This monotype which I then worked into using chalk pastel and pencil pastels began to reflect on that feeling of psychological zones. The red being the lifeblood or animalistic - the blue being the spiritual or intellectual and then the beige representing a more grounded aspect to the self. The main figure I suppose might be self-representational. But it certainly appears as if it is going on a journey. Within it’s parameters, are objects that it owns or that are important.
There is also a sense of there being another figure which perhaps is like a ‘guardian angel’ - this was a huge 'magical' concept in my evolving imagination as a child, who was reared in the Catholic Ireland.

I also feel that the little figure on the left (who has appeared in other artworks) is that child who was me - looking on and not having a clue as to what was going on. At the same time she is ‘awe struck’ and curious to know more, see more, touch more – to find my way into that 'special' place. That special place was/is the imagination. And really it was my own imagination - that is, which has kept me going……… all of my life. Without it I am nothing……there would be no point. I often refer to it pictorially, in various artworks where I depict a sense of a quest of searching and looking.

Here is an image from moleiro dot com where you can see all of the Liebana Beatus Manuscripts - very inspiring. Ranging, from about the mid seventh to mid twelfth century these works are highly animated, richly coloured and cosmilogical in their depictions of realms of good and evil. I think that that their difference or remarkability is most probably down to the fact that they were influenced by the Mozarabic, Islamic and Carolingian visual cultures.

After I came back from Spain following the completion of my masters degree, say by, about 1995 - I definitly was influenced by these manuscripts, in terms of my own output artistically.

Birna Matthiasdottir
Here is the only other image of Birna's which is viewable on the internet. Both pieces are monotypes.
A very talented artist is Birna and if you want to see some of her artwork in the flesh, in the UK, at the moment you can check out this show 'Looking out to Sea' which is an artists residency/exhibition project initiated by artist printmaker Sarah James.which is on at The University of Wales, Aberystwyth.until Dec 1st.

Update (25th January 2012) I have found another link to a site where you can see about eight of Birna's intaglio works ..............  http://www.thecoldpress.com/store/artist/birna-matthiasdottir

Phone Call from Iceland - this was a very pleasant surprise i.e., to hear from my very good friend Birna Matthiasdottir.

I met her originally in Barcelona, on the Masters Fine Art, course which was hosted there by Winchester School of Art. I believe the course is no longer running these days - a failed experiment perhaps !! I can not say that I thought it worked well, particularly where the socio-cultural integration was concerned. I would have thought that, that in itself would have been the most important objective of the course!!!......... but hey-------- what would I know ---------- I'm no pedagogue !!!
This work is from a couple of images, of Birna 's, on show at Galleria Fold's website , which is located in Reykjavik.

I included some teardrops in this one which I used from a screen-print that I made at London Print studio in June/ July of this year. I cannot remember if I was making it for any particular project ah yes now I remember I had done a course there last autumn. This being in an effort to improve my practice in that area. I used two stencils it was pink and navy blue. I will try to locate that edition (only about 7 in the end, were b.a.t.) after all that work and expense - it darn well nearly breaks your heart. Paul Dewis the technician there, was quite helpful but ultimately I am quite a desperado there, in that workshop - trying to manage to do stuff, what with the problems I have with my back and leg pain - but hey I gave it a go - I tried !!