Original Dimensions: 14”x 17” Medium: Prismacolor pencil on Bristol board This piece is an update of an older work “Guardians of the Duir” with several changes mainly being the addition of the grave stones. I tend to use the theme of the color green and black dogs or black wolves and ravens and crows quite frequently and always in a context referencing their roll in ancient Celtic beliefs. Green was associated with both life and death and the 'Otherworld' or world beyond. Crows were connected to both the world of the living and of the dead and could travel between the vales even at times acting as messengers or ferrymen and warning of impending death among other similar aspects. The black dogs, which had many names and incarnations, were a type of being rather like the Banshee or the Fetch. Not being outrightly harmful they only served as a warning foretelling death and were also of the Otherworld. Trees, also were an intricate part of Celtic mythology and another theme I tend to follow. Oaks in particular, their Gaelic name being 'duir' as in 'door' which is believed to be where the word 'door' originated. Oak wood was the most popular material used to make doors and old oaks were often believed to be gateways to the Otherworld.