Day 3... My head, heart and soul says Please - STOP THE CULL.

Tonight's small writing and small paintings come from my love of all animals, and particularly my love of Badgers. I know so many of you out there feel the same -  I was on the march where the news said 'a couple of hundred people turned out', and there we were in a peaceful and passionate crowd which numbered over 7000 people. Some of whom had come from abroad just to have their voices heard.

It's been about a year now that I've actively been involved with campaigning against the cull. I can't believe that this inhumane slaughter is now taking place. There are so many reasons why this cruel and barbaric cull is wrong.
In this blog post I'm not going to discuss details about the cull, and how it affects the Badgers, the Cattle and Farmers too, so please follow the links at the bottom of this blog post if you would like some more information.

I made some ACEO's (Art Cards, Editions and Originals) of Badgers earlier this year, and I'm going to paint some more for an auction later this week.
Here are some of my Badger ACEO's... most of them have Badger loving homes now, but there will be more coming soon.
Save Me used the Scapegoat image on their facebook page.

'Friendship'

'Scapegoat'

'Smell the Flowers'

'Moon Badger'

'Look into my Eyes'

'Innocence'

If you haven't signed the Petition yet please sign here.

For more info please visit: 

The Badger Trust

League Against Cruel Sports
Save Me

Please do what you can to protect our wildlife, and to find a more humane and effective way of dealing with Bovine TB.

Thanks for reading.
XXX

Art Blog Day 2 - Etsy and WIP

Evening all. Well there were some drawing plans for today that have as yet gone astray, but I'll hopefully bring them into tomorrow's blog.

Firstly today was beautiful, sunny and bright, and as we are in September I feel it's important to make the most of the last of the Summer Sun, as Winter feels a long time grey. I took a nice amble on to the Heath and got some inspiration from the Trees, which I'll talk more about tomorrow.

As now we are in the Ogham Tree Calendar month of Muin -  the Vine/Bramble I spent some time connecting with, and munching on the Blackberry Brambles...I sat and meditated by a large area of Bramble that was shaped like a mound or a lodge, with a small doorway in it. I'll post my thoughts and sketches on this tomorrow!

The afternoon was swept away with photographing Pendants and updating my Etsy Shop -  it does take a long time, but it was worth it! Popped some of my newest Pendants on there, so do take a look if you get a mo! :)

So the photos today are more progress on my Medusa painting... still a little way to go, but I'll share some of the images. The photo quality is not that great as they were taken on my i phone in all different lighting.

Medusa without her mask...
Night!

New Painting and Day One of September Art Blog!

One of my plans for September is to do an art blog each day of this month... so, paint brush in hand, here we go.

In order that I don't put too much extra pressure on my self (which I'm pretty good at!) if I don't have a new piece to blog about each day, I'll show the progress of some on-going work.

But by hook or by crook there WILL be art here - every day! 

Today I started painting a drawing which I've been working on for a couple of days now. It's been quite a challenge but when you see which Goddess She is you may know why!

I am passionate about the true origins of this beautiful and powerful Goddess; She has been portrayed as a 'monster' for an age. I remember watching films, where we were supposed to reel back in horror, terrified of Her 'Ugliness'. I always remember feeling a little sad for Her... these big guys coming in and chopping off her head...
Far from ugliness her true origins are in power and beauty, in a strength that may have been warped, but has not died. Always question what you are told about good and evil, black and white, monster and hero; those demonised ones (monster, whore, witch) are often mistreated in history and have the oldest story to tell.

Have a clue who She is? Much more about Her origins and myths to come! Here is a sneak peek at the beginnings of the painting. This is very much a work in progress!

The Medium is Acrylic on Wood Board.

Goddess of the Starways

The Goddess

This blog is themed around a painting I have recently completed. And a painting I have loved creating, truly and deeply. There have been some deeply magical and transformative experiences over the past few weeks, ones which have taken me to the core. These experiences have not always been comfortable, often confusing, sometimes disheartening, but highlighted with moments of brilliant clarity, connectedness and healing. A process of shift and change.

There are many things I'd like to tell you about Her; Her name, origin, how She makes me feel when I gaze into the stars of Her eyes, the meditations and journeys undertaken. But these things perhaps are not fully realised. 

Names come to mind, Ishtar,  Elen of the Ways, and in this case, the Starways.

She is distant and otherworldly, yet I sense with her a great compassion, a guiding light through the upperworlds, the stars, the forests and straight through to the heart.

Sometimes She looks at me from my easel with compassion, sometimes with frustration, but always gentle. Other times with the keys to a bigger brighter world if I just care to look and take the time.
She also has her eyes on a beautiful ornate frame, which will happen when funds allow!

Here She is:

She leads a dance of star~fyre 

On pathways carved in silver ice 

A wise web of being

All things. No thing.

Her places are the old woods

Upon shining stellar wheels

And in the depths of your heart.

Aching, loving,

Lay your tears at Her altar

Let there be no barriers to love

An offering of Transformation

Blessed. Always.

I've had some beautiful feedback already, and some have brought prints as they felt so connected to her, so 'Thank You' so much for your interest and your support. XX

https://www.etsy.com/shop/Lauraredwitch

Leopard Power Drum

Evening all,
Over the past few days I've been excitedly painting away on my Remo Buffalo Drum! I've had my drum for quite a while now -  over a year - and to be honest, I've been a bit intimidated by painting it.

But this weekend after a powerful and magical Shamanic Drum Circle with the lovely Kay Gillard, I decided to bite the bullet and get on with it.

Remo Buffalo Drum skins are completely synthetic and Vegan friendly. They make such a lovely sounds when played (by anyone else other than me :)), and as they are not 'skin' drums, they cope well in pretty much any weather.

So here are some process pictures snapped on my phone.

Here is the Naked Drum, not to be confused with the Leslie Nielsen classic film, Naked Gun...  ;)

Here begins the process of the Leopard Power Drum painting...

I journeyed before painting it, and got the vision of what I wanted strongly in my mind. As I painted I listened to drum based or tribal/shamanic songs and sounds... OK and maybe a little rock, as the afternoon turned to evening!

Peek-a-boo!

I kept the lil Remo crown logo on her head, as every Kitty deserves a tiara! ;)

To my great relief, my Leopard slowly began to appear from the drum -  and here we are - finito!

 Purrrr...

My lovely Leopard.

I also painted the sides of the drum too...

The whole experience (after all the pre painting nerves) was beautiful, magical and fun.

Now I need to find some acrylic varnish spray, so I can  (fingers and paws crossed) preserve this image for as long as possible. 

But one worry still resides... how on earth am I going to beat the drum, with such a pretty feline face on it!? 

I'll ponder on that another day! 

Good night x

TP's Pet Pawtrait

Hello all  - Happy New Year and thank you so much for all your support over 2012 -  it has meant a lot to me.

It may not have escaped your notice that I love animals, and I have had the pleasure and the honour of painting another beautiful and much loved, deceased  Kitty named TP.

TP was rescued by her loving owners when she was young, and she already had lost a leg in an accident, making her a 'tripod' Kitty hence her name TP.

Here is the finished painting of TP...

And here is the photo comparison...

I'm starting a new website named Animal Soul Art where I'll be displaying my animal art, including the pawtraits.

In the mean time if you would like any info on commissioning a Pet Pawtrait, please contact me at laura.daligan@gmail.com or check out my facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Laura-Daligan-Wyrd-Wonderful-Art-Illustration/162283088520

Wishing you all the best for 2013.

Laura x

My art and soul over 2012. A year which has torn and renewed, shocked and healed, loved and laughed, flamed and burned, and shown me the higher path... now to walk it.

Thank you so much to Gordon Burns for putting this together for me.

To love and friendship... to 2013. <3 div="div">