The Celtic Tree of Life
A Limited Edition of 250 with 25 Artist's Proofs

The Tree contains the 7 Celtic life forms, Plant, Insect, Fish, Reptile, Bird, Beast and Man. The lower half represents the potential and code for life that in pasted from generation to generation, while the top half reveals the current manifestation of that life.
Mounted on a hand textured painted 36" x 48" canvas.

This work takes extra time to produce due to it's size and detail. Please be patient.

Paper is the traditional 1st anniversary gift.

Each one of these works is Hand Made and Hand Painted by the artist.
These are not flat paintings!!! They are painted 3D castings!!!

A SMALLER VERSION IS AVAILABLE WITH SEVERAL MAT OPTIONS
SEE LINK BELOW
https://www.etsy.com/listing/201930155/the-celtic-tree-of-life-cast-paper-tree

Paper Casting
Paper casting is to me the perfect medium. It allows me use almost every skill set. A typical piece begins as a drawing or two. Then I sculpt it in wax. This is a long refining process and often the image sculpted is far different that the drawing. Then I build a dam around the wax and pour a rubber mold directly off the surface. A casting is made by pressing wet cotton pulp into the mold and extracting the water. Then I finish the surface.
While every piece that emerges from the mold is about the same, no two are really painted the same. Maybe I would if I could, but the painting process is always in flux. I am always experimenting with ways of mixing colors or washes and hard edge or new pigments. I send about 75% of my time with the painted finishes.

Artistic Inspiration
When I see or dream a thing that moves me in that way I try to distill the essence of it and add it to my bag of tricks. I am something of a student of ancient art and particularly interested in Celtic history, but I am not interested in reproducing artifacts or furthering a traditional technique. There was an original impulse for man to do art in the first place. Images and objects that take us out of our day to day consciousness. A magic icon or at least a feeling that allowed the viewer to step out of the ordinary world of words and survival and allow a more ancient wisdom to arise. I am looking for that magic.
When I am working, it never really seems like I am alone. It’s a strange feeling like channeling a human need to create. Voices of the past seem to want pass along a vision or standard. But then again, perhaps I am alone too much. Anyway, I hope that some of these images speak to you and you can find your own magic....... Kevin Dyer