Hand of Glory & 6

I created 6 more book forms for my Etsy shop. This time I used the paper that I hand patterned from my previous post for my end paper and I think it really is just what this series needed. My favorite piece out of this series is my Harry Potter inspired reliquary!

 image size: 3.5"x 5" total size approx. 7"x 5"

In the Chamber of Secrets Harry follows Draco into Borgin and Burkes and encounters the Hand of Glory, a severed, mummified hand that is said to give light only its beholder. A favorite talisman for thieves and other persons of shady reputation Draco uses it to escape the Room of Requirement after using Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder. (Haven't seen it? What are you waiting for!) So, enamored as I am with the hamsa symbol I merged the two together to create one creepy image.

Hand of Glory

A few more from my new series, see the rest at my Etsy store: Samskrits

 

Jewel

 

 

Meditation

 I've been working with a lot of neutrals, blacks and browns. I did this to keep everything simple at first, not sure where I would want to go after I made the first few book forms. Now that I've made a good amount I think it's time I move forward with some color!

Also, my themes will be expanding, I am (obviously) very interested in the spiritual, symbols, charms and iconography of religions and cultures. I will continue to explore this genre but spiraling out to include more of the occult and mysteries and also some main stream things. I have some really great plans for my next couple of series and I can't wait to share them with everyone!

More Etsy (for your Betsy?)

More reliquary book forms posted to Etsy today, check em' out! more styles are soon to come as well! 

Varada Mudra

Protection

Tarjani

Reliquaries & Keepsakes

I've always been really taken with religious artwork from The Reformation and Fourteenth and Fifteenth centuries but since I watched all of The Tudors on Netflix a few weeks ago it kind of kicked off a new level of obsession.  Which then turned into a bit of Jane Austen obsession as well, (two words: Mr. Darcy) damn you Netflix suggestions.  So, when I wanted to make a keepsake for  my wonderful man, Mark, who has flown south to Florida for the winter I painted a small self-portrait housed in a tiny reliquary so he doesn't forget the face of his true lady love. The little guy stands on it's own and also can be fastened shut with the twine and button.

7 3/4"x5", bookboard, book cloth, hand printed Japanese paper, oil on canvas, twine, found button

 Inspired by this marriage of my two loves; bookmaking and fine art painting. I have dived into a production of a lot more of these with various internal images. Here is a sneak peek of my desk as I'm working on the first set of four!

Until next time friends, namaste!