What an eventful year 2011 has been; my lovely fiance became my even lovelier wife, we have moved house (giving me lots of DIY to do), I finally started illustrating the Clan Saga and in a few weeks we are expecting our first born!
Well what does 2012 hold (apart from lots of nappies)?
For starters I have a number of changes planned for the site reflecting a change of emphasis my work has recently undergone. My research and writing for the Clan Saga has inspired me to write for others and I will be sharing some of these projects over the coming months.
I also hope to finally finish the Clan Saga, this epic project has taken me 2-3 years so far and it will be great to finally share my vision with everyone. There is only 20 or so illustrations to go...
I have quite a few others projects both for myself and others, some of which I can't talk about right now. Suffice to say I will be very busy, so here's looking to another great year!
I first started reading this book a few years ago when I was working on my dissertation at Uni. Unfortunately I didn't have the time then to read the whole thing so recently I dusted it off and ploughed through.
Ploughing is the right term here. This is a great book but its let down slightly by the repetitive nature of the writing; the same points are gone over endlessly using basically the same arguments time and again. Having said this, the arguments and ideas presented are very informative with a number of interesting photos and wolf inspired artworks.
The text is broken down into 4 chapters each exploring different points of view and opinions of the wolf; the scientist, the Native American, the hunter and the mythical. The author uses a number of myths, fairy tales and stories as well as his own experience to highlight his points. By the end of the book its clear that to humanity the wolf is many things, beast, hunter, killer, murderer, teacher, mythic, evil-doer, sexual predator, fool, herald of the end-time, saviour, strength, victim, sport and mother. But, beyond all this, it is a reflection of ourselves.
To some up, this is a cracking and informative read that will definitely get you thinking but be warned it is a ramble so you might want to dive in and out of it, tackling a chapter at a time.
We are in the process of moving home right now but I have been busy on some arty projects so hopefully I will have something to show off soon!
I realised the other day that I still had some tees to put in the shop so with a week off it seemed like the perfect time!
The first is of the horse design but printed pink on white and pink on cream which avaliable in medium and a childs size.
Horses enjoy high status in many cultures around the world. For the Ancient Celts, the horse was a fearsome weapon of war and was seen as a symbol of power, wealth, nobility and freedom of spirit.
Many divinities and heros, in both Celtic & Norse myth are associated with horses, the great god Odin rides Sleipnir, an eight legged horse, and Cuchulainn, the great Irish hero, rides to battle in a horse drawn chariot.
The other new design is a black wolf on a white tee again available in medium and childs size.
No animal has had such an unsettled relationship with man; for some the wolf is a merciless predator that should be shot on site, yet for others the wolf is a cunning and intelligent teacher. Often the wolf is seen as the shadow of man.
The Norse god Odin was accompanied by two wolves, Freki & Geri. He told the first humans to learn from wolves but was finally eaten by the great wolf Fenrir at Ragnarok.
Check them both out in the store!
I also added a new image to the gallery, a silver head piece crafted by my own fair(ish) hand. A few years ago my partner and I went on a silver jewellery course which was great fun and very interesting. We each made a few items one of which I never finished. Since then I have made a few more items, including an engagement and both our wedding rings; I also finally finished this piece.
Designed to sit at the back of the head (as shown above) it is, I think, a very different take on a tiara or indeed any other hair jewellery. The organic lines of the swirls combined with the flowing shape of the piece itself lend an almost elfin quality.
It's been a busy last few weeks with our wedding and a very relaxing honeymoon but now we are back. I spent the weekend knocking off a fair few odd jobs that have been hanging around and am hoping that next week I might be able to start some sketching for the Clan Saga...at last.
I have come to realise that my plans for the Clan Saga are growing and my realisation of just how much work would be involved is sadly way off. As such I will have to forgo the idea of a deadline, the volume of work needed is just too big for me to complete any time soon especially with all my other projects, commitments and my day job. This is a real shame as I was hoping to have it finished before my wedding but then I'm sure the journey will continue to be fun and informative so all is not lost.
Tying in with the recent revelations over the shear volume of work needed is a book I read while relaxing in bars on our honeymoon, Glencoe by John Prebble. My Scottish Grandfather recently moved home and while helping out I found a box set of 3 books by JP, his Fire & Sword triology. My Grandfather kindly gave them to me while extolling their virtue so I thought I'd have a crack at 'em.
Glencoe seems to be the first, chronologically at least, concerning the events that led up to and after the massacre at Glencoe. On February 13th 1692 a group of Campbell soldiers, under orders from the crown, slaughtered their hosts, the MacDonalds of Glencoe. Though reading about the events themselves was interesting what really struck me was the window into the lives of the Highlanders. In many ways the people of the Highlands were living the same way they had done for thousands of years, a hard life of constant raiding, skirmishes and feuds. JP handled the subject matter brilliantly, painting a picture of how things were and yet no pushing a pro-Scotland agenda, or pro-anything for that matter.
This book has inspired me to look further into the history of the Highlanders and I'm sure I shall expand upon this area of the Clan Saga as a result. I look forward to reading the next two books, Culloden & The Highland Clearances.
Just a quick plug, don't forget I have a selection of tees available (great for this lovely hot weather we are having...and honeymoons) in the shop and a number of prints available on my DeviatART page so check them out!
Well after little or no new work for aaagggeeesss 5 new images come
along at once. Sadly Odin has been pushed out from my new deviations
window by the arrival of my last 4 dyslexia images. I say they are the
last but what I really mean is they are the last for now. I'm sure at
many points in the future I will feel compelled to vent myself in an
artistic image.
Well the site has been a bit quiet
recently as the wedding draws near but I finally have a new image for
you, check it out in my gallery here.
Every Yule for the past 5+ years (possibly even 10 or more years!) I have wanted to draw Odin in his guise as the original Santa. This image was started earlier this year and has been a bit on and off ever since. Finally, I have done it.
I am also hoping to get the last few images from my dyslexia series scanned this week so I can put them up here and on my deviantART page.
On top of this I am planning on finally starting the images for the Black Clan Saga in just over a week...after my wedding & honeymoon!
The saga itself has received quite a re-write with a large section added at the back as a bit of a who's who and more importantly a pronunciation guide.
Well progress has been a bit slow the last couple of months and we are now only 7 weeks away from our wedding.
I've been working on the Who's Who for the Saga complete with a pronunciation guide. This is nearly complete now I just need to check it through to make sure I haven't missed anything. While talking about pronunciation I just thought I'd share a great site I spotted recently, a free resource for Irish translations and pronunciations; Irish Gaelic Translator.
Before I start the illustartions for the Clan Saga I am going to return to the Odin image I started in January as this too has fallen by the way-side. This should serve as a warm-up for the many images I need to create for the Clan Saga.
I am going to return to my dyslexia project later today and hopefully I can complete the last two images so make sure you keep an eye on the gallery page as well as my deviantART account.
Just a quick update to let you all know I now have a Deviant Art account which you can see by clicking here.
I started to break up the Clan Saga over the weekend and boy have I underestimated the amount of work needed before this project is finished. There is no way it will be finished by April, at least not in the way I envisioned, so I may well try to get one version done for the wedding with a more detailed version finished later in the year. I will just have to see how it pans out.
Another little bit of news is that I have just started a quick(ish) pic of Odin the Norse All-father. I have chosen to depict him riding Sleipnir with his wolf & raven companions and with a hug sack of goodies; he was a big influence on the Father Christmas/Santa myth. I found some small sketches I had made last year and thought I might actually try and get him done, he should also serve as a good re-intro to using my wacom tablet and photoshop.
Well, I finally finished the first draft of the saga, hope you enjoy...
Gael, whose father is said to be
the god Bíle, was a mercenary from Iberia, he and his followers plied their
trade in the Mediterranean.
While working for King Reafloir of
Scythia, Gael married the princess Seang and together they had two boys named Donn
and Eremon. The king became increasingly suspicious of Gael, believing that he
wanted the throne of Scythia for himself. One night he attempted to poison the
mercenary leader but it was Seang who died instead. King Reafloir became
enraged by guilt and blamed Gael for this vile act. Fearing for the life of his
son, Gael and his followers fled Scythia in their ships. After many weeks at
sea Gael and his followers find employment in Egypt, with the Pharaoh
Nectanebus.
Gael is charged with crushing the
Pharaohs enemies in the Ethiopia; after many years and bloody battles, he and
his followers are successful. During Gael’s time in Egypt he grew close to
Scota, the Pharaoh’s daughter, and at the victory celebrations they were married.
Scota bore Gael two sons, Eber Finn and Amairgen.
Over time Gael longed to see the
shores of his homeland once more. He and Scota organized their followers and
set sail. On the isle of Thrace they had a third son, Ir before returning to Iberia via the
isle of Gotia where they had their forth son, Colpa. Returning home, great
celebrations were held and as the years passed their sons grew strong.
One day a single
Iberian ship was seen on the horizon, when it came ashore the followers of Ith,
Gael’s nephew, bore his dead body inland for burial; bringing with them a sad
tale of woe. Whilst exploring a green isle to the north Ith had been slain by
three brothers, Mac Cécht, Mac Cuill and Mac Grine; the sons of Ogma and
powerful chieftains of the Tuatha Dé Danaan, mysterious habitants of the isle
of Inisfáil.
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Some say the
Tuatha Dé Danaan came to Inisfáil from a far northern country, while others say
it was the east but both agree they came from four fabulous cities - Falias,
Gorias, Finias and Murias. They overcame the Fomorii or ‘under-sea-dwellers’, a
misshapen and violent people, at the second battle of Magh Tuireadh to become
rulers of Inisfáil, the island of destiny.
Now Ith had
spotted a green land, from a tower built by his father Bregon in Iberia; he
left with his followers to investigate.
It turns out that
after the Tuatha Dé Danaan king, Nuada of the Silver Hand, had died at the
second battle of Magh Tuireadh the three sons of Ogma sought to divide Inisfáil
between them.To settle their
disagreement they consulted a stranger who gave his name as Ith, son of Bregon,
a guest at their fortress of Aileach. From his advice they suspected that he wanted the land for
himself so they killed him; Ith’s shocked followers escaped with their lord’s
body.
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As blood payment
for Ith’s death Gael decided to conquer Inisfáil, calling his followers to ready
their ships and sharpen their blades. During the preparations for war Gael was
bitten by a snake and fell ill. On his deathbed Scota and their sons swore to
continue his quest for vengeance.
The sons of Gael
land in the south west of Inisfáil, on Beltaine (1st May), at Inber
Scéne. Amairgen is the first to set foot on land and his first act is to bury
his wife, Scena, who died on the voyage to Inisfáil.
Marching north
the Gaels defeated a force of Dé Danaan at the mountains of Sliab Mis, though
Scota was killed in the battle. She was buried in the eastern end of the
mountains, a place now known as Glen Scoithin, Scotia’s Glen.
After the battle
the sons of Gael meet three sisters of the Dé Danaan, Éire, Fótla and Banba,
who were queens and the wives of the three sons of Ogma. Each asked that should
the sons of Gael be successful in their quest then could Inisfáil be named
after them. Donn, Gael’s eldest son with his first wife Seang, was rude and
scorned the Dé Danaan so Éire foretold his doom; Amairgen, more gracious than
his brother, agreed to name the isle after her.
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The sons of Gael
travel east to the palace of Tara and meet with the sons of Ogma; Amairgen demands
that the Dé Danaan hand over the rule of Inisfáil peacefully as payment for
Ith’s murder or they must fight to keep it. Unprepared for battle the Dé Danaan
decline but request that the sons of Gael retreat to nine waves beyond the
shore of Inisfáil and if the sons of Ogma can muster the forces to prevent them
landing then the sons of Gael must leave and never return.
The sons of Gael agree
to this proposition and set sail, when they reached the agreed distance of nine
waves from the shore, Manannán Mac Lir called up a great storm and the fleet
could no longer see the shores of Inisfáil. Donn went aloft to see if he could
see land but he plunged into the sea, due to the violent swaying of the ship, and
drowned.
Amairgen invokes
the spirit of the land and manages to banish the storm, allowing the sons of
Gael to quickly cross the nine waves and land in the estuary of the Boyne.
Amairgen leads the charge and they manage to beat back the defending force of
Dé Danaan. During the fighting Colpa, Gael’s sixth son, drowned at the mouth of
the Boyne; earning the place name Inber Colptha.
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After a number of
bitter skirmishes the sons of Gael defeat the Dé Danaan at two battles, most
notably at Tailltinn with the other being at Druim Ligen. In the fighting, Mac
Cécht was slain by Eremon, Mac Cuill was slain by Eber Finn and Mac Gréine was
slain by Amairgen.
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With the leaders
of the Tuatha Dé Danaan dead, the surviving sons of Gael carry out the conquest.
The defeated Dé Danaan threaten to use their magic to deprive the Gaels of corn
and milk, so Amairgen suggests the Dé Danaan use their magic to split Inisfáil
into two, with the Gaels dwelling in this world and the Dé Danaan in Tír Na Óg,
the Otherworld; a mirror image of the Gael’s realm in which there is feasting,
revelry, hunting but no pain, disease or old age. The Dé Danaan leave the Lia
Fáil in the hands of the Gaels as a sign of their agreement.
The gateways to
this realm are the sídhe mounds, or fairy mounds, as they became known. While
the Dé Danaan can pass between the worlds at will, the Gaels only pass through
when assisted or when lost and wandering in the woods and forest, in the mist
or even on the seas.
The People of the
Sídhe go on to entangle the inhabitants of Éire on many adventures; both
helping and hindering...even to the present day!
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Now the sons of
Gael finally ruled Inisfáil they renamed it Éire and Amairgen declared that
Eremon, the eldest remaining son of Gael, should rule the land. But, Eber refused
the judgment and so to keep peace Éire was split between the two brothers; Eber
took the southern half, from the Boyne to the Wave of Cliodhna, taking six
chieftains with him while Eremon took the north, with seven chieftains.
Eber remained
jealous of Eremon; wanting more, he attacked his brother’s lands and was slain
by Eremon in a great battle at Argetros. Eremon united
the land once again and established the high-kingship at Tara.
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The Gaels or
Scoti, after Gael’s wife, eventually spread to Alba as their numbers grew, seeking
to settle in this fertile land. There they were joined by those who had fallen
foul of the law, and had fled Éire to start a new life. But, life was hard for
the Scoti had to contend with the Pict natives of Alba, each side suffering
raids at the hands of the other.
Hearing great
things of the lands of Alba, Fergus Mór Mac Erc, brother to the High King of
Tara, led a great company of Scoti to Alba where they joined up with their fellow
Gaels, who already dwelt there, and established the kingdom of Dál Riata, the
Western part of the land, with himself at it’s head. Fergus sent requests to
his brother High King of Éire, Murtagh Mac Erc, asking that the Lia Fáil be
sent over for his coronation. Murtagh agreed and Fergus was crowned as king of
Dál Riata, helping to protect his people from Pictish raids. When the time came
to return the Lia Fáil Fergus refused and it has never since returned to
Inisfáil.
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The coming of the
children of Odin; heathen warriors from the north, no longer happy to just raid
the coasts, settle in the Kingdom of Northumbria and later in both Alba and
Éire herself.
There were many
battles between the Pictii and the Gaels until at last their combined army
suffered a defeat at the hands of the Norsemen. From this disaster Cináed mac
Ailpín, born of a Pict Princess, and the King of Dál Riata came forth to merge
the lands of the Scoti and Pictii into the kingdom of Alba. King Cináed moved
eastwards, establishing his capital in the former Pictland, though some time
later the Norse claimed the kingdom of Dál Riata.
Some of the
descendants of Gael’s people settle with the Norse incomers and are given the
epithet Black by the foreign Germanic tribes, for some still shared the dark
hair and eyes of their Iberian kin; those of shared culture become known as
Gall-Ghàidheal (Foreign-Gaels or Norse-Gaels).
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Over time all in
Alba become known as Scots and eventually Alba itself took the name Scotland, Land
of the Scots Gaels. The Lia Fáil became the coronation stone to this new
kingdom.
Some of the
Gall-Ghàidheal migrate to Éire, working as Galloglass mercenaries, often acting
as bodyguards for Irish chieftains; as foreigners they were more immune to clan
rivalries. Upon completion of their service some received land in Éire and many
settled there. They were known for wielding the massive two-handed Sparth axe and
the broadsword or claidheamh mór, a two-handed sword.
Many battles were
fought between the thrones of Scotland and England and in the end many from the
land of the Scots died of famine or disease, yet more were forced to leave
their homes; the clearances led to the scattering of the clan; some left for
new lands while others headed south to the lands of the Germanic tribes.
My aim is to create a graphic novel-style version of the saga with maps, a pronounciation guide as well as a dramatis persona for the key people.
I have managed to get access to an A3 scanner so I have replaced my recent graphic images in the gallery with new scans which I'm sure you will agree are much clearer.
I have also added another 5 images to the gallery, continuing with my exploration of my dyslexia. Difficulty relating to and interacting with other people is something that is fairly new to most people when considering dyslexia. I am realising that the problems caused or thrown up by dyslexia extend far beyond the classroom and learning, they are a life-long cause of frustration, anger and isolation. I hope that these images go some way to expressing this as words always fail me.
I have finally finished the outline of the Clan Saga and the Leabhar Gabhála Éire (Book of the Takings of Ireland). I am now kind of shell-shocked as this is something I have been planning for a looong time. I was rummaging through some note books earlier today and found notes on this from at least 6-10 years ago so I am glad to finally get there. The plan now is to start to polish the Saga and work on some sketches to mull over ideas for the final result which is likely to be a graphic novel. Once the Clan Saga is done I would like to have a go at the Takings of Éire as well. Who knows, maybe that will be something I can market as there are no real editions of the myth out there, other than in more academic texts.
I have also been working on a new art project. With extra duties at work I have found myself struggling a lot recently and have been busily sketching a lot of small graphic panels, much in the vein of my Graduation Project; check out the gallery page; see above for an example. During the half term break from work I managed to get half a dozen of these down and am feeling much better for it; my dyslexia restricts me from expressing myself so instead I have turned to art work. I am still making lots of sketches so there will be more panels to come. I do have a few ideas for other projects in the future but I am going to take things slowly for now.
its been a while since I posted anything here as my day job is taking up most of my time at the moment. However, I have been on a half term this week so have managed to get some art work done, which I should be putting up over the weekend. Its not directly related to my over-arching long term projects and yet...at the same time...it is. All will be revealed soon...
On to the reviews with the first being The Atlantean Irish: Ireland's Oriental and Maritime Heritage by Bob Quinn with a foreword by Barry Cunliffe. This is quite an interesting read, Mr Quinn puts forward the idea that Ireland should look less to it's 'Celtic' roots and more to its relatively unrecognised Islamic heritage from North Africa and the Middle East.
For the most part Ireland and to a certain extent Britain has been seen as being on the very edge of the world when looking at the Ancient World due to it being an island towards the north of mainland Europe yet Mr Quinn proposes that when seen from the sea Ireland is just a short sail up the coast from Spain and goes on to provide a lot of evidence highlighting the waves of influence coming directly from the Mediterranean rather than 'the long way' over mainland Europe. This did not really come as a great surprise as the Book of Invasions tells of the waves of invades from the sea but what was surprising is the considerable amount of proof showing the Islamic influence. The Islamic empire that spread right over to Spain is largely ignored and forgotten to the general population in this country, I feel; the only reason I know anything about it at all is because I saw half of El Cid a few years ago!
The next book I wanted to talk about is Galloglass 1250-1600: Gaelic Mercenary Warrior by Fergus Cannan and published by Osprey. This was another interesting and very informative book looking at the Scottish Galloglass mercenaries fighting in Ireland. While researching for the Black Clan Saga I came across a mention of Galloglass on Wikipedia as being 'foreign warriors' of half Gaelic & half Norse stock who left their homes in Scotland and fought for Irish Chiefs. The book went quite some way to filling in the always highly dubious information on Wikipedia (well not dubious but always to be taken with a pinch of salt and double checked).
Both of these books got me thinking though; in the book of invasions we learn of the waves of 'invaders' who arrive in Inisfáil (Eire/Ireland) and take over the country but each wave never fully replaces those who came before. In many ways the waves of invaders may well have pushed up the previous wave into the north east of the country, at least culturally. Perhaps this could go some way to explaining the troubles in Ireland between the Catholics and the Protestants; that they are merely continuing a fued, all be it with different reasons or different names for the cause, rather like the tale of the two warring states in Gullivers Travels who have always hated each other (it turns out that war started as an argument over the correct way to open an egg). I have little knowledge of these troubles other than what I have gleaned from films, documentaries and the news so that is in no way an informed opinion, rather a casual question/ observation.
What is very clear from reading both these books is that the idea of a nation based on racial ideas is ridiculous. If any one in the British Isles is Scottish, Irish, Welsh or English then we all are. These labels are a fabrication, convenient boxes to be used but not mistaken for truth. Rather I think we should see ourselves as a collection of tribes spread over island landmasses, and beyond. Even then our tribes are a convenient boxing but at least they highlight that we are a collection of tribes with shared heritage in this country rather than scabbling like children over the "I dislike you because your English/Irish/Welsh/Scottish" argument.
I should also say that I have been progressing with both the Clan Saga and the Book of Invasions this week and am on the verge, I think, of starting to tie them into a narrative. Then I just need to work on some illustrations and I will hopefully have the Clan Saga finished before I get married next year as it would be something I like to share with my future wife, in a non-confusing scribbled over format, lol.
Well after a busy summer I am now having a busy return to work so I haven't managed to do much recently. I have just finished compiling what I have so far though.
I have the outline of the Clan Saga down now and am returning to the Leabhar Gabhála Éirenn (the Takings of Ireland) to explore this sweeping epic. This work will then feed back into the Clan Saga. After this I can then polish the Clan Saga and hopefully start work on an illuminated version. At the moment I am unsure if I want to do a modern graphic novel or try to go the route of the old-school illuminated manuscript...I have a sneaking suspicion it will be somewhere between the two!
Well the research is slowly moving forward. I am trying to reconcile the Book of Invasions with Scottish myths from the Scoticronicon as well as attempting to remove the overtly Christian parts of the tale.
I have been reading a book titled 'The Atlantean Irish', an interesting read exploring the influence spreading from North Africa and the Arab world up the coast of Spain and western Europe to Ireland. This theory goes some way to support the basic ideas of Ireland being colonized by people living in Iberia. I have yet to finish the work but it the author seems eager to dispel the myth of races, particularly the 'Celts' and their association in Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
I want to create a primarily family focused origin myth and it can be difficult to avoid getting too way-laid by sometimes bizarre myths, Christian and colonial propaganda, as well as modern theories ancestral migration. I need to find a way of juggling these aspects to identify and retain the poetic core of the myth.
I am still loving this project despite its confusing and sometimes contradictory elements...I just need to find what I need so I can tie these threads together.
Just finished another great book, The Seven Daughters of Eve by Bryan Sykes. This interesting book explores the genetic matriarchal link from mother to daughter through mitochondrial DNA. During his research the author and his team have identified 7 distinct genetic groups or clans, from whom 95% of Europe can claim ancestry. His work also explores the human clans of the world and how they have migrated from Africa since the dawn of time.
Most of the book looks at the evolution of the authors work and how he reached his conclusions, with the information presented in an easily understood form. The later part of the book narrates a glimpse into the life of each of the 7 Clan Mothers. These mini-stories really help to bring the lives of these people to life, though obviously they have to be taken with a pinch of salt.
The most interesting thing this book brought to me was the idea that the Black Clan origin myth really is part of a larger story. Obviously I knew this anyway but still it really did bring it to the fore, keeping everything in perspective. I may well end up looking at a prequel myth or two...
The idea of belonging to one of the 7 Clans of Europe is also quite interesting and the author has set up a business where you can find out; Oxford Ancestors. It would be cool to find out but its a bit pricey, something for the future perhaps.
The research is slowly coming along but I'm hoping to speed things up again next week. I need to do more sketching as well.
Just finished a great little book a colleague from work lent to me - A Short History of Myth by Karen Armstrong.
As the title would suggest this book explores the evolution of myth which is broken down into 6 periods; Palaeolithic, Neolithic, Early Civilisations, Axial Age, Post-Axial and the Great Western Transformation. A history of myth does seem a little bit of a contradiction, especially for me as I feel that myth gives a more accurate portrait of what was than written history.
I really enjoyed this book, it works as a nice counter-point to the writings of Joseph Campbell who is very scholarly in his style of writing whereas Karen does embrace the spiritual more readily. This spiritual leaning does bring up the only problem I had with the book, a bias towards the religions of the Middle East, which comes to the fore in the Chapter on the Early Civilisations and onwards. This is hardly surprising as Karen is a former Nun, in a Roman Catholic Order. The last chapter suggests the growing spiritual malaise in the West is firmly due to the dismissal of myth by the rational and scientific mind.
Overall a good read written in a straight forward style.
I have the basic structure to the Black Clan origin myth. I actually started this a while back and have had it just about finalized in my head, at least for now. The last few weeks I have been researching into the Milesians and their invasion of Ireland. Few what I have so far...
The basic creation myth with Dana & Bíle
I may include a bit about other invasions of Ireland but I doubt it
Míl hears of the death of his nephew Ith at the hands of the three sons of Ogma and decides to set sail to Ireland where he will conquer it as revenge. Míl dies en route but his sons and wife, Scota, continue
The sons of Míl wage war against the Dé Danaan and Scota is killed. Peace between the Milesians and Dé Danaan, who enter the Sidhe mounds; the Milesians divide Éire (Ireland) between them
Over time the Scots or Irish spread to Alba and fight against the Picts
The arrival of the sons of Odin
The Highland Clearances - the clan scatters and my branch heads south to Northen England
Obviously this is a very rough start and I still have a bit more research to do before I move onto the slow migration of the Scots to Alba and the subsequent battles against the Picts. The plan is to move through the basic structure fleshing out as I go, I then want to go back and give the whole saga a good polish. Lots to do but I hope to get a lot done over the summer...hopefully.
It occurred to me that it might be a good idea to share some of the cool and inspiring books and films I have seen, with you. All the items I will review in this blog will all have something to do with Gaelic (Celtic) or Norse myth and/or history. As you can imagine my research is leading me to all sorts of interesting texts so I thought I had best make a start.
First up is Outlander, which is directed by Howard McCain; a cunning reworking of the Beowulf myth. Set in ancient Norway, a space ship crash lands releasing a fearsome stow-away. Kainan, the only survivor of the crash, is caught by a group of Norse and attempts to convince them to hunt the beast down. We find out that Earth is an abandoned seed-colony of Kainan's people and it is they who hunted the Moorwen, the beastie, to extinction. At least they thought they had untill it kills Kainan's family and stows-away on board his ship.
The Norse are understandably reluctant to go on the hunt when Kainan starts talking of a dragon but soon the evidence speaks for itself, leading to the ultimate face-off...Vikings vs. an Alien-monster!
It sounds like a load of old tosh but I found it fun, entertaining and an interesting working of the tale; my finance enjoyed it as well, bonus! I think I'd have to give it a solid 4 Stars!
Next up is Druids: The Ogham Sacrifice, a graphic novel by Dalen books. It's the first volume of a murder mystery and thriller set around the time of the Celts conversion to Chrisitianity. Someone is bumping off Christian monks and leaving behind evidence pointing to the druids.
Gwynlan, a respected druid, and his apprentice are drawn into the events and set about trying to figure out whats going on. Along the way we meet Padrig, the future Saint Patrick, and visit the city of Ker-Is which some of you may recognise from the Breton myth of an ancient drowned city.
Really, this book is setting the scene and the key players of the tale so it's hard to know how it's all going to turn out, both in terms of quality and the narrative. I did enjoy the tale and appreciate the quality of the artwork but mainly I am left with an urge to find out what happens next... If I could read Welsh then I could find out now but unfortunately I don't so will have to wait till it is released in English.
I have lots more films and books to review at some point so keep an eye out. I have also been continuing my research and I hope to put something up soon(ish). Have a good week!
The research for this project is like a flower bud opening...the more it opens the more there is to to see. It's so unbelievably complicated as different versions of the myths share some similarities then shoot off in different directions, not to mention the addition of Christian influences who added their own flavour.
Characters are dropped and never heard from again, while one character, Bilé appears to be both the son and father of Míl as well as the God of Death. Slowly though I hope to bring all together and pluck the story strands needed to bring some sort of harmony. Having said that I would still like to keep in elements of anarchy...for without which their would be a lack of flavour, lol.
I can reveal my new project is something I have been wanting to do for many years...an origin myth for my family! I have been looking into this for many years but I have finally started to stitch it all together.
I am in the process of compiling all the info I can find and have done a few simple storyboard sketches, like the one shown. My aim is to use this research to write a script and so create a graphic novel detailing the origin myths of my family and out ancestral heritage. Everything that will go into it will be genuine myths though a certain amount of creative licence will be needed to fill in the gaps, I am going to be covering two and a half thousand years here!
I will be working on the research over the next few months as well as lots of sketching to get me back into the flow. I have no idea when this will be finished as there will be a lot of work involved but I hope to produce something that I will be able to share with my family and my eventual children, in short it is a life long dream, so no small order then, lol.
I have reviewed and reduced the price of the tees! They are reduced from £17.50 to £13.50, that's an impressive saving of £4 each. I have also decided to give away a free shopping bag if you buy two or more tees!
The revisions to the website are nearly done and hopefully will be finished by the weekend. I have also started a new project and am hoping to have something I want to share with you by the end of the week!
I am currently in the process of re-working this site as my life and direction has taken quite a change right over the last year or so. This website is going to become more of a project log for my personal work and I am hoping to keep it updated regularly with my progress so stay tuned for the changes happening this week!
Take a look in the gallery to see my latest work, The Rescue of Etain.
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