Whats Up There?

 The last few nights I have been awoken from dreams but i take umbridge at being awoken from my rather nice dream last night when it was just getting interesting! I awake to loud and varied noises coming from above me in the attack.
 My friend next door thinks it is a walrus or some sort of clog dancing variety of rat. I am now curious and preparing to either make peace with or do battle with whatever is up there. I am also curious now as to why the loft hatch is so securely screwed shut! If I start hearing moaning and bells then i will have to get intouch with a certain cathedral on the continent because whilst I have nothing against hunchbacks I dont particularly want an infestation of them in my attic.
So I shall peer over the parapet and risk having my facial mask torn off by a rabid loft-dwelling hyena type creature. I did contemplate throwing my jamoffee up there in the hope that whatever is dwelling there will get stuck to it but after second thought i considered this to be a cruel way to die. Starvation due to having ones mouth glued shut with jamoffee would not be pleasant...not to mention the tooth decay.
Wish me luck as I adventure into the Attic.

Out of Love a fighter is proven

 Some things never die, some things move in circles, circles are the way of the world and of life but what of death, does everything really truly die and just end?
 Sometimes we leave ourselves for a little while and never before have i had to consider the consequences of me being down and such an affect on others.
Some things though, some things dont die.
I love.
A true fighter fights out of love
Not fear
Self sacrifice
Not selfishness, self hatred or harm.

 It doesnt mean the fight is easy
or that the warrior wont falter.

Sometimes the battlefield of life removes warriors from one anothers side but ultimately we fight the fight and try to be true fighters.
I dont fight for myself. I just am a fighter.

The loss of Eloquence

Commitment to this blog appears to have been short lived. This begain as a free form of expression, a secret that was honest and true with entries that strived to share some depth and philosophy but alas it has devolved into merely a record of some of my modelling work and even that has not been kept up to date. Rest assured that much has transpired over the years both in my artistic creativity, my wilderness skills and my own personal growth and relationship with the world.
Aside from all that i have not even shared any information on the work i am doing as a viking and crafts person. Perhaps this will return to how it once was over time, perhaps it shall not but i am glad that it was what it was for a while.
If you want to see truth, eloquence and the real Kat then I suggest you read the first entries in this blog though i warn you, you may not like what you learn

More Manipulations: Aino Wallen

 Once again I find myself stuck in the situation yet again that sees me wondering how on earth I can catch up on my blog. The blog that started out with so much potential and depth has been reduced to my modelling work.
 I have however been exceptionally busy of late between my new job and being a member of the Vikings which has seen me travel all over the country doing events, school visits and such. I must admit I am very much enjoying aquiring new skills and sharing what knowledge I allready have of my wilderness skills and viking living. Mostly however I am enjoying being legally allowed to hit people with big lumps of metal :D
 I often philosophise on what it is that draws me towards fighting again and again throughout my life wether it is vikings, martial arts or something more profound involving fighting for a purpose.
 Anyway now is not the time for divergence into philosophical pathways instead it is time to catch up on some digital artists who have kindly collaborated with me, often very much a surprise. Perhaps the depth that i have been unable to type of late and the personality i have surely lacked in displaying will appear through aspects of my art and modelling and it is allways interesting to see what people make of the personality that appears through my work, wether it be acting or whether it involves a part of myself. Look upon these images and see what storys you draw. I am honoured to have inspired such work.
The first art i wish to share with you is the work of Aino Wallen of Deviant art. The work is cleerly progressive and it is obvious that the artist has the imagination required for story telling through photomanipulations. It is really humbeling and an honour to be part of someones creative growth and everytime they kindly send me a new surprise image it is better than the last. Thankyou AinoWallen!

 

"Summoning" by AinoWallen http://ainowallen.deviantart.com/ 

I rather like the concept of this image, the mysticism added not just by the location and the magic I appear to be weilding but also by the tones of dusk. I think the artist has done a good job matching up my expression and look with location and story.

 

"My Fairy" by AinoWallen http://ainowallen.deviantart.com/ 

One of my favourites that the artist has created, i think the lighting is subtle enough to be truly believable and the glittering tones bounce of the rock nicely. I think the angle of the photograph itself lends well to the feel of being drawn into the characters world. Wonderful sense of magical story.

"Restoring" by AinoWallen http://ainowallen.deviantart.com/ 
For some reason I find this peice distantly reminds me of a graphic novel style, perhaps it is the bright colours and I could see it featuring in such a peice well. I adore the greens and the sense of gentle healing power.

"The Triplets" by AinoWallen http://ainowallen.deviantart.com/ 

Once again the artist has done a beautiful job of matching poses and expression to location and story or in this case mythology. A very lush image that is allmost Grecian in nature

"Come Forth my Servant" by AinoWallen http://ainowallen.deviantart.com/ 
Whilst posing for this shot I felt overwhelmed by the power of nature, i tried to channel that power into my posing for some sort of invocation shot despite the waves that kept crashing against me and threatening to sweep me out to see. It is nice to see the image turned into a powerful magical peice.

Digital Manipulation Update :Rosemary Taglialatela

Power of the Moonstones. Photomanipulation: Rosemary Taglialatela, Original Photography: Robert Kerr of IMS Photographics, Location:Aberdeenshire Scotland

I believe it is time for a creativity update:

I am very lucky to have met a variety of creative and talented people over the last few years, some in the real world and some through cyberspace. I have found wonderful artists whose work speeks to me and whose skill is apparent. When i find such an artist i let them know that creatively i see them as some what of a kindred spirit (words that could perhaps get me in trouble but are said with truth). What a wonderous thing that we can meet others who have similar interests and creative passions through places like Model Mayhem and Deviant Art (I must create my account)
  One such individual that I got speeking to recently is a lovely lady called Rosemary Taglialatela. I appreciated the romanticism and gentleness of much of her work and there is a real sense of magic and nature throughout her work.
 I was surprised when she decided to do a quick edit of a small image I had on my facebook but pleasantly surprised.
 What i was very surprised by is that Rosemary decided to change the scene from day to night which aptly suited the fact that the image was shot in a stone circle that was based upon the moons cycle rather than the sun or so I believed at the time based upon the direction of the stones (after later investigation it turns out i was right!) Rosemary did not know that this was shot in a moon stone circle yet she decided night and the glow of the moon was more apt. How wonderfully fitting. I feel the image had a real sense of invocation in it, the magic of nature and the unknown. As you may imagine I really rather like it!
 Isnt it wonderous that we can collaborate with creative creatures from across the globe through these simple little boxes sat on the desks in front of us?
 The result is what you see above you.
More of her work and photography may be found here: 
http://www.2daysphotos.com/

Now for some of my photomanipulations, something I have been reinspired to approach again recently thanks to my friends wonderful kids.

I was lucky enough to have a nice wee photoshoot with Brandon and Rowan, my friends wonderful kids who I love as if they were family. Not only are they awesome in general but they are also brilliant wee posers. Here are some of the results from our brief photosession and I am glad to say they loved it though i am not totally happy with my work on Rowan and think i need to add something extra she did a fab job though.
 I am proud to say both are profile photos :D

I am very proud of my work on this image, you would never guess that this started off as a nice photo of a smiling 12yr old lad! I am proud to say that he loves it too having a liking of werewolves:) The background images were local photos I took and even the fur on his face is from my photo of a wolf i worked with. :)

Rowan told me recently that wolves are her favourite animals, yay just like me!, and so I decided to place her atop a mountain (behind my home) next to Luna a wolf I worked with. She adores this image.

I also recently photoshopped an image of myself by Unhinged Photography (Just a few tonal adjustments)

I am more than aware that this blog is falling into disrepair but I suppose such is life....
I found myself with little time to post anything other than imagery, time has been consuming my written words...
As time eventually consumes all things. I wonder how many people find it reasuring to know that we are but a spec but barely that in the apparent infinity that is time and how many find it disconcerting. Then again is time infinite or is time repetative, does it go round in circles, even if time did pass in circles surely it would still be infinite? Just another little pondering on the majesty that is mystery.
 However time works it has been hard to find any of it spare of late between my new job (seasonal museum attendant), being a Viking (I passed my basic combat in April), my viking, medieval and bushcraft school visits, modelling, birthdays etc these posts are long overdue.

Feeling a Craving for Carving

Just my latest wee attempt. A birch teaspoon (not green and spalded) under 13cm long, the handle thin enough to see through when the light is behind (the spoon alas is not as I was running out of time and need to sharpen my crook knife). The snake design is 3d and curves all the way round the spoon and is Koldroised with paprika for the pattern.

I think I may be improving. :)

Crafty Footsteps

 For a fair few months now, since before Christmas, I have been involved in a Viking reenactment organization and a local medieval/viking craft club. I have managed to bring my knowledge of wilderness skills to the group adding a different dimentsion to the whole topic.
 Recently I have even managed to do a couple of School visits thanks to some friends that do viking and Medieval school visits. The last visit was a whole day spent with a group of 60 kids and I spent about two hours talking and demonstrating fire, foraging, herbal medicine and hygiene which they loved. It was so refreshing seeing such enthusiasm (when i demonstrated bowdrill and got it smoking they wanted me to burn down the school). I am glad the lesson went well and after break I was in my stride.
 I personally would have loved to have a couple of medieval warriors and a medieval lass turn up at my school whilst on the run. They also loved the battle scenes of course, as I did myself, as well as the comedy between blacksmith/ fighter and arrogant night and blacksmiths daughter. I look forward to doing more of this work.
 The viking reenactment also led me to a wonderful visit to York where the Jorvik festival is held. A wonderful and well known Viking festival with viking trading, demonstrations, battles and education for the public. I had to get my Viking outfit together for this with little time and it has to be authentic. I would show photos of the finished outfit, which is not very flattering, but alas I left it in York. I do however have some photos of the leather shoes I made, my first ever!

 

The socks however are not authentic

Cosy sheepskin lining.

 On the outside there is no additional Sole