I've always loved this fairytale of The Six Swans by J.L.C and W.C. Grimm. Having three older brothers, I feel empathy for the Swan Sister and her quest to bring back her brothers from separation. Variations of this beautiful tale are; The Six Swans, The Children of Lir and The Wild Swans.

The name of the swan in Scots Gaelic is - Eala.
Irish - Ela.
Welsh and Old Celtic - Alargh.

In the night sky, the constellation Cygnus, depicts a swan gliding through the Milky Way.

Swans have many different meanings in myth and folklore. They symbolize freedom, fidelity, love, companionship and loyalty.
Swans are also connected to the arts and mystics, dreamers and the Fairy Realm making them a wonderful totem animal for children.

In Celtic lore, swans can mean inspiration from the Otherworld, an enduring love and a symbol of transformation. The white swan is associated with the sun and the black swan with the night.

England and Celtic traditions, the swan is a powerful and ancient power animal. Here the swan is associated with goddesses of healing waters. They are connected with music, love, purity and the soul. They have mastered the three elements of earth, air and water, and are often fairy depicted as women in disguise who helps us to the Otherworld.

At certain festivals, such as at Samhain, Beltain or Summer Solstice, a swan can transform herself back into human form.

Native American traditions, from the Mayan to the Cheyenne, there is a story of a swan that tells a dragonfly that he has learned to surrender his body to the power of spirit and was taken to where the future lives. He saw many wonders high on sacred mountains and because of his faith and his acceptance he has been changed. He has learned to accept the state of grace. http://www.medicinecards.com/

Swan is the bird who may enter the Dreamtime and bring back knowledge and healing to the tribe.
(By David Carson and Jamie Sams. page. 192 - 195.)
In the Medicine Cards, the Swan teaches us to be at one with all planes of consciousness, and to trust in Great Spirit's protection. The Swan tells you ''accept your ability to know what lies ahead. Pay attention to your gut feelings and intuition''. Swan often indicates a soul level experience is about to commence.

Reversed - the Swan tells you to be more grounded and to pay attention to the unseen. Notice your surroundings and touch the earth, be still and focus on one reality or the other - the Dreamtime or the Mundane World. Stop the clutter in your mind and listen, or focus on a physical activity that will ground you. ( Medicine Cards. page. 195.)


The Druid Animal Oracle - by Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm.
http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/druid-animal-oracle/

Wonderful Blog by Surlalune Fairytales.
http://surlalunefairytales.blogspot.com/


Prints will be available in my etsy shop soon.

Collection of paintings and spirit art dolls.

These are a few of the new paintings I've been creating over the winter months for a solo exhibition at the 'Shire Hall' in Bodmin this May. These are smaller paintings to be shown with the larger landscape canvases.

 My little girl, Megan has been helping me to make spirit art dolls with painted calico. Sewing tiny crystal chips and beads onto these dolls to give them extra specialbility. A few rag dolls inspired from people we meet at the summer festivals. We have yet to make more clothing for them from recycled fabrics and found treasures.  I will be selling the spirit dolls soon.

Artwork by Amanda Clark 2011

Re-newing from the old.

Rediscovering the ideas of past paintings.


Looking back at the artwork I painted about 15 years ago has given me the inspiration to mix up the old with the new. Extending the body of work of the last few years.
The warm coloured paintings of the 'Old World' interiors are places of the heart and home with secret places, doorways and stairs leading the viewer on mysterious wanderings and things to explore; artifacts, sacred objects, candle holders and cupboards.

'Morning Light' by Amanda Clark

Within these works of art I began painting doorways and windows connecting directly with the outside world. Contrasting landscapes and views of the natural world with folklore and fairytale, stories and journeys, another world of mystery and magic.    The windows and doorways connecting us to our soul's journeys.   Secrets being revealed at every turn on our path.
Every new day brings along with it some beautiful new bird song, light and wisdom.

'Persephone'. An illustration from the book 'The Miracle of Flowers'

'Persephone' by Amanda Clark. 2010.


Snowdrops are here!  Spring is on it's way and I want to write a little about the Greek creation myth and the Goddess, Persephone.

Beautiful Persephone is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter ( Mother Earth ). Persephone is the Goddess of Spring and helps Demeter tend to the plant kingdom.
Hades, lord of the underworld, snatches Persephone away and makes her Queen of the underworld without Zeus's consent.
Her mother Demeter is broken hearted and thought her daughter had left. Demeter stopped tending to the plant kingdom and went in search for Persephone. Animals and humans began to starve. 
Demeter insisted to Zeus that Persephone was found and returned to her. So Zeus went to talk to Hades and begged that Persephone leave the underworld before everyone on earth starved to death.  Hades protested. Zeus with all his power declared that Persephone's marriage will be void as long as she ate nothing from the garden of the underworld.  Hades managed to woo Persephone with a pomegranate and she ate this fruit from the garden of the underworld which consummated her marriage to Hades.  So as the story goes, Persephone must return to Hades and the underworld at the beginning of every winter but her return to Zeus and Demeter marks the beginning of spring.

I love to see the earth come to life again in February. The catkins on hazel, daffodil bulbs pushing through the earth. Birds are getting busy and their songs are floating in the crystal air. I can feel the winter lifting and my time of introspecting during the long nights are ending to bring new energy and creativity  into the light once again.  Time for sewing seeds.

Habondia. Goddess painting in my etsy shop.

  Habondia    by    Amanda Clark      2010        

Habondia  is said to be descended from a Germanic Goddess of the earth.  The Anglo-Saxon Goddess of abundance and prosperity.   In Medieval times she was a special divinity of witches, teaching the work of herbs and their virtues.

Myths, fairytales and ancient stories.

http://www.endicott-studio.com/jMA06Winter/index.html

This link is to the most cherished fairytales,and sometimes more adult myth stories.
There is a wealth of knowledge and art passed down through the other worldly years.

'Oldy World' Interiors.

I  was inspired by mysteriously old world interiors early on in my career. A fragment of pre-raphaelites.  I must have painted nearly 200 .  I loved the way the natural wood tones created a warm and cozy light and how the trinkets told a story of the people and how things were past down to them, usually handmade.    Maybe I'll paint a few new ones with a 'twist' this year.

Artist Rima Staines. Illustration of Baba Yaga.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/66108854/baba-yaga

Strange how things wander across your path.   I 've been reading the book 'Women that run with the Wolves' and the latest story/myth was of  Baba Yaga.  Rima's illustration was shown to me today.    I love the strangeness of old fairytales and vividly wild women artists! 

power animals

A painting for Emma and Chris.

Power animals and guides are with you through out your life time and its the shamanic way to speak, dance or become one with your power animal. Whether its through journeying or working through your dreams while you sleep.. You can have many guides through out your life time depending on what attributes the animal brings and what it is you need at any moment of time. There's one very special power animal that will be with you always. 

Owl attributes are clear sightedness, intuition,wisdom, messenger of omens, comfort with shadow self, freedom and moon magic.
If owl is your power animal or guide, it can pierce through illusions and look past blocks to find the truth.  The owl can also teach us to see the darkest parts of our psyche and learn with great wisdom about that which has become hidden. The owl flys so silently through the world it can teach us how to do the same.

Commissions  for power animal paintings are always welcome. 
Email: amandaclark@hotmail.co.uk

Sleepy Winter

  Time is passing by so quickly these winter months, where does the time go!
  Today the sky was heavy with fast moving smokey clouds that seemed to make the hours rush past me as I draw and paint my new ideas and recipes of magic colours and patterns. Weaving a dream carpet of story and myth in painting.

The last week I find myself looking out for the first signs of Spring. Snowdrops beginning to push up through the leaves, their white flowers contrasting with the rich dark earth. Shining beacons of the first flowers and imbolc quietly approaching as mother nature breathing her children awake and bringing new life after the sleepy winter.

Sacred Hollow - Sam's portrait.

Exhibition at the Skye Healing Centre in Dorking, Surrey. Until January 2011.

A few more  new paintings.