My First Portfolio in 40 Years!
THE ‘WOW’ FACTOR.
When my son Redmond came up with the concept of this new portfolio set of some of my very best works printed on heavy Hahnemühle fine art metallic paper I thought it sounded like a very cool idea.
It was only when he sent me the actual proof version of the images enclosed in a beautiful cover that I realized this was no ordinary printed portfolio, this was a work of art, an artist’s dream come true.
In short, it had the ‘Wow!’ factor.
For all my career as a working artist, I have always insisted on the very best possible reproduction but until the arrival of digital printing, it was almost impossible.
Now, thanks to this ongoing revolution in digital tech I can proudly say that these new prints are absolutely outstanding, and the most beautiful editions of my art ever published and that is no exaggeration.
There are eight prints in this folio plus an extra bonus print on heavy linen paper to compliment the set.
Enjoy this new collection, I’m very proud of it.
-Jim FitzPatrick. 2023
Ancient Ireland Land of Legend Portfolio One Contents Part 1
These are detailed description of four of the eight prints in this new portfolio.
Part 2 with the next four descriptions will be on Saturday 24th June!
Fathach Poet of the Firbolg
Fathach was the Bard, the poet and battle-rouser of the ancient race called the FirBolg who were part of the third conquest of the island of Éireann (Ireland).
They came to Ireland after the Nemedians were defeated by Balor of the Evil Eye and his Fomor fleet at the Battle of Conann’s Tower.
They arrived in Ireland after the Nemedians but before the arrival of the Tuatha Dé Danann, according to the annals of Early Irish Mythological Cycle and may represent a historical settling of a genuine pre-Gaelic population in historical times.
With the FirBolg came two other affiliated tribes known as the Galeoin and the Fir Domhann: ‘Men of the Earth’ ie. farmers or perhaps more accurately ‘Men of the World’ or ‘Men of Wisdom’.
It is said in the annals that these three races, the FirBolg, The Fir Domhann and the Galeoin brought agriculture to early Ireland from the Scythian/Tracian hinterland where they originated.
What is certain is that they did settle in a lush semi-tropical Ireland and later faced invasion from the race known as the Tuatha DéDanann, the fifth race to invade and conquer ancient Ireland.
This new race, the Tuatha DéDanann, were descendants of the defeated Nemedians who had vowed to return to reclaim their heritage and lands but once again they faced a familiar foe, the mighty Balor of the Evil Eye and his Fomor army.
But first they had to overcome the FirBolg warriors and their allies to win and take back the island of Éireann.
This painting from my own ‘Book of Conquests’ depicts Fathach urging the warriors of the FirBolg into battle with the new invaders, this powerful and mystical tribe known as the Tuatha Dé Danann.
CúChulainn Champion of Ulster
CúChulainn was the mightiest hero of the Ulster Cycle of pre-Christian Early Irish Mythology. He single-handedly held off the armies of Queen Medb of Connacht, while the warriors of Uladh (Ulster) slept a druid-induced sleep.
CúChulainn was finally defeated and killed, still fighting while held upright tied to a battle pillar.
As he died the shapeshifting war goddess, The Morrigan, in her familiar shape as a crow, drank his blood and brought him to the Otherworld.
CúChulainn had his name given to him by Cumhail, a powerful local king, whose huge wolfhound guard dog he killed, so he was bound to take the hounds place as the guardian of the fortress of Cumhail.
My painting depicts the fearsome 17-year-old Ulster warrior with his hair spiked with lime and dipped in blood, crouching, ready to spring, as he prepares to take on the invaders.
My images of this Ulster hero were used extensively during the war in Northern Ireland by both sides and my Independent Unionist friend, Ian Adamson, even commissioned a new painting of CúChulainn for the cover of his book ‘The Cruitin’, the foundation myth of the Unionist people who identify with this powerful Ulster warrior.
Balor of the Evil Eye
Balor of the Evil Eye was the dread wizard-lord of the race known as the Fomor, or the Fomorians, the indigenous inhabitants of the island of Éireann in pre-historic times. According to the ancient manuscripts, after the Ice Age and the retreat of the icecaps, these seafaring warriors and settlers came from north Africa and from as far away as the Orkneys where they had, it seems, Scandinavian allies.
Early Irish prehistory is very complex indeed but the writer and documentary maker Bob Quinn, in his superb book and film series ‘Atlantean’, goes onto great detail in the historical connections and racial connections between north Africa, Ireland and Berber music and culture.
Balor had literally an Evil Eye, a fearsome weapon that could vapourise any who dared gaze upon it and he could use this fearsome weapon to sweep across a battlefield and incinerate all opposition.
Balor was eventually killed by his own son, Lugh Lamhfada, the great warrior of the Tuatha De danann who deployed a ‘Lightning Weapon’ to destroy the Evil Eye weapon.
Where Balor fell is remembered today as Loch na Súil, the Lake of the Eye in County Sligo, Ireland.
The name, O’Sullivan, is an Irish Gaelic clan based in Cork and Kerry, the name O’Sullivan comes from the Gaelic ‘Suil Abháin’, ‘The One Eyed’.
Star Wars Spoiler alert! If that’s possible 😉
As you become more familiar with these ancient Irish stories you will notice the influence they have had on the modern fantasy world. I was told by folks who worked on ’Star Wars’ that many aspects of the relationships between Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker and the Emperor were inspired by these myths. Darth Vader is Luke’s father, Balor is the father of Lugh. Fighting good and evil, darkness and light against each other.
Darth Vader cuts off Lukes hand, Nuada in these myths has his own arm cut off, both return to be stronger than ever. The Emporer is a great dark power firing out bolts of energy to kill his enemies. Balor has a machine, The Evil Eye which shoots rays.
The great Tolkien was hugely influenced by the myths and legends of the UK and Ireland and the Lord of the Rings a has many such influences you will notice. From Sauron to Gandalf and Peter Jackon’s imagining of the Eye atop the Castle in Mordor.
I have to mention with humility and a little braggadocio, that I was awarded the much-coveted Inkpot Award at San Diego ComicCon one year after it was won by a young movie director, one George Lucas, for Star Wars.
Another odd fact is that the role of Darth Vadar was played by Dave Prowse, a London-based body builder. I used Dave as a monster in a TV commercial for HB ice cream, a local brand, I produced as an art director in Ireland years earlier, in 1971. It really is a very small world sometimes.
Its downhill from there I’m afraid.
I hate to admit Balor was also parodied in He-Man cartoons in the 80s as the villain, Skeletor. At least the poster was a good ripoff.
Arzach Tribute to Moebius
The character of Arzach is well known to all followers of fantasy and movie art and Jean Giroud, known as Moebius, was one of the greats.
Moebius the artist is an giant of the genre thanks to his huge output of books and movie work.
Moebius was at the forefront of a new wave of experimental comic authors, who gathered in the comics magazine Métal Hurlant (Heavy Metal) and the publishing label Les Humanoïdes Associés in the 80s. He was active as a comics writer, screen writer, storyboard and concept designer too.
Marvel comics superhero fans may know him from his mini-series based on Stan Lee and Jack Kirby’s ‘The Silver Surfer’ (1988-1989). Both as Giraud and as Moebius he was one of the most important comics authors of all time, whose influence can be felt in several fantasy and science fiction film, comics and video games.
He was responsible, among many other movie works as the concept designer for the look of the earthly astronauts in Ridley Scott’s famous movie ‘Alien’.
He was also awarded the Légion D’Honneur, the Legion of Honour, the highest French honour, by the President of France and a French stamp was also issued in his honour not long before he passed away at a fine old age.
I was so damn lucky to get to know this lovely man while we were both guests at San Diego ComicCon way back in the 80s.
I was commissioned by Randy and JeanMarc L’Officier, agents for Moebius in Hollywood and beyond, to join a select group of artists admired by Moebius to produce a series of works to celebrate the great man.
I was honoured to be asked to participate so I went for it and produced this unusual and slightly surrealistic artwork which I was told pleased him hugely.
When I met him last he did this little sketch for me as we talked backstage at Comic Con in 1981.
Part 2 Continues Saturday with full descriptions of the four remaining artworks in the portfolio.
