Walrus the Magician Cooking up Artificial Aurora study

acrylic, colour pencils, posca pens and carving on wood
25x20cm / 10x8"
2024

One of the Ice Queen’s helpers is Walrus the Magician. 
 
You can tell his magical qualities by his multiple eyes. 
 
To address the energy crisis, the Walrus Magician spends his time cooking up artificial aurora. 
 
This idea is inspired by Philip Pullman’s “His Dark Materials trilogy” where the aurora borealis becomes a source of energy. I read “The Golden Compass” in a college children’s literature class and have been hooked ever since. 
 
I reread these three books, alongside all Pullman’s books when I researched for my imaginary country Northlandia three years ago. 
 
 
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This woodcut painting is carved and then coloured with the highest quality artist pigments. Archival professional-quality paint is meant to last over 100 years. I spray the artwork with three extra layers of UV protection.
 
The work is framed in a beautiful ornate super sturdy solid pine wooden frame. You have a choice of black or white frames. 
 
This piece is part of my “21 Day Challenge” project. During 1-21 November 2024, I created one small woodcut drawing per day. Each features an animal character inhabitant from my imaginary arctic country “Northlandia.”