#forfedaproject

This piece depicts the themes and symbols around the character of Étaín from Tochmarc Étaíne and her various transformations throughout the tale. The two faces depict Étaín's two incarnations a thousand years apart, flanked by suns and moons to represent that "all time is made up of days and nights." The swan and fly represent Étaín's two animal forms, while the cup and pitcher represent the cup of the wife of Étar, and Étaín's skill at serving drink, by which Eochaid seeks to recognize her. Finally, the vegetation and swirling billows on the outside of the frame symbolize the "fragrant and wonderous herbs" of Aengus's crystal sun-bower, and Fuamnach's magical winds.  This was my submission to the late Ralph Kenna's EÍRÍ art project through the Irish Post in 2022, based on the prompt of Evoking Ireland's Resiliant Female Icons. The Wooing of Étaín is one of my favorite Irish myths, and I've always wanted to take a crack at representing some of the themes of the story. Hello everyone, it's been quite a while! I've been on a bit of an impromptu hiatus due to general life stuff and a bit of artistic burnout in the last year or so, but I've got a few works in progress that I'm hoping will help get me back into the swing of things!

This piece depicts the three forms of the Morrígan surrounded by the thorns and flowers of the hawthorn, a tree connected to terror, baneful magic, and the powers of the Otherworld in Gaelic folklore.

The Tale of Mac Da Thó's Pig is equally about a hound, Ailbe, coveted by the rulers of both Connacht and Ulster. To avoid offending either party by refusing them posession of the magnificent dog, its owner, Mac Da Thó, invites both royal companies to a feast of the titular pig at his hostel, where boasting and quarrelling breaks out among the warriors to a bloody end... This is another entry into my series of pub-sign-style logos for the mythological Irish bruidne, this time featuring both the pig and the hound from the tale, as well as a reference to the cauldrons and flesh-forks that serve as the hostel's signature offering.

This is an art series depicting the Gaelic gods as ancient statues, with designs loosely inspired by historical finds, such as the Boa Island and Tandragee idols from Northern Ireland, and the Ballachulish Figure from Scotland. In this piece, the Dagda is pictured with his signature harp, club, and cauldron.

(I promise I'm not dead, just been busy! New stuff coming soon)

The 12th Century poet Gilla in Chomded húa Cormaic is credited as the author of a poem known as A Rí Richid, Réidig Dam, which contains an episode involving the exploits of Fionn Mac Cumhaill and the Fianna. At the end of this episode, we are told of Fionn's most marvellous possession: the magical Hood of Crothrainne, a woven mantle fashioned in the Land of Promise that can change the wearer's shape. Any tales of Fionn using this power have been lost, but the significance of both hounds and deer to the Fenian cycle remains an ever-present motif.

This piece is built around my favorite line from the Tecosca, and features far more knotwork than I ever want to draw again (but probaly will). Wanted to illustrate this quote for a while, so I'm very pleased with how it's turned out.

Manannán, the "son of the sea," is portrayed in the lore as a trickster figure, a great magician, and a powerful lord of the Otherworld, appearing in such tales as the Voyage of Bran, Cormac's Adventure in the Land of Promise, and the Birth of Mongán. Manannán is also the patron and namesake of the Isle of Man, where he is revered as a wizard and necromancer whose magical mists kept the island hidden from invaders. This is a new art series depicting the Gaelic gods as ancient statues, with designs loosely inspired by historical finds, such as the Boa Island and Tandragee idols from Northern Ireland, and the Ballachulish Figure from Scotland. In this piece, Manannán is pictured with his signature Corrbolg (crane-bag) and shrouded in sea mist.