Isle of Glass

I did this oil painting, ‘Isle of Glass’, in 2007.

The title refers to one of the names for the tor, Ynys Witrin .

It was inspired by the various legends and stories about Glastonbury.

I have referenced the Christian legacy with the crossed keys on the heraldic sun and the ruins of the abbey .

The unicorn  and the eagle represent the chivalric and questing aspects of the Arthurian legends

The largest water drop was meant to also resemble a fish bowl. The diving figure is a back reference to a much earlier painting inspired by an observation gallery at a swimming pool.

I also wanted to play with paths and perception in this picture, as I tried to give the viewer several different paths to explore within it.

Until next time

Adieu

R2

I am (probably justly) infamous for my puns.

Here is  a cartoon based on Star Wars

Until next time

Adieu

Musing on compound Field divisions

I have posted about the German compound field divisions of Pally Bendy and Bary Bendy,which are always counter charged.

 it then struck me that compounding Paly with Barry

 

and countercharging results in Chequy

Then I noted that distorting Chequy results in Fusily in Bend.

Whereas chequy in bend ( which could also be read as bendy contrabendy counter charged)

Can be distorted to make fusily

Until next time

Adieu

The Bishop in the Garden of Strife.

This is an interesting amalgam of a self portrait and a portrait of the persona I assume when re-enacting.

I used various photographs of myself, as well as heraldry and floral imagery from illuminated manuscripts in this painting, as well as references to the three medieval re-enactment societies I have been a member of over the years.

I decided on the title, once I observed that the bishop in his vestments seems to be strolling through a garden filled with armoured figures ( most of which are also the bishop).

I painted this after I had completed a commission for the sister of friends of ours a gift for their wedding anniversary. The painting had to include references to all their various interests. I may blog about that one at a later date!

Until next time

Adieu

Sanctuary

I painted this picture in 2009. It was inspired by the floods of 2007 at Tewkesbury.

As a battle re-enactor I have visited Tewkesbury many times and have a great affection for the town. I was particularly struck by photographs showing the abbey almost isolated on its own  island in the midst of the floodwater.

It felt, to me, rather as if it was sacred ground preserved from power of nature. 

As usual , this is a landscape of dreams, so the flood plain and abbey outbuildings are a constructed landscape. The three angelic figures show Divine approval.

Until next time

Adieu

The Heraldic panther

For reasons unknown, the heraldic panther is usually shown as a spotted lion with flames issuing from its ears and mouth.

My theory is that an early drawing showed the beast with tufted ears and that this was cheerfully misinterpreted by later heraldic artists.

I have, however, discovered a variation on this beast.

Whilst I was investigating the blazoning of the central inescution of the arms of Bavaria, I found that the beast in the third quarter is charged as a “panthier”( to be pronounced as if it is French).

This is described as  a lion with a dragon’s head and neck.

Until next time

Adieu

Stormlord

I painted this picture in 2007. It was based on a much earlier sea painting, which, in turn, had been based on a dream about being on a beach at night during a  violent storm.

This picture is about the power of nature and our relationship to it.

The floating figure might be creating, or controlling the  power of the storm, or he might be making a futile attempt to control it.

I still haven’t decided which interpretation I prefer.

Until next time

Adieu