So, I've been enjoying painting small fantasy images lately and offering them on eBay. Sometimes it takes me such a long time to finish a larger painting because of my very detailed style, that these smaller ones offer me a sense of accomplishment while I'm working on the larger paintings. That said, I feel an inner pressure to finally finish my Love Faerie painting, which I'm sure you are sick of hearing about and not seeing any progress on, however, rest assured I have made progress and will show photos soon. No, really!

My new painting "Banished" is for sale on eBay, and you can see it here: See Banished!. Thanks so much for taking a peek!

This painting is somewhat connected to the novel I'm writing as the young vampire in it looks like my main character. There are slight differences, but for all intents and purposes, it's her. I think I've said this before, but one discipline seems to feed the other, because as soon as I finished this painting the story in my head continued--there is a ghost in the projection room and he just runs the film when he wants. Creativity is a mysterious thing.

Well, back to work. Vampire Nips!

I'm often inspired by myths and the creatures that inhabit them. Two such beings I find particularly fascinating are the 'incubus' and 'succubus.' I suppose it's not surprising that we human beings found a way to blame something 'otherworldly' for our weaknesses, but I admire our collective imagination, and the stories we tell each other, even if some are meant to pry us out of a tight spot.

Our world can sometimes seem a scary place, and otherworldly forces are just as good an explanation as any. In the world of myth seducer/murderer faeries also exist. "Leanan-Sidhe" is a Faerie woman said to inspire artists and poets. But her gift comes with a price; she takes their lives early in exchange for their artistic brilliance. She is also said to be a seducer/murderer Faerie.

Why is it that so often beauty and power are considered treacherous? Fatal, even? It's fascinating, but I suppose in our struggle to understand why a young poet might spend his brilliance too early, never to write again, or why an artist might take his own life, we arrive at a place of story, of myth, of something larger than ourselves...

There is no explanation.

Only the sound of the teller's voice and our amazed eyes as we witness the awesome power of nature.

I recently discovered that I really like the idea of 'fauns,' Roman mythological creatures that are half goat and half human. My version of the 'faun' has deer antlers. This is an ACEO original collector's card, size 2.5" x 3.5". It has already been sold on eBay, but I wanted to share it with you on my blog. I painted Faun Faerie using watercolors and acrylics, my favorite combination, on Arches 140 lb watercolor paper.

In keeping with the idea of fauns, I've recently created a Faun Faery Healer. She is not quite finished yet, but will be up on eBay Thursday, June 3rd, so take a look tomorrow night. If you are on my mailing list, you will be updated promptly so you don't miss out. She will be the first of her kind and is holding a labradorite gemstone. She is a little bit 'Goth' with black and blue hair and pearlized blue lips. She's really cute, and I wish I could keep her for myself! :-)

Happy Father's Day and Happy Summer Solstice!

Brightest Blessings,
Janice