It's been a fair while since contributing to Creative Tuesdays, hasn't it? Never mind, I did actually get to it this time.
For my Old World Christmas, I was inspired by silk screening Xmas cards from the '50's and '60's with their limited palettes and flat inks. Always liking to mix things up a bit, I decided to change the girl's traditional white dress to one more yellow/gold as you can see. Likewise, while the Scandinavian girl would normally be blonde, I made her hair red, not only for that Christmas element but as a nod to the red sashes traditionally worn by the girls to represent Lucia's martyrdom. Finally, I have the entire piece, the Christmas globe, if you will, shining out from the darkness as St. Lucia's Day is also called the Festival of Lights.
I'm really glad I chose to settle on this celebration, learning more about this ancient Christmas festival in the process. How magical it would be to venture off to Norway or such to experience it! I do so love the traditions of Christmas, must say. :)
Happy St. Lucia's Day! I hope your own holiday traditions are underway and going well. We just returned from our weekend up in Estes Park at a rented cabin. It's the time of year when we all get to actually spend two days together, making food, shopping for our annual Christmas tree ornament and playing games. Oh, and it's become the moment when I magically turn into Father Christmas to (still) drop off our xmas stockings for my mostly grown up kids. (Some traditions never change!)
I didn't know about St. Lucia, you did a beautiful commemorative Old World piece here Michael, complete with the colours chosen.
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful you could get away with your family in that way. We actually went to Las Vegas in mid-November with my family as everyone seemed to be free at that time.
Thx for noticing the colours in particular, Christine. I really tried to chose ones that seemed old world like.
DeleteYes, I remember your fam went to LV-- read about it on your blog. :)
This is beautiful Michael. It would make a lovely Christmas Ornament.
ReplyDeleteMy childhood friend Kris is Swedish and she always makes a St. Lucia's Day headpiece for her granddaughters. My entry is not quite as OLD Christmas, but I did go back to the 1920's....does that count! HaHa.
Yes, the 1920's TOTALLY count. Love it! :)
DeleteThank you for your comment on this piece. Id like to make it into a card for next year. Even if one doesn't celebrate St. Lucia's day, I'm sure many of us would find it beautiful nonetheless. I'm just glad that for the most part, the girls wear electric lights now, not real flames!
This is amazing! My late Grandma was Scandinavian. I believe Finnish, but, she still loved many things from or about Sweden. The complementary colors are lovely and the girl's face and her hair ornamentation are beautiful. I love drawing Victorian feeling things, and the past, and had such fun drawing mine and am so happy to see everyone else's work. Thank you for this theme and for everything you do for C.T. and for your own great art, Michael/Mister Toast! Yay :-D
ReplyDeleteThank you, Donna. I really did try to pay attention to the colours as your noted.
DeleteYes, I could see the joy in your Joyeax piece! :) how apropos you actually like drawing old things too. That did work out well. I suspect, btw, your Grannie really did celebrate St. Lucia's Day too.
Love picture Michael. Missed you. Glad you are back. Thankfully Tracy told me you were up again.
ReplyDeleteWe are heading home for an early Christmas celebration with family and then back to Arizona.
Blessings and Merry Christmas,
Janis
so glad you made it back too, Janis. thank you for your comment.
DeleteHave a lovely xmas. We will in fact have one more theme before the holiday that whilst not totally holiday orientated, it is PERFECT for such an approach. I am sure you will love it.
I love your "old world charm" piece too, Michael. And I smiled thinking of you as Father Christmas delivering your kiddies stockings. How very sweet. May you and your family have a wonderful, Merry Christmas. :-)
ReplyDeleteHee. I must say I did not try to venture up the old rickety ladder to the loft in the middle of the night, mind you. Santa did leave his belt tangled up in it though. :)
Deleteperfect for the festival of lights, I do like the red hair as I'm always a fan. good take on the theme.
ReplyDeletehope you have a lovely holiday season.
Lissa, I sooo thought of your style of art whilst doing this, especially the hair and though, I think Lissa will at least like this bit! :) thank you.
DeleteThis is absolutely beautiful in every way possible, Michael James. You've truly captured the heart of this holiday season. Well done! xx
ReplyDeleteThank you, darling. I so love your support of my work. Love you!
DeleteSounds like a lovely time. Very cool. And it sounds like you and your honey bunny are super duper meant to be.
ReplyDeleteHee. Love that. how funnily put.
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