'The Jackalope'

Whilst still continuing to work on my Autumn inspired drawing, I've been doing a little pyrography..and came up with this design- the jackalope. Quite a number of different cultures seem to have come up with a similar creature - a hare or rabbit with horns or antlers. My own version was first designed and lightly pencilled onto smoothly sanded sycamore wood, then pyrographed.

Autumn Inspiration

Out and about in town and country I see a yellow, orange and golden brown world as the land prepares for its Winter rest. The fragile beauty of tree and leaf bring inspiration, and dictate the palette for a new design..early days as yet, but here's a taster..

'Once in a Blue Moon'

Here we have a little English Jackalope..my latest greetings card design. Created using pen and ink on watercolour paper..

Hug The Tree - Pyrography Showcase (Bright Eyes - Art Garfunkel)

My Pyrography Treasures

'Echoes of Avalon'

Here's my latest Pyrography design. It's on a small slice of wood measuring only 12cm x 4.5. A little piece of whimsy entitled 'Wyrd'...

'Art-on-the-Square' Sunday 19th August, Nottingham

Sunday 19th August I attended 'Art-on-the-Square', a monthly art event which takes place in Nottingham city centre. For the first time this year the weather was hot! As usual I had a really great time meeting lots of lovely people many of whom were complimentary about my artwork- which is always nice!

'Sunkeepers' Ink and Gouche

'Follow your dream' - Completed Design

'Feel the Magic'- pen and Ink drawing -work in progress

This is a very small drawing I began work on a few days ago..following a theme from some of my recent pyrography. Hoping it might make a nice greetings card design...

Root and Jet-the-Crow

'Root' Work in progress...

'Root' - Work in Progress

I started work on this little chap a few days ago...also pyrographing a very similar design. He is a little tree sprite named 'Root'..

'Elen of the Ways' Miniature

This little drawing in crayon measures just 12cm x 8cm. The central Elen figure is only 2.5cm high..

Elen of the Ways- pendant

Elen with long flowing hair

Elen of the Ways -An ancient British Goddess

  I have recently come into contact with this fascinating yet little known figure- 'Elen of the Ways'...The ancient Goddess is associated with the old trackways, byways, forests and ley-lines of 'Albion' -the old name for Great Britain. She is a solar deity, also associated with springs of water...and very distinctive as a female antlered Goddess. She has strong connections with reindeer and elk. I have only just begun to get to know her, but have already been inspired to write a short poem in her honour, and to create a pyrographed pendant with some of her imagery...I think she has been guiding me for a while without my knowing, as I produced a drawing over a year ago, called 'Spirit of Albion' which is quite clearly Elen, although I did not know of her at the time.

                                                       Elen of the Ways


     Lady of the ley-lines, Elen of the Ways,
     Essence of the forest, and sacred sunlit days -
     Through dappled green we glimpse her,
     A dance of shimmering Light -
     A vision on the pathway...a graceful Hart of White..

Freyr as Green Man - Completed drawing

This little drawing in pen, Ink and crayon only measures 10cm high

Freyr as Green Man - work in progress

'Seeking Odin' Completed Drawing

'Seeking Odin ( In conversation with a Tree) Work in progress

                              'Have you seen my Lord today- that one-eyed wanderer clothed in grey..?
                               I wish to learn His sacred Lore, to see with mine eyes what he saw..'

                              'He passed this way an hour before, and I, according to Forest Lore,
                               Transformed my shape to honour him- that mighty Seer, the Lord Odin..'

New drawing- work in Progress

New drawing- Work in Progress

A few hours work...

Elder Futhark Runes

Here's some more from the Icelandic Havamal concerning Odins discovery of the Runes:
     ' Nine power spells I learned from the noted son
       Of Bestla's father, Bolthorn: And a drink I took
       Of the precious mead poured out of Othrerir.
  
       Then I became fruitful to grow and thrive.
       Word sought word after word in me:
       spell sought spell after spell in me.

       Runes you will find, and skillful characters;
       Very great characters, very strong characters;
       That a mighty thule painted, and great gods made
       Carved by the prophet of the gods.

       Odin among Aesir, but Dain for elves
       And Dvain for dwarves'
       Asvior for giants:
       Some I carved myself.

       Do you know how to carve them?
       Do you know how to read them?
       Do you know how to paint them?
       Do you know how to prove them?
       Do you know how to pray with them?
       Do you know how to sacrifice with them?
       Do you know how to send with them?

       Do you know how to offer with them?'

Pen and Ink drawing- 'Primordia' Completed drawing

For more detailed pictures of this drawing, see my page 'All about the detail'

'Primordia' work in progress

Pen and ink drawing- 'Primordia' - work in progress

Two days ago I started work on a new tree drawing which I'm not expecting to have a very wide appeal...a decidedly odd tree, which never-the-less appeals to me..and wants to be drawn...! So I must oblige...

How Odin, god of poetry and inspiration, received the Runes

In the Icelandic Havamal ( words of the High One) it is written that:

I know that I hung on the windswept tree,
For nine days and nine nights,
I was pierced with a spear, and given to Odin,
Myself given to myself,
On that tree, which no man knows,
From which roots it arises.
They helped me neither with bread,
Nor with drinking horn.
I took the Runes,
Screaming, I took them,

Then I fell back from that place.

'Brigghu Massie' Completed drawing and verse

I, Brigghu Massie, swift and strong
Listen for the Forest song..
I, Brigghu Massie, standing proud
Raise my head and bellow loud..
I, Brigghu Masseie reign supreme
In sacred sunlit Forest Dream.

Pen and ink drawings - work in progress

   I began work on this drawing two days ago, splitting my time between it, and my new pyrography on wood... still quite a lot to do before it is completed...

Pyrography ( Wood-burning) - First pieces

Two weeks ago I treated myself to a pyrography machine which will enable me to create designs on wood and wood products. Some of my designs should be particularly suitable to use in this way, and I am looking forward very much to exploring this new medium. Here are my first attempts...you can follow my progress on my new facebook page -Hug-the-Tree, as I intend to keep my 'Enchanted Art' blog primarily for showcasing my traditional art.

Love-lore Tree Song

A few days ago my long awaited 'Little Minstrel' harp/lyre arrived from America and I have now used it to compose a simple song to go with my Love-lore Tree drawing. It is very easy to compose using this instrument as it is tuned to the pentatonic scale- a scale of five notes.
        Here are the words for my new song:

        Tie a red ribbon round the Love-lore Tree,
        Walk three times around her - your True love to see.
        Love-lore Tree! Love-lore Tree!
        Flowers pink and red -
        Show me now my True Love,
        The One whom I shall wed...

        Walking now together, round the Love-lore Tree,
        Hand-in-hand forever, my True Love and me.
        Love-lore Tree! Love-lore Tree!
        Flowers pink and red -
        Now I've found my True Love

        Tomorrow we'll be wed...

The Love-lore Tree - completed drawing

Here is the finished drawing...created using pen and ink with crayon, on textured pastel paper. There is a verse to go with the drawing:
   Tie a red ribbon round the love-lore Tree,

   Walk three times around her- your true love to see... 

Work in progress - 'The Love-lore Tree'

Nearly finished...not quite.

"1 March 2012" by The RedBubble Homepage | RedBubble

"1 March 2012" by The RedBubble Homepage | RedBubble:

Work in progress - 'The Love-lore Tree'

Here's something I began work on a few days ago. Like my previous drawing 'The Wish-tree', this one , from my imagination, comes with a legend,  and an accompanying rhyme, which I will will post when the drawing is complete.