Another of my Mari Lwyd drawings from last week. The Mary Lwyd (Y Fari Lwyd in Welsh) is an old midwinter tradition in Wales where for centuries a puppet made from a horse’s skull, decorated with ribbons and bells was accompanied around villages with singers and poets, knocking on doors of houses and pubs, engagingContinue reading “The Pagan Skull”
Tag Archives: @Waleslover
Midwinter Mare
For the second night, Husb and I went out with the Mari Lwyd, trawling around pubs on North Gower with the Gower Old Horse Wassail. Midwinter celebrations date from thousands of years ago and ones involving animal skulls are common across the world. Horses were particularly important to the British Celts, a symbol ofContinue reading “Midwinter Mare”
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda – Happy New Year
The Mari Lwyd (the Grey Mare), is an ancient Welsh New Year’s tradition undergoing a revival. Husb and I have been out with our local Mari Lwyd, The Coppertown Mari, Mari Trecopr, for the past two nights as it, along with a band of merry singers, poets and mischief-makers, did a tour of some ofContinue reading “Blwyddyn Newydd Dda – Happy New Year”
Walking It Off
After 2 days of scoffing and lazing, no work, no art, husb and I shifted our behinds off the comfy settee, dragged ourselves out into the cold and started walking off the sluggishness of the holiday. I took my brown paper sketchbook and some conté crayons and did a quick sketch across Swansea Bay. It’sContinue reading “Walking It Off”
Have A Cool Yule
It’s that time of year. Season’s greetings and all that. Here’s what Sparta Puss thinks of it. Drawn by Husb with snowflakes added by me. She looks happy, doesn’t she? The midwinter festival has been around in these parts since well before Christianity, originally known as Alban Arthan (the Light of Winter) to the CeltsContinue reading “Have A Cool Yule”
The Completed Face
Finishing off the details on the shoulders and body with black, white and sanguine conté crayons; drawing in her pendant; more sanguine in the background; and a bit more depth to the black and sanguine around the mouth and chin. And she’s complete. It’s been interesting for me to analyse a drawing from start toContinue reading “The Completed Face”
A Face In Steps [7]
Nearly finished this life drawing, I recorded the different stages with my phone camera last week at Swansea Print Workshop. I’m using the black and white conté crayons to finish off the hair and add detail to the ear, and the sanguine to begin blocking in the background. I am putting a new drawingContinue reading “A Face In Steps [7]”
A Face In Steps [6]
At this stage, I’m working up the hair in black and adding some darkish tones in sanguine with conté crayons. I’m working onto brown wrapping paper, I like the effect of it. It’s a shame it doesn’t last, it will fade and fall apart in a few years, but when I use expensive paper forContinue reading “A Face In Steps [6]”
A Face In Steps [5]
Continuing with the life drawing I did last week at Swansea Print Workshop, I have finished with the detailed black line for the time being and have strengthened the white highlights. Working on brown paper is great, it gives a ready made mid-tone and also a warmth to the work. I’m drawing with conté crayons,Continue reading “A Face In Steps [5]”
A Face In Steps [4]
Digital cameras are great! I can photograph different stages of a drawing to see how it comes together. It’s nice to look at how a drawing develops in the cold light of day, I’m too absorbed when I’m drawing to analyse what I’ve done. I did this life drawing last week at Swansea Print Workshop’sContinue reading “A Face In Steps [4]”
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