Happy month of May everyone!

The fire of inspiration is a gift all writers and poets yearn to experience. Celtic people of long ago entreated the goddess Brigit for this divine spark. Wise Brigit was thought to take the form of a triple goddess, with each aspect of her divinity bearing a special function. As Brigit, goddess of poetry, poets asked her to take possession of their imaginations to bring forth words capable of moving people to tears and laughter. Brigit, the goddess of smithing, taught humans the important craft of forging iron, allowing them to create tools to aid their work; perhaps as a reflection of this, some believe her name translates as “the fiery arrow.” Finally, Brigit, the goddess of healing, shared her knowledge of herbs to heal the ill.

Brigit’s sacred holiday, the feast of Imbolg, is observed the first of February. It is a celebration that welcomes the return of light after the dark winter. It also marks the start of lambing season, and the new life that arrives with the start of spring.

Though I’ve painted and drawn Brigit for other publications, this drawing was created for Goddess Alive, a book I recently illustrated for Llewellyn Publications. I used pencil, white gouache on tinted paper. The book features 13 Celtic goddesses, each associated with the turn of the seasons and the phases of the moon. Order from amazon.com.

Technorati Tags: Brigit, goddess art, Kris Waldherr

Nut, the Egyptian goddess who personifies the sky, is painted here in her traditional form. It’s not the first time I’ve painted her — I created a miniature which was reproduced in both The Book of Goddesses as well as the Goddess Inspiration Oracle — but this is a far more ambitious composition! It was received in a vision by Star Wolf, one of the authors of Shamanic Mysteries of Egypt; I did my best to hew as closely as possible to her description. I also incorporated aspects of ancient Egyptian art in a respectful manner in my presentations of the deities, decorative elements and borders.

This art excerpted from the cover painting (left) for Shamanic Mysteries of Egypt, a book recently published by Inner Traditions and authored by Nicki Scully and Linda Star Wolf. I used watercolor, gouache and pencil for it; I created a total of eight paintings for the book.

Here’s a not-so-secret secret: the authors have decided to adapt the art from this book into an Egyptian-themed oracle. It will be published by Inner Traditions/Bear & Co. in late 2008. I’ve been reading so much about Egyptian history lately for the New Book that I’m excited to be delving back into this world!

Are the Valkyries goddesses? Or are they supernatural warrior maidens? According to Norse mythology, they are dísir, or fate goddesses who served the ruling god Odin. Their main purpose was to choose the most heroic of those who had died in battle and to carry them off to Valhalla, where they became warriors to fight at Odin’s side at the preordained battle at the end of the world.

The most famous Valkryie is Brunnhilde, whose story I find particularly stirring. She offers a potent example of how love can inspire people to great deeds. It also serves as the linchpin for Wagner’s massive music drama, The Ring of the Nibelungen. Valkyries are also associated with ravens; some images show them as half-raven/half-woman, almost vulture-like in form as they swoop down to gather the dead.

My drawing depicts the Valkyries as they fly through the sky on their supernatural mounts, like thunder in the sky. Like the Muses, there are nine sister Valkyries (though that number varies in different myths); I’ve only drawn three of the Valkyries here, so I could focus more on the details — didn’t want to draw a crowd scene!

This drawing was created for Goddess Alive, a book I recently illustrated for Llewellyn Publications. I used pencil, white gouache on tinted paper. The book features 13 Celtic goddesses, each associated with the turn of the seasons and the phases of the moon.

Goddess Alive was recently published and can be ordered at amazon.com. If you decide to order it, autographed bookplates are available upon request.

This drawing of Freyja is in stylistic opposition to the painting of Freyja I created for The Book of Goddesses and The Goddess Tarot. She seems so, well, sexy — not the fierce beauty I’d previously depicted swooping down from the heavens in her cat-drawn chariot.

Part of the reason for this Freyja’s rather sensual appearance was suggested by Michelle Skye, the author of the book that this illustration was created for. She associates Freyja with Beltane’s ancient fertility rituals and presents her as the ultimate earthy aphrodisiac — more akin to Venus than Athena. Anyone who has read any version of Freyja’s myth can support this supposition. Remember, Freyja was known for her lusty appetites — anyone who could sleep with that many dwarfs to gain a necklace must certainly be comfortable with her sexuality!

In any event, I’m glad I had the opportunity to explore a different aspect of Freyja. Goddesses are complex, rich creations of myth and spirit. It’s difficult to do any of them justice with just one portrait.

This drawing was created for Goddess Alive, a book I recently illustrated for Llewellyn Publications. I used pencil, white gouache on tinted paper. The book features 13 Celtic goddesses, each associated with the turn of the seasons and the phases of the moon.

Goddess Alive will be published any day now by Llewellyn Worldwide. It is now available for purchase at amazon.com. If you decide to order it, autographed bookplates are available upon request.

Sekhmet, the Egyptian goddess of war and vengence, is painted here in her traditional lioness form. I’ve often felt a bit intimidated by her fiery intensity — hopefully this painting conveys some of her powerful energy. Her chariot is drawn by three cobras, a symbol of magical transformation and sovereignty; appropriately, the uraeus, a crown worn in ancient Egypt, takes its form from the cobra.

This art excerpted from a painting (below) that I created for Shamanic Mysteries of Egypt, a book recently published by Inner Traditions and authored by Nicki Scully and Linda Star Wolf. I used watercolor, gouache and pencil for it.

The gods depicted below Sekhmet are Horus, Khnum and Sobek. This particular composition was received in a vision by Star Wolf; I did my best to hew as closely as possible to her description. I also incorporated aspects of ancient Egyptian art in a respectful manner in my presentations of the deities, decorative elements and borders. It was fun but challenging experience.

This is yet another drawing that I recently created for Goddess Alive, a book I recently illustrated for Llewellyn Publications. It depicts Danu, the Celtic sovereign goddess associated with water, river and wells. Indeed, many believe that the beautiful blue Danube takes its name from this goddess.

In my drawing, which was created with pencil and white gouache on tinted paper, I’ve chosen to depict Danu’s aquamarine origins. She is literally within and of water itself, a shimmering chimera that can emerge any moment from watery depths to grant a boon. The salmon in the foreground suggests the deep wisdom that this goddess offers; the salmon is a traditional Celtic symbol of knowledge gained in a supernatural manner.

Goddess Alive features 13 Celtic goddesses, each associated with the turn of the seasons and the phases of the moon. It will be published next month but is now available for preorder at amazon.com. If you decide to order it, autographed bookplates are available upon request.

We were fortunate to obtain tickets to the highly popular Tutankhamun and the Golden Age exhibit at the Franklin Institute. It is from this exhibit that I draw inspiration for today’s Goddess painting of the day, Hathor.

Hathor, as the goddess of beauty, prosperity and all good things, was honored as the Golden One — an appropriate title for a deity concerned with the good life. She was usually depicted with the form of a cow, which is how she is presented here. Her traditional rites often included libations of milk offered to the fertile soil. In this particular painting, the god painted her side is Anubis, who serves as the gatekeeper to the heart; Hathor is invoking him with her magical sistern and chants.

This art excerpted from a painting (below) that I created for Shamanic Mysteries of Egypt, a book recently published by Inner Traditions. I used watercolor, gouache and pencil to make it.

The other gods and goddesses in the painting are Wadjet, Anubis and Set. This particular composition was seen in a vision by Linda Star Wolf, who authored the book along with Nicki Skully; I tried to hew as closely as possible to Star Wolf’s description, which was divinely inspired. Ancient Egyptian art was also an inspiration — I did my best to respectfully incorporate its traditional imagery.

Happy June! To commemorate the beginning of this month, I present to you Aine, the Celtic goddess of light and magic, whom some consider the faery queen. She is associated with Midsummer Night, the shortest — and most magical — of evenings.

Depicting Aine presented me with an interesting case. This is the second time I’ve illustrated this goddess. Previously, I painted a miniature of Aine for the anniversary edition of The Book of Goddesses; it shows her crowned by the moon and sun, suggesting her role as an intermediary between light and dark. But this drawing emphasizes Aine’s more ethereal aspect. Though I did not depict her with faery wings, there’s definitely more than a bit of the fae about her. It greatly helped that I had a fantastic model who personified many of these mercurial qualities as she posed for me.

This drawing was created for Goddess Alive, a book I recently illustrated for Llewellyn Publications. I used pencil, white gouache on tinted paper. The book features 13 Celtic goddesses, each associated with the turn of the seasons and the phases of the moon.

Goddess Alive will be published next month and is now available for preorder at amazon.com. If you decide to order it, autographed bookplates are available upon request.

Here’s some information about this lovely goddess. The Norse honored Iduna as the goddess responsible for growing apples, which were eaten by the gods and goddesses to retain their youth and beauty. Iduna grew the golden apples of immortality in her enchanted western garden named Appleland; in the stories of King Arthur, Appleland was called Avalon—the idyllic country of immortal life. Iduna was renowned for her youthful beauty, and was married to Bragi, the handsome god of poetry.

This painting was created with watercolors, gouache, powdered pigments, and even a bit of oil paint — it was a complicated and experimental effort, in other words. Basically, I was trying to see how far I could push my technique. BTW, the runic alphabet at the top of the border spells out phonetically “Iduna Goddess.”

It also graced the cover of the catalog  for my recent exhibition at the New York Open Center. If you’re interested, copies of the book are available for purchase; e-mail me your receipt and I’ll even send you an autographed bookplate.