Work in Progress (2)

 The Dream of the Rood: commencing the right-hand panel. This will primarily consist of broadleaf trees. The left-hand panel will be made up of conifers.

Detail of the centre section of the right-hand panel having had colour added.

Work in Progress (1) - The Dream of the Rood

 Two sources fed this idea. First an Anglo-Saxon poem, the full text of which can be found here. It
speaks of the crucifixion story but from the cross' point of view. There are extant artworks depicting this where the figure of Christ is stretched out on an actual tree rather than a constructed cross as would have been made by a carpenter. The other source is a pagan legend where Odin, - to become the Allfather, - had to undergo an ordeal whereby he was fastened to the tree Ygddrassl. It has been suggested that the closeness of these two accounts were instrumental in easing the Saxon and later Nordic peoples into Christianity. Add to this the sight of the sun partially eclipsed by a foreground tree and we have the basis for this ongoing work.

Influenced by the stained glass work of Thomas Denny I decided a on a design set on three lancet windows but as I don't work in stained glass, I've opted for a pen and watercolour piece which should have a degree of transparency. The centre panel is complete and I've made a start on the right hand one. The idea is to have conifers on one panel and broadleaf on the other. In the foreground a kneeling figure contemplates the vision of the Rood (tree) in the distance. Often the forest reveals some hidden gem in gaps formed by these tree avenues, and not all of them are necessarily man-made.

Detail of the foreground figure. Clearly  meditative, though I've left the form deliberately vague.