"Bean Sídhe" - the Irish Gaelic woman of the barrows, the wailing woman, the fairy spirit heralding death, or as common culture calls her now, the Banshee... She is an ancient apparition, often one being tied to an old Irish family, or house, making there supposedly be many banshees for the many strong old tribes throughout the country.
According to myth, this particular spirit is either that of a woman who has died in childbirth, fated to play the grim role until the time she would have died of natural causes, or, a woman who has been murdered, or brutally killed.
Often robed in green or grey, she is fairly silent in solitude, dwelling like a foreboding presence, until, should someone in the family approach death, she breaks the night with chilling screams and wails.
Her association with the screech owl is a possible origin for the myth.
I liked the idea of her sudden screaming voice coming to life to be the cause of her suddenly lurching forward from her shadowy garb consumed by terror. As if trapped, she'll soon return to her hooded robes, silent once more, after death.
--
Final art is available!
If you've been following along on my Instagram - Mairintaj_InMediasRes - the behind-the-scenes process will look familiar, but the rest of the imagery following is debuting here, freshly finished, never before seen online.
Here's how I started this little seasonal vision:
1. Jump straight in on hot press with graphite:
2. Throw on some veils of watercolor washes, building up the values to the right degree, then block in the flesh tones and richer values, colors with acrylic and colored pencil:
{And I realize I'm jumping ahead here, conveniently}
3. Whittle away, through the ugly phases, into the tightening up and the final details, until it's done...To gloss over the sweaty, hard work nicely:
5. Find the right frame! {An understated challenge at times, but not this time, happily}
"Bean Sídhe" - Banshee - will be available for purchase in the premier Artists' Open Studio Auction by Strange Dreams Surreal Art Collective this Sunday, November 1st through 7th - so the first week of the month.
According to myth, this particular spirit is either that of a woman who has died in childbirth, fated to play the grim role until the time she would have died of natural causes, or, a woman who has been murdered, or brutally killed.
Often robed in green or grey, she is fairly silent in solitude, dwelling like a foreboding presence, until, should someone in the family approach death, she breaks the night with chilling screams and wails.
Her association with the screech owl is a possible origin for the myth.
I liked the idea of her sudden screaming voice coming to life to be the cause of her suddenly lurching forward from her shadowy garb consumed by terror. As if trapped, she'll soon return to her hooded robes, silent once more, after death.
--
Final art is available!
If you've been following along on my Instagram - Mairintaj_InMediasRes - the behind-the-scenes process will look familiar, but the rest of the imagery following is debuting here, freshly finished, never before seen online.
Here's how I started this little seasonal vision:
1. Jump straight in on hot press with graphite:
 |
| Phase One, Graphite, 2015 |
 |
| Phase Two, Graphite, 2015 |
2. Throw on some veils of watercolor washes, building up the values to the right degree, then block in the flesh tones and richer values, colors with acrylic and colored pencil:
 |
| Phase Three, Graphite, Watercolor, Acrylic, Colored Pencil, 2015 |
{And I realize I'm jumping ahead here, conveniently}
3. Whittle away, through the ugly phases, into the tightening up and the final details, until it's done...To gloss over the sweaty, hard work nicely:
 |
| "Bean Sídhe" - Banshee - Final Art, Mixed Media, 5x7", 2015 |
 |
| The bean sídhe's detail shot, wailing, 2015 |
 |
| Framed, In the Studio, Now Available for Purchase, 2015 |
 |
| Framed, In the Studio, 2015 |
*Follow my social media for release of availability and open auction information!
**Find me and regular information on my Facebook Page HERE
And as always, contact me directly HERE - or please comment below! - for any questions, comments, or work interest.
