Tuesday 26 February 2013

Whuppity Stoorie- First Inking 

Here is a peek at the first inking of "Whuppity Stoorie" which I did the other day. Cracking on with it now, so will share more soon. I'm using quite warm grey tones in this one to give it a soft, rustic effect but may need some more highlights and low lights which I'll see better when more is complete.

Whuppity Stoorie- Second part of the story

So a few years passed and Jeanie was still best friends with Fergus the pig but there was a new man in her life too. Tom MacDonald from up the road had turned out nae too bad after all. Soon Jeanie and Tom were wed and Tom came to live at the farm as first hand- the family were very happy and Tom and Fergus got on great. A year after the wedding wee Angus was born and everything was complete. Jeanie was blissfully happy and loved nothing more than strolling the countryside with Angus in his cozy blanket and Fergus trotting alongside. 

Then one day the old witch woman from the hill came knocking on the door......

 
Jeanie as a young girl

Sunday 17 February 2013

Dia Greine

I recently shared some WIPS of this one "Dia Greine". A captured Scottish sun deity who was rescued by a fox. She will probably end up as one of the companion pieces in this project. There will be a handful of smaller companion pieces and I'm keen to explore different colour but subtle palettes in them. This artwork is just shy of the A1 size, so still a fairly large piece. She is off to the framers at the moment and we are trying a lovely deep champagne coloured frame with cream matt and gilt interior slip frame.
I will hopefully get some nice pics of some of the project pieces framed up to share with you soon.

   

Wednesday 13 February 2013

Whuppity Stoorie- First Sketches and Story

Here are my first sketches for "Whuppity Stoorie". It has evolved so far into quite a playful piece and I'm not sure if I want to lose that entirely to the "celtic" intensity of the first 3 works- perhaps somewhere in the middle but time will tell. I'm enjoying it so far and should be inking tomorrow.

So the tale of "Whuppity Stoorie" is a Scottish Fairy Tale which shares some similarities with "Rumplestiltskin". In Scottish Storytelling style I have taken a few liberties and twists and turns with the imagery so I hope you enjoy my "version" which is not quite as dark as the original.

I will let the tale unfold as I complete the artwork.

Whuppity Stoorie (Part One)   
There once was a very poor and hardworking farm family who tended to their crops and toiled hard to make ends meet. The farmers daughter Jeanie was a beautiful young girl who tended to the animals, the cockerel and the hens. One spring the prize sow gave birth to litter of piglets and the last one, which was quite poorly, was nursed back to health by Jeanie and they became firm friends. Her great kindness was repaid when she realised the the wee pig was no ordinary pig. Little Fergus was an enchanted pig who bought good luck wherever her went. The crops grew tall as he passed, the water in the dried up old burn ran sweet again and the hens laid double the eggs. Life was good and easier for the family and Fergus was looked after very well with a fine coat for winter and the best left overs off the table. He grew up to be a fine and handsome pig.

One hard winter Jeanie went to the sty and found the pigs to be in distress. Poor Fergus had taken ill in the night and was lying fevered and close to death. Jeanie was distraught, all she could do was sit with him and cry great long streams of tears- he clearly didn't have long.
Suddenly there was a rap rap rap at the barn door and there stood the old witch who lived on the hill. Jeanie got quite a fright, she hadn't seen the old woman up close before and she was quite a sight in her long tattered robes and tall hat. Jeanie gulped back the tears and said tentatively said"hello, what can I do for you my dear ?".
"It is more the case what I can do for you dearie" said the witch in a not too unkind manner.
"I can cure your pig and bring him back to full health- I ask not much in return"

Well Jeanie was so happy to hear this, she said "Anything you want, it is yours, just please bring my Fergus back". The witch scratched her nose in thought.
"Okay dearie if this works I will ask for something you do not have therefore the exchange is more than fair with nothing to give, am I right ?"
Jeanie looked puzzled for a moment and said "Yes, please hurry, you can have anything I have, or don't have or might have- I promise you".
So the old woman smiled a sly smile and set to work with the potions and oils. Soon Fergus was sitting up and looking the picture of health again.

Jeanie was overjoyed "How can I ever repay you ?"
"Well lets see" said the witch. "I would like from you your first born child"
"Oh" Jeanie was a bit taken back but she thought about it and having children seemed a very long way off. The witch was right, something she did not have and perhaps might never as Jeanie could not imagine leaving the farm and Fergus to marry. The only young suitors of her age were the MacDonald brothers of Oldmeldrum just up the road and Jeanie screwed up her nose at the very thought.
"Very well dear lady, your request is granted......."
Without so much as a reply the old witch woman disappeared in a puff of smoke leaving Jeanie wondering if she had fallen asleep in the sty and had a rather peculiar dream. Without further a do she set about her chores with Fergus trotting along happily beside her. Thoughts of the old witch woman and her bizarre request soon left her mind.

 The Young Girl Jeanie- First WIP sketch



 Fergus the Pig- First WIP sketch



         
Jeanies Cockerel- First WIP sketch

Tune in next time to find out what happens to Jeanie & Fergus
     

Tuesday 12 February 2013

Whuppity Stoorie and some Goddess Lore

I have spent the day finalising the sketches for my next project piece "Whuppity Stoorie". The piece is based on a Scottish Fairy Tale which is very like the more well known "Rumplestiltskin". I look forward to sharing the story with you soon as I work on the artwork.
In the meantime I thought I would share some works I have been doing lately inspired by Goddess Lore and the meanings behind birth names, which have been inspiring me. These pieces are having influence on the bigger project.  


 The Morrigan- Original Sold


 Brigid- Original Sold


 Ciara- Original Sold


 Freyja- Original Sold



 Imogen- Original Sold


 Ostara- Original Sold


 Orla- Meaning "The Golden One"- The original artwork is still available. Its one of the smaller pieces in this series and can be purchased direct from my Etsy Store here https://www.etsy.com/listing/124491326/orla-original-goddess-art-work


 Vila- The Protector of Animals- Original on Reserve for a Customer



These are some works in progress from "Dia Greine" the latest "Goddess" piece. This one is Scottish in origin. Dia Greine was a captured sun goddess who was rescued by a fox. This one is a large piece which I hope to finish for entry into a juried exhibition- she may even make it into the "Whisper of the Sith" collection.

Thursday 7 February 2013

Whisper of Sith

The latest piece "Whisper of the Sith" is complete. I was aware of lots of symbolism coming to fore as it evolved and its funny but this time I'm almost reading the symbolism in retrospect as I was so immersed in the drawing. The main theme was of the relationship with the fabled Sith Cats and the witch or wise woman, who would leave milk out for the cats on Samhain to bring favour and good fortune.
I see the archways now as portals between this world and the next and representing the thin veil where the mortal and spirit world collide, thought to be heightened on Halloween night. I also see the mirroring of the animals and birds as representing "messengers" from both worlds.
This one was quite a difficult process as the ideas evolved as I drew the piece and I didnt really see it come together until the last moment, so there was lots of "thinking" and "chin scratching" going on. The next piece will probably be portrait format as I think I find it easier on such big artworks, all part of the experimentation. The next work is a Scottish Fairytale "Whuppity Stoorie", look out for some sketches soon.

Happy to share the final piece and some close up details with you....

 Whisper of the Sith- A1 on Illustration Board


 Close up including an Owl & Crow "Familiar"


 Close up detail of a Sith Cat


 Detail of Sith Cat with Archway


Detail of Crow with "Ritual" offerings.