Kingcups and Reflections

I have just been reunited with one of my old paintings Kingcups and Reflections, which is in a way a bit like seing an old friend after many years! It is a huge oil I did way back in the 1980's and has been brought back to me temporarily to be cleaned as it has been stored in a barn while its owner renovates her new home. I painted this before the age of digital cameras so I have now been able to take a new photo of it and put it onto a disk. I dont often get the chance to paint such large pictures these days!

Snowdrops and Crocus

The graveyard here in Chagford is looking stunning at the moment with a froth of Snowdrops and Crocus, they also line the river banks in many places and cover the hedgebanks. Here is a photo I took today while I took a break from being in the gallery.

Chichester Memorial

Leading on from my previous blog here is a picture of one of the fine memorials of the Chichester family inside the little church at Eggesford. This is the memorial of Arthur Lord Viscount Chichester Earl of Donnegall. On his left is his first wife who had one daughter, on his right his second wife who had six sons and two daughters one of which was born dead and can be seen laying beside her. The other children are placed bottom right.

Eggesford Church

Recently we had a walk at Eggesford which is near to Exmore and we came across the remote and beautiful little Church of All saints tucked away down a lane lined with snowdrops. The inside was quite a surprise as it holds two fine momuments to the Chichester families. I will post a picture of one of these on my next blog.

Wells Cathedral

On Sunday we visited the wonderful City of Wells in Somerset and here is a picture of the Cathedral taken from the basin where the water from the four wells from which the city gets its name collects. The Cathedral dates back to 1180 and is really beautiful having over 300 original medieval carved stone statues. The scissor arches inside are so elegant and the medieval 24 hour clock is well worth waiting a few minutes to see in action as every quater of the hour the mechanical jousters race round! The whole City is packed with beautiful buildings and well worth a visit.

Gidleigh Church in the Snow

Luckily this year so far, Chagford has escaped the snow; however the moors above have been looking dramatic with a white covering as so was Gidleigh which is just a little higher from here and a lot colder for it! I took a walk up there last week and took this picture of the pretty church which normally at this time of year has its graveyard covered in a mass of white snowdrops! I will have to go back to see these.

THE THREE HARES

I have just completed a new oil painting of The Three Hares. This fascinating and ancient symbol of three Hares running in a circle joined by their ears which form a triangle giving the illusion that each Hare has two ears when in fact they only have one, has been found in various places all over the world. The earliest dates back to the Sui Dynesty 581-618AD and was found in a Buddhist cave temple in Mogao in China, but it has also been found in France, Germany, Switzerland, Iran and Nepal. The earliest European examples date to around 1200AD, in England to around 1300AD where it is found mainly in Mediaeval Church roof bosses of which Devon has by far the most with a total of 17 churches containing 29 carved bosses.

The Hare is strongly represented in the world of mythology and from ancient times it has had devine associations. Its illusiveness and unusual behaviour have reinforced its reputation as a magical creature. It was believed to have mystical links to the female cycle and the moon which governed it. The theory of the Ancients that the Hare was hermaphroditic and could procreate without a mate led to the belief that it could give birth without the loss of its virginity. In Christian context the Three Hares may be associated with the Virgin Mary and her role in the redemption of mankind. This might explain why the boss is often found in juxtaposition in western churches with the boss of the Green Man which is perhaps a representation of sinful humanity.

The Hare has been linked with the moon in myth and folklore in India, China, Africa, Mexico, North America and Europe and the moon-hare image is well known with its connection to immortality. The Chinese refer to 'the hare in the moon' rather than 'the man in the moon'. In Saxon times the Goddess Oestra or Eostra was said to rule over the spring or dawn and her sacred animal was the Hare which was also the symbol of the moon. The gestation period of the Hare is 28 days which compares with the moons monthly cycle.

Here in this painting I have placed my version of The Three Hares running eternally on a full Moon. Above this I have placed the Tripple Moon which is a symbol of the three manifestations of woman, waxing, full and waning. Top left is the Triquetra a Celtic symbol symbolising the Triple Goddess who is a manifestation of maid, mother and crone, this symbol was later adopted by Christianity as a sign for the Trinity. Top right I have placed the Triskele a Celtic symbol combining the sacred number three with the spiral often used to represent the cycle of life and also the power of life and rebirth.

I have painted Stonehenge to represent the ancient mystery surrounding the Three Hares Symbol which like the true meaning of Stonehenge has become obscured by the mists of time. Also there are many Hares living in this area.

Bottom left of the picture I have painted the Church of St Michael in Chagford where I have my gallery, on the right is the Church of St Andrew in Sampford Courtenay where I now live. Both these Churches have two fine examples of carved wooden bosses depicting The Three Hares.

In the sky I have painted (top right) the ancient constellation of Lepus the Hare. To the left is Canis Major the Great Dog which is forever hunting the Hare through the night sky, the bright star of Sirius twinkling on its nose. On the lower right you will see my favourite constellation Orion and on the left Leo which is my birth sign.