Hand-painted Miniature Medieval Bestiary Paintings

I generally try to make something for my closest friends and family over the holidays. It’s really nice to get hand-made gifts – to know that someone made you something with their hands and devoted their time and care to doing so. Of course, time is a rare commodity for any teacher but I somehow make time to do this because it’s important that my loved ones get something from me – be it a card or a gift – that says “I may be busy but I think about you often and will always make time for you!”

For a couple of years I’ve been making Christmas cards and candy. In holidays past I’ve made scarves, embroidered pins, soap, calendars  etc. – it is getting harder and harder to come up with things over the years. I actually did a linoleum print card this year after being inspired by some amazing cards by an artist friend. Mine were… so, so… I really detest linoleum block prints. I must remember this in the future!

I also painted miniature paintings.

I must say the paintings are perhaps the best thing I’ve made (at least from my point of view) in a long time. Each one – with the exception of two – are all based on medieval illustrations of animals in illuminated manuscripts. I’ve had a soft spot for bestiaries for many years (going on a decade of slow but steady accumulation of imagery) and it was high time the interest manifested somehow.

I changed somethings here and there but for the most part they’re fairly close to the originals. I had so much fun painting them I have the strong desire to do more for the heck of it. It may have had something to do with the fact that I created these little works fireside though… just maybe…

Happy Holidays to all!