'The Tanglewood' by Amber Caspian

'The Tanglewood' by Amber Caspian

Wednesday, 30 May 2012

Regal Fox

I painted the picture at the bottom for an exhibition called 'Tribal' at the gallery I run. The idea came from a doodle...
Regal Fox © Amber Caspian, 2012
...trying to express how majestic I find Foxes.  Sitting in a patch of sun, with their thick winter coat just glowing like wildfire...

...and I'm interested in our past, our ancient English tribal culture. In asking questions, such as - what is my tribe and where are its native symbols? Have we really lost all the old songs and stories from this part of our land? 
Our beautiful English countryside
I realised that I believe these things are encapsulated in some of our indigenous animals - Fox, Hare, Deer, Crow - in the way they still roam free despite the destructive changes to our countryside...

 Spinning in the Holistic garden
...and I also looked for patterns and markings in local crafts that are still with us, if we choose to look...
Pargetting Patterns
...such as patchwork, weaving, and pargetting...so that my Fox could wear his own cloak of regal colours and patterns...
...and I surrounded him in gold, so he glows like a Russian icon and we can revere him in a patch of sun or by candlelight...
Rauðr Foa Rogg © Amber Caspian, 2012
...so I named him in, probably very bad, Old English to celebrate his old English story - Rauðr Foa Rogg, which means Red Fox Rug (shaggy tuft). And so was born my 'Animal Icons'...

Saturday, 26 May 2012

Friday, 25 May 2012

One Year Old


I've been blogging for one whole year!! Time to take stock...

This was never about having lots of followers but I am very grateful for the 3 I have so far, thank you.  I am one of trillions but I have found many very interesting blogs that inspired me to do this. It took a while to get used to the idea of blogging, it felt exposing and a bit vain to start with... However it has turned out to be a very enjoyable and amazingly helpful experience.  

The aim was to gather together the things that interest and inspire me, become braver about sharing my paintings, poetry and ideas about creativity, and connect all the different threads of what make up me into something I can wear with surety.

Now I do feel that I have achieved this and begun to weave together the elements into something very positive.  I have even done things especially for it, which would not have been done otherwise.  Yet another avenue for creativity to wander down...

So here’s to the next year, filled with poetry, painting and promise J

Friday, 18 May 2012

Witches Fly-By

Today I opened my Etsy shop!  Where I am selling giclee prints of my artwork along with cards (to come soon).  Click here to see my wares....

Rocking Chair Witch (c) Amber Caspian

Wednesday, 9 May 2012

Fox

Fox  © Amber Caspian, 2012

Tuesday, 1 May 2012