Art Inspired by Celtic Knots

Here I am again, posting about another jewelry design. I already blogged about aspects of this on the Year of Jewelry blog, which you can read, but I can put a different spin (swirl?) on it here.

Anybody who knows me knows I love the Book of Kells (hence the name Kell’s Creations–it’s a happy coincidence that Kell was also my best friend’s nickname for me all through school) and I love all things Celtic, especially all forms of Celtic knots. I love to draw and paint them, and I have numerous books on them for inspiration. Featured in this piece are three interlocking circles which form what is called a “triquetra” in the very center.

I knew Ireland was deeply influenced by the Vikings who first arrived there in the 800s AD, but what I didn’t fully realize until I recently took an art history class was how much those Celtic knots I love resemble wonderful artworks such as the wooden portal on the stave church at Urnes, Norway (image below can be seen in context at this site), or the animal head posts ca. 825 from a Viking ship burial at Oseberg, Norway.

If you’re fascinated with Celtic or Scandinavian art and want a little inspiration for your own artwork, here are a few books I can recommend (in no particular order): 

101 Knotwork Designs, by Courtney Davis
Symbols of the Celts, by Sabine Heinz
Great Book of Celtic Patterns, by Lora S. Irish
Celtic Art: The Methods of Construction, by George Bain
Celtic Spirals Handbook, by Shela Sturrock
Celtic Motifs, by David Balade