FaeryClan

A Thousand Oceans

2008-07-04T18:42:30Z

"These tears I've cried
I've cried a thousand oceans
and if it seems I'm floating in the darkness,
well,
I can't believe that I would keep,
keep you from flying
and I would cry a thousand more
if that's what it takes
to sail you home."

Tori Amos, from 1000 Oceans

Here is my latest painting
Oil on canvas, 130cm x 80cm.
I haven't painted this big for a couple of years so it was nice to get all big and just go with it. This was a very emotional work to paint, but also very therapeutic!
I used a fabulous stock photo by Faestock on DA as reference for this one, something I've never done before but when I saw her photo it literally took hold of me and I knew it was what I needed for the painting growing in my head!
I'm absolutely emotionally and artistically exhausted now - all I can think about is watching Friends and eating huge amounts of cake!
Still trying to catch up on things here, so expect some really out of date comments to your posts!
Hugs xox

See you soon!

2008-06-20T08:33:30Z

Hey everyone, Just to let you know that I'm off to Cornwall today, hurray, and I'll be away for a week with no internet access - Eeeeeeek!!!!! So I shall be even quieter around here than I have been (is that possible?!) i.e silent!

So, hope you all have a good week and I will try to come back bouncing and refreshed and catch up with you all then.
Blessings, love and light xx xxxxx

Happy Birthday Susan!!

2008-05-20T07:26:03Z

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSAN! susanrodio

Have a fantastic day sweetie! xx xxxx

Happy Birthday Carol!!

2008-05-20T07:19:36Z

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAROL!! carolochs

Have a special day Hon xx xxx

What's in a name?..... And new-look Website

2008-03-24T19:37:10Z

....A rose by any other name still hopefully smells as sweet....
As you can see my name has changed, though it actually hasn't...Let me explain!

Ok, my married name is Toni (Antonia) Townsend and this is the name I have been using for my artworks, but I have decided now to revert back to my maiden name for my Art, so from now on I am Toni Cogdell. (and Toni coz that's what everyone calls me :) )

Don't worry, I'm happily married still! :nod: It's just a simple case of me wanting just one name, rather than me separating my old figurative works to my newer fantasy stuff. I started out exhibiting under the name Cogdell, and when I became disillusioned with my art and began exploring my Muse more I decided to use my married name to distance myself form my old work. But now I'm really happy with where I am and what I'm doing so I'm hoping to get back into the galleries again and go forward with Ummph!!

So basically, if you see the name Toni Cogdell or Antonia Townsend by my work, don't worry they are both me!! :D

And also I have just redesigned my website www.faeryclan.co.uk so check it out if you have time. And you will also find some poetry written by Annie Cogdell...my mum! :love:
I will be talking about my mum lots more soon as we have some very exciting collaborative projects coming up! :boogie:

Anyways, I think that's it. Just wanted to keep you all in the picture!
Thank you everyone for your support and friendship, it's so appreciated
Love and blessings
Toni xx

Awakening

2008-03-15T21:22:48Z

This painting is quite special to me, it appeared in my head one night as I was drifting off to sleep and pretty quickly I knew it wasn't going to let me get on with much else until I painted it! She started out as the Goddess Freya, but then began to alter along with my own ideas, life and journey.

The Falcon flies between worlds, connecting and awakening you to your higher vision, inspiration and truth.

Oil on Linen, 70cm x 60cm

Wolf Moon

2008-03-13T07:43:56Z

Hello, I never seem to post much here, it just seems to be when I have a new painting, so apologies for that.
Updates...well it's been very hectic, and I've been working harder than ever in the studio, on both commissions and my own work.
This painting is a commissioned piece, though I have been wanting to paint just a wolf for a while.

Prints will be available of this one pretty soon, I am doing a local mind, body and spirit fayre on 5th April so I shall make sure I have plenty of wolves for that as last time I had so many requests. I'm not very good at being business-like though and couldn't make a painting just for that reason - I paint only what I am inspired to paint, and I can't do something my heart's not into, so that's why it's only now that I have made this one, It's funny really, but Muse has her own timing and I've learnt not to argue!
All said I'm not sure I'm happy with this painting, but then at the same time it is definitely finished, I wonder if perhaps it's more for the client rather than me, As in it's her wolf and not mine? Or maybe it's just that the fur drove me insane and it'll take me a while to recover! Am showing the client tomorrow and then she will be giving it away as a present in 2 weeks, so I hope they both like it. Gawd, Art is so hard on the nervous system!!

Today I am hoping to finish a painting very close to my heart, so will post that as soon as I can.
Hope everyone has a good day. *Hugs* xx

Coventina

2008-01-25T16:26:13Z

...Staring up at Grandfather sky, Coventina honours Nature's gift of water to purify, cleanse and bless the beginning of a new cycle...The sacred union of Earth and spirit...

Oil on canvas, 60cm x 60cm.

Here she is, after months of work and lots of colour and form changes! She started life with dolphins in the sky and water pouring all around her, but the element of Earth crept in and it became more personal and wanted to tell a different story.
Coventina is the Goddess who watches over water - rivers, oceans, moving water, and she represents purification, new cycles and beginnings. She has been whispering to me for a while now!

I am so drawn to Native American teachings and Shamanism right now - well I always have been but it's come into my life in a big way and I think it is going to have a big impact on my paintings. I'm so enjoying it, I can honestly say I feel free and that my 'self', spirituality and art are all uniting beautifuly and getting on very well indeed! Whether the paintings are any good is another story, this one changed so much over the last couple of months I'm not sure what I think of it now! But the right emotions and feelings went into it, so I guess that's what matters from my point of view.

Now back to the commissions, ack! At least I got to finish my Coventina (she's a feisty one!!)
Hope you're all having a good day *Hugs* xx

Surface for air

2008-01-18T19:14:13Z

Hey guys, Phew, I feel like a hibernating hobbit, with the wind howling outside while I kneel on the studio floor manically painting, while simultaneously eating chocolate and drinking herb tea - yes I know, it's quite a skill thank you! My emotions and spirit are being very up and down recently, lots going on cosmically I think, but I've been drawing white tigers, painting sacred women, lionesses and all sorts. But alas most of these oil paintings are from from seeing the light of day yet, but they're getting there, one in particular should be finished any day now, thank goodness, I have the mixed blessing of a bust schedule of commission work - blessing because it brings in money and new ideas, but curse because it;s something I have to do by a certain deadline and it can interrupt my own flow, but all in a day's work.

Today I had a little break and finished off one of my faery folk, Dark Eyes, and just had a bit of fun....

Thought it was time I got him finished, he;s been staring at me for weeks now! He's still staring at me actually, gunna have to make him face the wall or something!!
Hope everyone out there is ok, Will be back soon with more interesting things to say (perhaps!) I lose the ability to talk or make much sense when I'm on a painting mission! (which is all the time actually - Bah!) xxx

Walk in the Forest

2008-01-09T16:33:17Z

Thank you to Julia jewelz_star for introducing me to Meez....I now have a virtual me, come join me while I take a nice walk in the forest! :D

Here's the whole animation... http://www.meez.com/profile.dm?uid=5226041

Bright Blessings for 2008!

2007-12-31T16:43:02Z

Well, it's almost the end of another year and what a year it's been. I'm talking crazy weird, great terrible, it certainly hasn't been boring. Looking back I have to say I lived my Shadow Walker painting this year, and it's been pretty ugly at times, but I'm now firmly on my path more than ever before and I'm really excited about next year. Hey it may even be a little easier, you never know!

But this year, well it was special despite all it's shadows, I got married this year! So, 2007 will always be important. And some amazing people came into my life, and I can't remember life without them and that doesn't happen every day does it. So I am grateful for every moment and every soul who has stuck with me through them.

All that's left to say is have a wonderful New Year everyone, wishing you the Brightest Blessing for a truly wonderful 2008,
Much love and Hugs xx

New painting, Rise of Atlantis

2007-11-23T16:43:12Z

Hello everyone, Yes it's new painting time. I came up with this one a few months ago, while thinking of Atlantis and listening to Diana Cooper talking about the subject, but I have only got around to painting it over the past 2 weeks. I think she's finished now. : )

In between the time from the intial drawing to the final painting I have been going through lots of little transformations in my life and have felt a real need to get in tune with who I really am and to face the parts of my life that aren't working and to let some parts go and others flourish. So this painting became a personal story to me as well as about the Atlantis legend, as all my paintings do now I come to think of it. I can only seem to connect to a painting when I feel it on that deep level, when I can put a whole lot of myself in to it...not good for the commission I have at the moment to paint someone's baby! I gave them up a while ago but yes the money is handy this time of year and the client has other paintings of mine and I felt I couldn't let her down. Needless to say I wont be showing it here when it's done, if I ever manage to finish it!

So here is Rise of Atlantis, Watercolour and acrylic ink on Watercolour board, 14" x 22"

When all the hurts are healed and all quarrels laid to rest, when the struggle is a struggle no more,

Atlantis will rise bringing the dawn of the Age of the limitless soul...

Hope everyone is well.
Happy Thanksgiving to those of you in America and for everyone Faery Blessings, love and light xxxx

Shadow Walker

2007-10-18T19:20:10Z

Good evening everyone (or good morning, afternoon depending on where you are in the world!)

Today I finished the first oil painting I have done in a year...no it didn't take me a year, I have just been experimenting and painting in watercolour for the past year. Oil painting is my first love, and I used to use just oils when I painted more 'fine art' subject matter, humans basically. But after a year hiding from all that and finding myself, playing with watercolours and having spiritual awakenings I am in a place where I feel very happy with where I am artistically and feel that I have found my voice and am not scared to use it! I don't have to paint in just one medium or in one certain way, like galleries used to insist I do, now I can enjoy my art and speak my true words, whether it be through watercolour, oils, faeries, Shamans or Goddesses, I paint what the Muse inspires and not what I think will sell. (tough lesson coming from a 'fne art' background)

So, this painting is a turning point for me, and here I open a bottle of champagne and toast to artistic freedom!! May all who sail in her be happy!....

She walks in the web between light and dark, between Magick and Spirit. Her Earth walker Wolf bringing her wisdom, knowledge and the truth of her self, while her Sky dweller Raven watches over her from above, being her link to the other side and her Magick Talisman. A Shadow-Walker is not afraid of the darkness, but knows it is part of the balance Gaia creates, and embraces it along with the light. Earth, Air, Fire, Water, Spirit...as intended.

Oil on Linen, 35cm x 70cm

Spirit of the Swan

2007-10-09T21:24:50Z

Here's my new lady, Spirit of the Swan. It was painted for someone who has a real affinity with Swans, you could say the swan is her animal spirit guide, so she was very pleased to have a painting full of them!

She emerges from the water, her Guardians by her side. As dusk turns to night the Lady of the Swans leads her soul protectors into the mists...

She's watercolour on board, 15 x 19".

I'm working on an oil painting at the moment, another kind of Wolf, Raven Priestess painting...almost finished! I'm equally excited and nervous, as it's the first time I've painted in oils this year, but thankfully I've got back into the swing of it, oil paints are my first love. I'll post her here when she's done! (if I've got the courage!)

It's properly Autumn now and I have my lovely hippy furry coat out, (it's teddy bear fur not made to look like real fur!) I much prefer this time of year, very inspirational and creative, and it smells gorgeous! Back soon..... :)

Birthdays

2007-10-01T16:55:01Z

Yes, it is my birthday today and I'm sat here smelling of Body Shop perfume, eating a peacan flapjack and full up on Glastonbury energy! One of my favourite places on Earth, and even more special when you have birthday money in your pocket!! *does a little dance* so I bought a Goddess book I'd wanted for ages, a tonne of incense and a beautiful angel sculpture - I will post a photo of her later as she is divine! We (husband and I) wanted to climb Glastonbury Tor today and I was going to take streams of reference piccies for painting ispiration but alas it has been 'hissing' down with rain all day and we didn't have our waterproofs and a flask of hot choc! So that's for another day, but it was glorious all the same.

Husband managed to source me a signed Diana Cooper book for my birthday! Which bowled me over! "Be an angel Love Diana" it says.
And I have to give big hugs and :glomps: to Julia for giving me the most amazing birthday pressie... Just look at it people!.....

Yes, a painting of me as a Butterfly Goddess! It is so beautiful, even more beautiful in real life so it got me a bit choked I can tell you! Thank you and ((Hugs)) to

eastofthesunart

So I am a happy elfin after a day of being spoiled! I think I'll spend the eve relaxing with my new book and scrummy food, before getting back to work in the studio tomorrow. Hope you're all having a fine day. :)

Wood Elf

2007-09-13T17:33:33Z

Hello, just wanted to say a quick Hi and to post a painting I finished today, called Elvish Wood. He's my first male Faery - long overdue, and the start of many more. I used to have a rat very similar to the one on his shoulder...just an intersting (or not) piece of trivia there!! Oh and he's my little cousin who is also an Elf in real life, I'm sure.

It's watercolour and acrylic ink on paper, kind of A3 size.
I'm still waiting for my Brian Froud book to arrive from America, his new book World of Faerie and I just can't wait. Seriously, it feels like I'm waiting for my Lottery win payout! (I don't actually have one of those but I'm working on it *manifesting, manifesting* So while I wait for my book and for my lottery win I will work on the other 4 paintings I have already drawn out.
It's a very crazy time right now, a mixture of all sorts, but I think it's all headed in the right direction so that's good.
Lots of Love and Faery Hugs to everyone xxx

Anita Roddick

2007-09-11T15:53:03Z

I just want to give respect and to pay tribute to Anita Roddick founder of the Body Shop and a very special light, who sadly passed away last night. At only 64 years of age it comes as a shock to us all, and my thoughts go out to her family and friends. For the rest of us who didn't meet her but whose lives have been touched by her we will carry on remembering Anita and honouring her work. I think Heaven / God/ Goddess called back one of their angels, and now she has work to do on the other side, but I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank her for helping so many and for proving that one person can make a difference, and to never give up on your dreams.

Bless you Anita and have a safe journey x

New look Website & new painting

2007-09-07T22:07:19Z

Hello you guys, yes I've been a busy bee, but it had to be done, my website just wasn't 'me' anymore so here's introducing my brand new FaeryClan! *cheers* Whooopeeee! My eyes are hanging out and I have RSI but it makes me feel good when I look at it, so it must be 'me'....for now!

And here's a new one I've been wanting to post for a while, Shaman Wolf Priestess, and yes you can see where the website design came from can't you! I'm really enjoying exploring the Shamanic and Earth side of Faery, and of me, at the moment, and I'm really excited about life in general right now.

I could write loads more but methinks I definitely need some sleep now! But I'll be back soon!
Love to all :)

Faery Photos

2007-08-06T13:07:35Z

Ok, I have to admit, I am a Faery, and here are a couple of photos to prove it.....

I feel relieved to have finally revealed my true self *ROFL*

Autumn Eve

2007-08-05T10:46:07Z

Hello :) Here's my latest painting, Autumn Eve. It is a commission for a friend of mine's daughter, and was really fun to do, I saw the Faery she should be straight away and I hear she's pleased too so that's good. I have some Goddess and Shaman paintings in my head that I can't wait to do, I think they'll be in oil, but I have one more commission to do first, so must get cracking on that before the Muse leaves me!

Look out for some fab photos of me and my step-daughter as Faeries from the Clan! We have ears, make up, the lot! So much fun! The sun is out today so I can see us lounging around in the garden for a bit, finally.

Here's Autumn Eve, she's watercolour, a little acrylic ink and colour pencils. Approx 35 x 55cm I think. Hope everyone's having a good weekend. : )

Fun Faery Photo!

2007-07-30T08:14:23Z

Hello everyone,
I thought I'd post a fun one today! Husband and I did a Faery / Arthurian photo shoot yesterday with me in my wedding dress (though you can't see that here, might post one at some point when I've got the guts!) and I love this photo of me hiding in the leaves!! Our garden is very wild and overgrown, a perfect Faery wonderland. I'm sure you'll be seeing more photos soon, and paintings too! Oh...and I'm not naked!!! My dress is an off-the-shoulder number!!

My Garden

2007-07-19T12:35:50Z

It's a beautiful day in my part of the UK, after weeks of rain and cold - it's supposed to be our summer. Not that I mind as I have far too much painting to do to be basking. But before getting into work in the studio I did explore the garden and took my camera with me...

And it seems my Butterfly friend brought his friends back with him, I can't believe how close they let me get to them, the photos I want to share with you haven't been zoomed in on or cropped in any way, this is how close I got. If I was any closer my camera wouldn't have been able to focus. So I gave them big thanks, especially for getting in to the poses I wanted them to for my painting ideas! I now have loads to work from.

Blessings to my bright little winged friends!
And to you all, I wanted to share a bit of Butterfly magick around so here they are....

Hope you're having a good day xxx

Looking at you Looking at me

2007-07-16T16:40:09Z

I had to post a picture of my new friend for you all to see....my new Butterfly friend!! I was in the garden watching the butterflies fluttering around the flowers when one came over to me and perched on the wooden bit of our patio doors. He let me take dozens of photos, really close, then he lifted his head and...don't laugh...I swear he loooked right at me and winked!! I had to post this photo to prove I'm not going mad, I didn't catch the wink but I caught his cheeky look!
It was pretty amazing though, gawd I love those creatures!

I think my web server has gone down so my website has gone bye byes and I can't receive my emails, so that has cheesed me off quite a lot. Also have a blinding headache, I might have to have a Lush bath (that's the natural cosmetic company not what we says in Bristol!!)

Anyway, let me introduce you to my new friend!.......

Dance of the Butterfly

2007-07-12T21:53:55Z

Helloooo everyone. : ) I realise I haven't posted for a month, I'm so busy enjoying commenting on all yours I forget I've got an LJ too! It's only when I have a painting ready that I think to do it...so... yes, guiltily, that's why i'm here I have a new painting!
It's been a crazy,mostly brilliant few weeks, and this painting is a reflection of that and of pretty much the last year, and the future (if that makes any sense) To me Dance of the Butterfly signifies me embracing my path, letting go of fears and believing. I really felt magick around when I was painting this, and the fact that I have had this idea in my head for a year made it even more special to finally be in a place to paint it. The butterfly is a truly treasured creature to me and I have been working with their energy for the past year now, and I reckon I could be getting my wings soon!

It's watercolour and acrylic ink on watercolour board, 35cm x 55cm.
I wont say any more about it, except to say Thank you to Julia *Thank you!*

Dreaming in Faery...

2007-06-08T15:08:20Z

Well here she is...or here I am! Yes, it's me! I finished it a few hours ago, I can't guarantee that I wont change a few bits here and there, I'll have to live with it for a bit, but so far I'm pleased. I called it Dreaming in Faery as that's my little signature phrase, and it sums up just what I do, as this piece sums up a lot of things about me, my life and my art.

It's mainly watercolour, with little touches here and there of white acrylic ink, chalk pastel, coloured pencils & pen, but just a little. It's always strange when I finish a painting, especially if I have been working on it for a while, I never know really how I feel about it. So I think I'll write more when I'm a little more used to seeing it complete!
Hope you guys like it! :)