscripts

Above clipped image compliments of the work and resources of:
Trinity College, Cambridge, and to Scriptorium: Medieval and Early Modern Manuscripts Online

Eccentric  probably only scrapes the surface of the areas I am researching now. Lost ancient arts that met their death with the birth of Gutneberg and later his printing press. However there are many of us in love with these arts, and few of us that have the patience and passion to pursue them. And even for those of us who want to pursue them- few to study under, fewer still the artisans and skillsman upon which our arts are dependant.
Almost ten years ago, eek gods am I already another decade old, yes about a decade ago I was researching and studying the medieval arts. I am especially fond of the fold of the medieval and renaissance periods.  At that time it was so daunting. The internet then offered far far less than what it does now in archives of manuscripts- illuminated or not. Further libraries were often limited in what they stored on these subjects. Mind you visiting Trinity College, or Cambridge would indeed have helped out greatly- that was not something that could be budgeted.
Today I found this wonderful website Scriptorium Medieval and Early Modern Manuscripts online. It is full of wonderful wonderful archives and resources on Palaeography, which is one area I am currently researching.
The explosion in what I can find and access in archives online now is ASTOUNDING! I can download PDF documents of books that are never loaned out. I can resource amazingly high detailed images to study. This is a huge step up from the limits of a book and magnifying lense. To me it is also proof that passion will pave its way on your intent. Here we are a decade later and so much is readily at my fingertips. Due much in part to the internet- yes; but also in part to the passions of others and their arts.
I think I often fail to appreciate enough Tim Berners-Lee, the founder of the World Wide Web. What an amazing revolution in information and communication. It has truly allowed so many of us to find information we would not otherwise have. Especially in bridging gaps of both distance and monetary resource in acquiring so many resources.
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Moving and Moving

What an unbelievably busy last few weeks. It feels like I am on the information highway. So many new mentors popping up to share valuable information, so many new prospects for commissions in my genre, so many new ideas to mull over and set on the schedule.

I am in the middle of moving closer to my studio, closer to our business, closer to a bubbling arts community. I LOVE our new location! Granted the house is in the throws of some restoration- but the work they are doing looks GREAT. I love the solid original wood floors, love the woodwork around the windows, love the gigantic old oak trees in my yard. It is a soothing and inspiring place and a few minutes walk from my studio, my favorite coffeeshop, the library, the bank! Being able to walk is so nice and so Green.

We were working towards a house in the country, luckily that fell through. It brought to mind the prophetic words of my best friend “I am confident you will find the best thing for you.” She is always right- and never tries to be. HOW DOES SHE DO IT! LOL.I am so looking forward to her visit next month. The back yard is so huge and it is so quiet at night we feel like we are in the country, and we can still have our camp fires! :D

I have been stressing a bit over the lack of painting I am doing in the throws of it all. However, when you are dedicated to working as an artist, and having taken tips from the mentors I mentioned- There is always work that can be found. So I am researching, brainstorming, working online, and whatever I can squeeze in where ever I can do it. Something is done everyday- and that keeps the stress and work load very low.

Right now I am researching productivity ideas and tips so feel free to email them to me or leave them in comments. Here are some great and inspiring resources on the topic:

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Energy and Potential- Life is Good!

I feel like I am surrounded by a million ideas and all of them are temptations. I have been quite a lot done lately. On the whole spectrum of my life. I am moving very soon, this will save me so much commute time and more and result in more productivity. I am very excited about that. The school year is over so that also will help. Organizaton = time. 
There is so much more I want to share and post, but I have learned to be careful about the timing of such. I have run into several mentors through twitter that are inspiring me. It has helped me to see that I want a coach specific to my goals. So I am shopping around and sampling personalities and such. 
I love the diversity in the art world and there are a lot of great people out there- twitter is proving a resourceful tool in both directions. I am enjoying it so much I think I should start sharing some fo the great art articles I have been finding on twitter too.
Also did I mention about the Celtic Friend Network via Ning. Great place for artisans of all types if you like the celtic genre- I will share more soon!
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Llewednae – concept drawing and original sketch

I am beginning this painting this week. I still have to work out sketches for other mythical beings and creatures to round things out. We can’t have all pretty faeries. I had decided to put a pine woodland in the backdrop and continue to play with contrast. The original sketch was done years ago, and was inspired by a similarly noble person, whom I was reacquanted with this week online. So now I am even more excited to paint it, and not just offer up the sketch for sale.

It will be interesting to see how it continues to morph and develope. Inspiration is everywhere! I need to develop the literature concept a bit more by going into some welsh and scottish myths with Faeries more. I will be posting the progress again. Aiming for phase one and two by Friday- we shall see!

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2009 Updates

Well I am still rolling out the last of the graphic updates. All of the painted knotwork has been put up. I do appreciate all the feedback! Much of it for the knotwork art. It is so awesome that hundreds of years later people are still in love with this celtic expression.

I have completed the new watermark and you will see all the old images replaced with the new crisp clean images with the new watermark. I will also be working on a gallery of free clips of the artwork for common license use.

What a year of growth it has been for me. The new studio, new site, and so much more. I have learned so much this last year and it has really prepared me for this year. I still am impatient with it all, wishing I would have gotten more done. However I have learned this journey has prepared me to do this better than the original vision would have afforded! So the “delay” is surprisingly fruitful and abundant.

Everyone in the family is doing well! My mother has completed her treatments, and clarified that it was cancer but not malignant. I guess I don’t get that, but all that matters is that she will keep her vision in her right eye.

I hope that all of you and your families are doing well in this period of unrest politically and economically through out the world. I hope you are all blessed abundantly in this year and years to come!

I have more art coming up this next week. Hopefully with all this coding and graphics out of the way I can really kick the painting up a notch or two.
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