Yule Elf Viking Godmask

Most of our Christmas traditions have their roots in Viking culture where the time of year for decorated trees and garland was knows as Yule or Jol. Even Santa’s elves have their history in the folklore of the Vikings where elves and dwarves played a prominent role. This Yule Elf is done in a Viking artwork style and is what is called a “godmask.” Celebrate the Yule season Viking style!

Black and Gray Yule Elf Tee

Red and Green Yule Elf Tee

Krampus!

Check out my latest artwork depicting everyone's favorite Christmas demon!

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR KRAMPUS DESIGNS

Celtic Headless Horseman

SHOP THIS DESIGN ON THE FOLLOWING SITES:

THREADLESS

REDBUBBLE

DESIGNBYHUMANS

TEEPUBLIC

Original artwork available on quality apparel and accessories.

This is my interpretation of the legendary figure of American folklore, the Headless Horseman. Here he is portrayed in a Celtic style. Legend has it that the Headless Horseman was a Hessian (German) mercenary fighting for the British in the American Revolutionary War. That was, until an American cannonball took off his head! Now he rises every Halloween night to prowl the Village of Sleepy Hollow, NY searching for his missing head, and terrorizing locals for centuries.

 

Two versions of the artwork. Both styles are available on all apparel and accessories.

My original sketch of "Celtic Headless Horseman."

Dragon Slayer

The "Dragon Slayer" design is in a Norse style depicting a dragon with a sword running through it. The runes on the dragon's body spell out "DRAGON SLAYER."

Gold Dragon available here.

Green Dragon available here.

Grey Dragon available here.

Celtic Harvest Reaper

It’s the busiest time of the year, HARVEST! The days are slowly getting shorter. The smell in the air starts to change. It’s becoming cooler at night. Summer is winding down. The Oak King is aging, and the Holly King is becoming stronger. The Holly king is waiting patiently for his strength to return so that he may challenge the Oak King on Samhain (Halloween), and DEFEAT him, thereby ushering in winter.

So you must stay busy. Harvest your crops and store them in preparation for the winter ahead. There’s still time. Hard work during the Harvest will be rewarded.

Mjölnir: Odin vs Thor

SHOP THIS DESIGN AT:

THREADLESS

REDBUBBLE

DESIGN BY HÜMANS

TEEPUBLIC

Vikings and Norse warriors would wear the Mjölnir (Thor's Hammer) amulet to invoke the thunder god's strength and protection. In Norse mythology, Odin, the Allfather, is the father of Thor. This depiction of Mjölnir is adorned with Odin and Thor locked in battle. What's causing this domestic dispute? I'm not sure. Maybe Thor drank Odin's last bottle of mead!

Fenrir: Ragnarok Viking Monster Wolf

Fenrir: Ragnarok Viking Monster Wolf

Fenrir (or Fenris) is a gigantic, monster wolf of Norse Viking folklore. Fenrir is a child of the Norse god Loki, and is responsible for gobbling up the god Odin WHOLE during the events of Ragnarok. Fenrir is so ferocious that only a magical chain forged by the dwarves can bind him. The god Tyr (represented by the rune that looks like an arrow in this image) had his right hand bitten off by Fenrir. This image shows Fenrir breaking free of the magical dwarven chains that bind him.

Fenrir Men's Tee. Much more apparel and accessories available in the online store!

This is my original sketch of this design.

Cú Chulainn: The Irish Berserker

Cú Chulainn is one of the most famous of all Celtic Irish mythological heroes. He rose to fame from his exceptional skills at the Irish sport of Hurling. He then solidified his legend by killing the monstrous hound of Culann. Cú Chulainn is most famous for his great berserker rage in battle; turning himself into a giant rage monster that would slaughter men by the hundreds!

CLICK HERE TO SHOP FOR PRODUCTS WITH THIS DESIGN!

Black and White Version

Color Version

My vision for my Cú Chulainn portrait was to try to sum up all the different components to his mythology in a single image. So Cú Chulainn himself is at the center carrying a hurley which he used to slay Culann's hound, and, thereby, earning the name Cú Chulainn which is Irish for Culann's hound (Cú Chulainn agreed to replace Culann's guard hound after killing it.) He is also carrying the magical barbed spear named Gáe Bulg.

One More Round

Bruised, Bloodied, but Never Beaten!

Shop all Products with this Original Design

Never give up. Never go down. Bruised, bloodied, but never beaten! You're always ready for one more round! This unique design emulates strength and toughness in a vintage style.

The Morrigan: Irish War Goddess

INITIAL SKETCH OF "THE MORRIGAN"

The Morrigan plays a prominent role in Irish mythology. She is associated with war, and is a shape-shifter, often taking the form of a battle crow. In the form of the battle crow, she is said to control fate; predicting which warriors shall live or die. In this capacity, she is quite similar to the Norse Valkyries. 

BERSERKER!

 "Odin's men went without their mailcoats and were mad as hounds or wolves, bit their shields...they slew men, but neither fire nor iron had effect upon them..."

Final "Berserker" Image

One of the most famous and popular icons from the heathen Viking age is that of the berserker. The beserkers, referred to as "Odin's men" were Viking shock troops that were renown for their ferocity in battle. They are also associated with shamanism and would use various hallucinogenic plants, alcohol, and ritual practices to work themselves into a battle frenzy where they were reported by several historians to display feats of super human strength, and, reportedly, felt no pain. They would also not be able to distinguish friend from foe, killing indiscriminately. 

Poitín Outlaw Irish Whiskey

Pronounced “poteen”, poitín is the Irish version of American moonshine or white lightning. Poitín was generally produced in remote rural areas, away from the interference of the law. Since it was the Irish and Scots-Irish who settled the American South, it stands to reason that they brought their traditions of distilling with them, making poitín the direct ancestor of American moonshine traditions!

The more I explore different components of culture and history, the more I realize how many American traditions have their roots in Ireland and/or Scotland. I was aware of how Celtic music had a huge influence on American music, from bluegrass to country to blues and rock. I also thought it was really cool how tap dancing was born in America from a combination of African rhythms and Irish step dancing.

There are lots of connections like these, but learning about poitín was a new one to me. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that rural Ireland would have similar distilling traditions as rural United States, but it still fascinates me how so many of the things we hold up as "American" have very direct roots in the old countries.

Some of my favorite Irish folk and Old Timey songs reference the "mountain dew." This is a reference to the clear liquor they were producing in secret in the hills of their respective countries. It's amazing to me to hear and see the similarities of cultures existing 3,000 miles from each other.