CeltoiCroi

"Sisterhood"

2011-02-18T05:30:00.000-08:00

I come from a family of six children,

all thankfully alive and well.

I am the fourth child, the youngest daughter/sister,

with my brother being the baby of the family.

My sister, turned 40 in November of 2010,

and to commemorate the occasion, I designed a sculpture for her.

here is the result....

The Ash which became my Sculpture.....

step by step

sanding my piece of ash

priming and preparing

for my 'canvas' to be ready

an image designed by myself
portraying my sister and I,
our totem animals,
the butterfly and dragonfly,
and the celtic symbol of sisterhood...

my sister and I as children

me on the left, she on the right

the large heart between us symbolize our parents
the six smaller hearts, both of us and our siblings

and so the filling in begins.....

a very VERY slow process

Almost finished........

unfortunately I gave the sculpture to her before taking the final photo.... this will be posted asap.

hope you like the work xx

O B McC

Saras birthday present

2011-02-18T03:55:00.000-08:00

I'd love you all to check out Kittiwake design blog @
http://kittiwakedesign.blogspot.com/2011/01/celtoicroi.html
you'll be glad you did, and may even find a lovely heart
on your travels.....
(you will also get to see a piece of my work)

MUSIC PAINTING - Glocal Sound - Matteo Negrin

2011-01-18T14:49:00.000-08:00

2010-12-14T03:56:00.000-08:00

My 'Mother & Child' lamp

available to buy at the moment exclusively to

Tobergal Lane Cafe, Sligo

http://www.tobergallanecafe.ie/

also available from the 'Mother & Child' range,

original, authentic, one of a kind....

'Mother & Child' clock, sculpture and tealight holder....

hope you like them as much as I enjoyed making them!

Craft Fair....Christmas 2010

2010-12-06T16:25:00.000-08:00

(my first ever Craft Fair)

My small table display at a local fundraiser
for the Sligo Cancer Support Centre.

Me sitting proud as punch at my first ever 'Craft Fair'.

This photo was taken moments after my "owl mirror" (below)

was bought by a lovely man who seemed to be magically drawn to it.

(please click on any photo to enlarge)

as always comments are always welcome.

The Moment Of Truth

2010-09-18T17:35:00.000-07:00

.... have you ever been able to capture
an image that mirrors the way you feel,
at that particular moment in time,
making you think that it's okay to believe....

it's down to me now

just believe....

The Giants Causeway

2010-09-07T12:45:00.000-07:00

Myself, Andy and my girls took a visit to the Giants Causeway, a landmark in Ireland steeped in myth and known for its magic and mysticism. The giant said to have lived here thousands of years ago, went by the name of Fionn MacCumhaill.
The Giants Causeway is one of Irelands most recognized natural attractions, and has been fascinating visitors and attracting tourists for the last 3 centuries. It was named a World Heritage site in 1986. Someone counted the hexagonal columns of basalt rock on Ireland’s northernmost coast as numbering 38,000, stretching like stepping stones along the coastline of north Antrim County. Officially formed by the cooling and contraction of a volcanic rock pool 60 million years ago, the Giant’s Causeway gets its name from the mythic legend of Fionn MacCumhaill.
MacCumhaill was a giant with a giant ego. He is said to have been married to a woman with a great deal more sense than he. He could see the shoreline of his enemy giant, Banandonner, in Scotland across the sea and built a causeway across the water to take him on, only to discover that the Scotish giant was much larger than his distant view had suggested. Finn McCool ran home to his wife, Oonagh, beside himself with what to do. His clever wife had the idea to disguise her husband as a baby and put him in a hastily made cradle. When Benandonner came a-pounding on the door, she invited him in for tea. On seeing how large the infant was, and imaging how large a giant the father must be, the Scottish Giant ran home and ripped up the causeway after himself, to keep Finn MacCool from following him.

   Lara, my eldest took a snap of us on the columns


       Andy, Katy, Eba & Ana on the Giants' Boot The LONG walk ahead.....

"The Versatile Blogger" Award

2010-08-26T13:29:00.000-07:00

   I'm embarrassed at the little time I've spent on my blog since May. Summer holidays arrived, along with four children who forget most of the time that Mum works for herself, by herself, from home. My mothering instinct kicked in, and the rest of the world ceased to exist.....

   Now, the summer holidays are coming to an end, we are 7 weeks in, to an 8 week long break..."my fingers and imagination are getting itchier and itchier.... creation is inevitable". Logging on to my blog after a long time of not working seemed alien....like I'd been to the moon and back, and to my delight found that I had received an award.

   To my amazement, Roisin at "Child of Danu" thought me worthy enough to award me "The Versatile Blogger" award, which I thank her for wholeheartedly.

The award came with a few conditions, which are as follows:

(1.) to thank and link back to the person who gave you the Versatile Blogger Award,
so again...thank you Roisin at http://childofdanu.blogspot.com/,

'go raibh mile maith agat',

I am honored!

(2.) to share 7 things about myself,
   so here it goes....
   I cannot function without my pot of coffee in the morning.
   I am the fifth child of six siblings.
   I love dark chocolate and jellies.
   My children inspire me to try new things.....often.
   I learned to ice skate last weekend (thank you Andy & Katy).
   I would love to live somewhere warm, and will do one day.
   It is my ambition to grow my own fruit and veg, and adopt chickens, ducks and a dog.

(3.) to pass the Versatile Blogger Award along to 10 bloggers who I have recently discovered and who I think are fantastic for whatever reason!
   (a) The Waking Artist @ http://shariyahgarner.blogspot.com
   (b) A Note From your Mother @ http://amazingmotherearth.blogspot.com
   (c) Pupa Art @ http://pupaart.blogspot.com/
   (d) Declan Burke from Crime Always Pays @ http://crimealwayspays.blogspot.com/
   (e) Creative Evolution @ http://www.sandrawalter.com/
   (f) Kelly Lish from Love Is My Religion @ http://kelly-loveismyreligion.blogspot.com
   (g) Patti from PBs Art Studio @ http://pbsartstudio.blogspot.com/
   (h) Ronnie Biccard from Ronnie Biccard Artist @ http://ronniebiccardart.blogspot.com/
   (i)   Sandy from My Fiddlestix @ http://myfiddlestix.blogspot.com/
   (j) Lisa Lectura from Lisa Lectura Creations @ http://llcreations.blogspot.com

(4.) to contact the bloggers I’ve picked and let them know about the Versatile Blogger Award.

'there is such a huge amount of talent,

from every corner of the globe,

to aspire to,

to inspire or be inspired by,

to learn from,

to question, to answer....

thank you to all those talented awe inspiring artistes out there

I learn something new every day,

xx Oonagh

2010-05-06T09:45:00.001-07:00

To Be Honoured With An Award

I am excited and honoured to be given a

" blog award "

by the very talented and creative

Shannon from http://gypsymoonart.blogspot.com/.

Shannons amazing, magical, intricate jewelry

are fit for ancient Celtic Goddesses & Queens,

quite inspiring......

In return, I get to "pay it forward" to

three Artists/Crafters that inspire me in my day to day.

If I could, I'd return the honour to Shannon...

here are my award nominees.....

Evangelina Prieto at http://elpuestuflora.blogspot.com

whose beautiful art speaks the only words needed,

when language is a barrier,

proving that art is the only language needed...

Katie M. Berggren at http://kmberggren.com/

Katies paintings of intimate moments of motherhood,

release emotions that only she,

as a fabulous fine artist can do....

and

Donna Jensen (Donna Heart) at http://donnajensen.blogspot.com/

Donnas mixed media skills are at a stage that

many mixed media artists hope 'some day' to accomplish

"I hope you feel as inspired and creative as I do,

each and every time I log onto their websites...."

2010-04-12T05:25:00.000-07:00

Initial Sketch ....... 'Tree of Life'

Pen & Ink .....'Tree of Life'

End Result ....... 'Tree of Life'

The 'Tree of Life' played a major symbolic role in the Celtic way of life, as it still does today for many Cultures worldwide.

Queen Mebh (Queen of Connacht)

2010-02-11T14:49:00.000-08:00

This is my first drawing

after what seems like a long time of nothingness....

I cannot describe in words, the urge to create

that just seemed to take over on Monday.....

pencil in hand, my heart ruled my head, and I began to create.

Even though its a long way from being finished,

and the first of many sketches, before I reach the end...

it felt good to finally get an idea down on paper.

The lady in the drawing, has been a part of my life since I was a child.

Before I even knew what Celtic Mythology was,

Queen Mebh was an unspoken presence.

Her grave, on top of Knocknerea Mountain,

was what seemed like a stones throw from our front door.

As a child, I was somewhat oblivious to its significance and history...

taking for granted a part of my past,

that outlived 2,000 years of generations before me.

As a child, I was unaware as I walked with Mum and Dad,

through the woods on the side of Knockerea,

of the thousands of years, and the hundereds of thousands of lives,

that had walked my steps before me.

Queen Mebh ruled Connacht,
one of the four provinces in Ireland over 2,000 years ago.

She was a figure with outstanding beauty and power,

a Queen who ruled with an iron fist, and a cold heart.

2010-02-04T09:48:00.000-08:00

I feel like I've been hibernating,
that I'm waking up from the longest sleep ever
the winter has been soooo long and cold.

I feel like there's a huge part of me missing....
......I havn't been dreaming,
........I havn't been creating,
and so.... I havn't been living creatively
                               to the best of my ability,
I really enjoyed the time I've spent with by girls.
It's a huge blessing to be able to spend the time I do with my beautiful beautiful children.
                        BUT
I've not been living out my dreams.

I feel like I have been on a go slow for FAR too long now...
everything and anything has taken precedence over my creative flow.
And so ends the time for putting everyone else first.

I am now READY.

I NEED TO CREATE....
                                  ....I NEED TO BE ME.

Nollaig Shona duit

2009-12-17T01:11:00.000-08:00

the girls had mystical and magical visit with Santa

@ Florence Court, Co. Fermanagh, N.Ireland

2009-12-16T16:42:00.000-08:00

Showcase @ The Glasshouse, Sligo for SWIB (Sligo Women In Business) Christmas Night. First time for others to view my work. Very encouraging and positive thoughts on the night, a great reaction, and a step closer to me realizing my dreams. The more I show and talk about my work and what I do, the easier it gets and the more confident I get about my ability to create beautiful pieces of functional art.

Work in progress.... mythological love

2009-12-16T01:40:00.000-08:00

This is a mirror I'm working on at the moment, its the story I have in my head, with the mythological mer-people coming to life. In the story, the mermaid (pic 2) on the bottom right-hand corner is in turmoil, she has two lovers..... the merman on the left (pic 4), and the love of her life, who is set to stand on the shore-line above her on the right hand side of the mirror.

The left of the mirror is dedicated to the moon (night time when the mer-people emerge) hence the owl (pic 5) in the left hand top corner which is (or rather will be) accompanied by the moon. The right of the mirror is dedicated to the sun (daytime) and everything else that lives by the light of the sun. I hope you find it as interesting to look at, as much as I have found to create.

Please come back soon and see the finished work, as always comments are appreciated and valued. I look forward to hearing from you,

Oonagh xx

The Dragonfly.... symbol of Dreams, Illusion & Truth

2009-11-03T11:46:00.000-08:00

The Dragonfly Lamp......

imagery burned onto wood using pyrography method.

This is my first lamp crafted by my own hands....I hope you like it, xx Oonagh.

2009-10-22T16:15:00.000-07:00

Ancient Celts are reknowned for their passion for life.

They loved to love, as much as they loved to fight for what they believed in.

Not much has changed 2,000 years later.

Symbolism played a major role in the Celtic way of life.

The Sun.

The Moon.

The Stars.

Earth.

Water.

The Tree of Life.

Animals.

Plant Life.

Gods and Godesses.

All connected.

Everything with a meaning. Everything.

And Everything is connected to Everyone

There is no greater passion within, than when you believe in something or someone.

To follow my dreams and inner whispers, is the one thing I aim to do in life,

and the main thing I try and teach my children to do each and every day....

My dreams and whispers call me silently, but they are deafening.

They want me to create.

I have been dreaming for what seems like such a long time now.

I dream that my whispers will be answered..... my whispers now have a voice.

For a long time, as with most artists, doubt and self criticism played a major part in my creative life. Everything was put on the 'long finger'. The rainy day I was putting everything off for didn't seem to want to arrive (even though it never stops raining here in Ireland).

Then, earlier this year, my eldest daughter Lara gave me the push that I needed. "Just do it Mum" she said. "Stop talking about it and DO IT". The wheel started turning, the ball started rolling... every metaphor under the sun came into play.

It has been a long time coming .... but I have finally arrived.

Thank you Lara. Thank you Katy. Thank you Eba. Thank You Ana. You are my light. You are my Sun, Moon and Stars. Thank you Andy. You are my Rock. I do what I do for you.

I cannot let this moment pass without acknowledging my parents.

My Mum (Kay) & Dad (Harry) were the ones that gave me the freedom to fly from before I have a memory.

When art was seen as a doss subject or a pastime and hobby by most parents, mine embraced and encouraged. It helped that Harry happens to be a fantastic fine artist, and to whom I owe any artistic talent. Thank you Kay for believing ..... ALWAYS.

Family played a major role in the Celtic way of life in centuries gone by and still does to this present day. The need to feel connected, the need to feel loved, the need to understand where we came from, is something that lives within almost everyone. My three brothers and two sisters keep my grounded. They are the friends that are thicker than water.

My hope, is that through this site, whether you are from a Celtic background or not, you learn about the value of symbolism in life. That you learn about the value of family. That love and friendship prevails.

My hope is that I learn from you.

Please PLEASE be patient.... this blog is a work in progress.

2009-10-21T17:15:00.000-07:00

To be creative, is within everyone.

The art of communication is something achievable by almost all the human race,

each and every day.

I communicate through words every time I open my mouth to speak.

I communicate through description each time I pick up my pencil to draw or write.

I communicate through touch when I'm lucky enough to be allowed.

Even now, I type my thoughts, and create.

When my pencil draws instead of writes.... this is when I feel truly blessed.

The pictures I hold in my head can finally be released,

images that are footprints to my heart, my soul and my past,

come alive.

To believe in my ability to create, as brilliantly as the artist next to me

this is a blessing,

a blessing I have only recently received.

Thousands of years ago, art was the unspoken form of communication,

no need for words,

visual communication rarely needing explanation.

Thousands of years ago, our Celtic ancestors spoke to us through imagery.

Celtic imagery, provides for us,

an understanding of how our ancestors lived over 2000 years ago.

Symbolism played an important role in the lives of our ancestors.

There was not just One God, but many.

There were Gods & Goddesses, and each symbolized an important aspect of daily life.

Then, and still today, there is meaning for everything and everyone...

and everything and everyone has meaning.

2009-09-18T17:25:00.000-07:00

I have at last found my muse,

my whispers are calling and calling

anything can happen now...

the world is full of opportunity...

just believe in yourself

and everyone else will.

Oonagh