'Muspellsheim'

'You can invent mythologies,but for them to work,they have to come from someplace deeper inside you'. 
Anne Rice,Memnoch the Devil.

The body of work I'm currently putting together is for Spring Fling,the open doors arts event that takes place on the  Bank Holiday weekend of the 25-27th May,2013.93 artists & makers are involved across Dumfries & Galloway,SW Scotland.

I find that having a narrative underpinning my work gives it meaning and adds extra dimension.Norse mythology, as in many other cultures is concerned with the birth of the world,of Gods and  of men.At the dawn of time there was neither sand nor sea.In the South lay the land of fire,Muspellsheim. From there, rivers poured whose water contained a bitter poison which slowly set and became solid....    

                'Muspellsheim'
                 50 x 50cm
                 Mixed media on canvas

Firstly I build texture & layers on the canvas using a variety of media-gesso,sand,paper,modelling paste etc.Washes of paint are then built up ,eventually using thick paint daubed on.Ink and gold leaf add the finishing touches.....