Old Woman Winter Visits Us...

A decent way back, on the 28th of Januray, I talked about the work I put into Cailleach, a prompt for a winter-themed greeting card.

Here is the entry, for those interested in a catch-up:
http://mairintajcaya.blogspot.com/2011/01/cailleach-from-winter-theme.html

It took some time, but I found my way back to the painting board with this one. I was always annoyed by the treatment of the border; there was a bland, incomplete element to it that made Cailleach come off flimsy, dull, or just bald.

I revisited the thoughts I had had before it was about splashing it on quickly. I revisited the inspirational sample illumination (also in the original message link above).

Here is the result:

Cailleach, Watercolor, 2011.

Detail One

Detail Two

For some Winter Holiday fun, I also decided to take this for a test run round to my friends, family, and creative community. The greeting cards turned out alright and should be arriving at their various destinations soon.

Wishing warmth, light, and cheer through this holiday season and into the new year.
Mairin-Taj

Updates from a Previous Project

In "Greetings from the Studio", September 2nd, I took some time to share work on "Lemuria".

Here are some final scans of the piece, now safely off. It did not take me all this time to complete it, to be sure. I took quite a long break from it, for reasons best not waffled on about here and now.

And scanners really are worth mourning over...

Also, "Cailleach" - the Irish Winter personification piece - has undergone some tampering and will be posted as soon as the blasted thing is scanned! Greeting cards soon to follow, should all go well.

Here's to welcoming in the Winter months!