August's Spiral drawing

 

August's spiral shell drawing pencil and ink on paper ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Below the Brine - Ran's many moods

Below the Brine I   print and mixed media 20x21cm   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

The ambiguity of the Ran myth intrigues me still. I am attracted to the relatable human quality of her moods...calm, playful, stern, raging... not many female characters are able to be more than one thing in mythology that I have read about - women are either good or evil, victims or villains, virgins or seducers - Ran could be any or all of these. I wonder if the oral tradition of these myths were still alive if her character would be more black and white or just as ambiguous. My hope would be the ambiguous - like the ocean able to change in a heartbeat - how much more interesting and realistic.

Three calmer and possibly more playful moods in Below the Brine but the net is still there glinting and dazzling, waiting, biding its time or with the potential to change?... 

Below the Brine II in three stages   print and mixed media 20x21cm   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Below the Brine III   print and mixed media 20x21cm   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

2025 Spiral drawings overview

 

Spiral Drawings for 2025   pencil & ink on paper   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

I have thoroughly enjoyed 2025's drawing challenge. It made me relook at my collection in a different way. Some of the subjects I have had for many years and their familiarity has caused me to overlook them somewhat. Some months were easier to choose than others. I had also forgotten how much I like a tonal paper to draw on and that is something I want to use more in the future. It seems the more structure that I give myself the better sometimes as it takes away the decision fatigue and I am reminded of the challenges a sketching buddy and I imposed on ourselves when we used to go out into the local area. We might choose three colours and one brush one time or only two pencils or set a time limit of 20 minutes. It helps focus the mind and stop all the faffing around. 

I am still hashing out in my mind what my challenge should be for 2026 so details on that to follow. Do you have plans for arty challenges in the coming year? Do let me know.

Available prints and stationery at RedBubble ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Beachcombed Beauties Fabric, wallpaper and home accessories available at Spoonflower

Deeply Darkly I & II - Ran's many moods

 

Deeply Darkly   print and mixed media 20x21cm    ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Further explorations into Ran's many moods. I am enjoying the linear elements in the compositions which I think give an added chaotic energy and tension. What do you think?

These pieces are available at Folksy and Etsy.

Deeply Darkly II   print and mixed media 20x21cm    ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Ran's Glimmers - drypoint with mixed media

 

Sketchbook experiments in mixed media ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

'...have gold, so if lost at sea you aren't empty handed to Ran's hall'

- Fridhjaf's saga

Golden tributes thrown over the side of the boat to appease Ran for a safe crossing whilst a recurring theme in many mythologies is to pay the boatman for crossing into the next life. The more about mythology that I read the more connections I make between peoples and cultures, we are more alike than not. The same worries and fears even over vast distances and time, I wish we could remember that a bit more.

 

Ghost print from Scintillating II with mixed media ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

Ran's Glimmers   ©2025LisaLeQuelenec

The gold mica paint is from a set by Kuretake - Gansai Tambi Starry Colours which is a range of 6 from silver pearl to a deep rich gold.