Series 2 - Clown #9 - 'Jack Frost'

It's December, and that means, amongst the plethora of winter archetypes and iterations we may draw from, Jack Frost is certainly a factor.

Chill, bitter, frigid, frozen temperature, atmosphere and mood thrive in the image of Jack Frost.

Here, he's the realization of those cool, brooding characters fully immersed in and one with their singular, lone-wolf nature, driven by a temperament that may inspire transformation or more negatively hinder the life around them with hypothermic force.

However the beneficial or destructive aspects of this persona take hold, it is certainly also a festive one for the holiday season - Winter wonderland, perhaps?
And the little chickadee birds are always frequent, playful, darting black and gray blurs amidst the conifers in the north-east, this time of year.

Cold things can be beautiful, whatever their pathos.

A Madcap Credo's Jack Frost:

Keep warm and be bright, this winter season!

-Mairin-Taj

Series 2 - Clown #8 - 'Jack Oriole'

The first clown of this series II back in April was the 'April Bluebird', referencing happiness, fresh, jubilant vibes and a spring-like brightness.

Here's a refresher:

This Autumn, I did a male version, if you will - 'Jack Oriole', which is an allusion to pumpkin-themed season of tricksters, confidence, the oriole bird, and it's child-like, playful nature.

The lingering Halloween festive spirits in me also left me remembering the beloved character Jack Skellington from Tim Burton's A Nightmare Before Christmas, and so it had a subtle influence... Call me quirky, if you like.

The oriole bird is also the state bird of Maryland.

A Madcap Credo's Jack Oriole:

Happy November!

-Mairin-Taj

Series 2 - Clown #7 - 'Wanna Be'

The "wanna be", the "poser", the envious copy-cat or thief of the original, rare, and genuine qualities in this world.

We might know someone with this mirror-like character, or have experienced it out of circumstance, abstractly, via philosophy, but it happens; the messy, gory act of taking something clean, quality, self-sovereign, and passing it off as something else, someone else, intended as another thing entirely. 

There are always stains left of such an act, the consequences that inevitably come to light for the fact of what was done.

This was originally a pure vision, the metaphor for the white soul, the Unicorn, so to speak. 

But then, I liked the idea of it being fake - An assumed identity, by someone hoping to pass it off, out of insecurity, envy, instability, and a kind of blind obsession with what is out of reach.

People can do cruel, insensitive things while under the panic of passion for something beyond themselves. The murder of a thing, or an idea...

After all, those who can't seem to find and face their own unique individuality take it from elsewhere. It never fits right, it never looks right, or wears right, but they try to fool themselves that it's theirs, nonetheless.

Here, she's done the messy deed, she's taken the rare horn for herself, and she's caught between proudly bearing it, and wondering if others see the lie of it.

Not all archetypes are good and virtuous - Series II, Clown #7 demonstrates this.

A Madcap Credo's Wanna Be...

Also, Happy Halloween, All-Souls'-Night, Lughnasadh, what have you, at the end of the month! Disguises are the theme.

-Mairin-Taj

Series 2 - Clown #6 - 'Moon-Brained'

Luna moths have this near incandescent glow of lunar green light about them, dazzling with both their sheer size and elegant, ethereal shapes. Enchanting, lucky, eery...

For those selenophiles and nyctophiles, those moon-gazers, dreamers, night owls and touched thinkers, the ones who might dwell slightly elsewhere...Keep gazing upwards, outwards, and wonder on...But don't unravel in the process of looking too long!

A Madcap Credo's Moon-Brained:

Until next month - October!
-Mairin-Taj

Series 2 - Clown #5 - 'Cloud Walker'

"Cloud Walker", day-dreamer, visionary... The ones among us who seek new heights and are naturally inclined to linger, in that psychological pursuit of the horizon, elevated more liberally off the ground than the rest of us.

I wouldn't call this archetype 'airy-fairy', by any means. That negative connotation denotes a more vacant and directionless disposition, in my experience.

No, I'm referencing the lucid dreamers, the ones with vivid, imaginative goals equally unconventional and individual, who's flighty ambitions unsettle what the rest of society is comfortable with appreciating on the day to day.
These sorts are articulate in carving a new path, a characteristically fresh way forwards, that speaks of taking to the skies and never looking back. They don't need safety, security, routine...They just need wings that come to life and to act on their inspirations floating about them.

A MadCap Credo's Cloud Walker:

Find Cloud Walker and others available in purchase as an art product HERE, at my online merchandise shop

For questions, ideas, or interest in purchase, contact me directly HERE.
Until next month,
As always,

-Mairin-Taj

Series 2 - Clown #4 - LGBT Liberty 'Freedom to Marry'

Yes, that's right, I'm one of those many in unquestionable support of marriage equality, freedom to marry, LGBT rights, and Love winning over all. Humanity over religious dogma. If you disagree with these integral values, that's fine, but keep it elsewhere, away from me and my work. Thank you.

Now that that is cleared up for any who could possibly be confused, let's move on.

Recently, in Lancaster, PA, we celebrated a city-wide festival for our historic town, and the cultural diversity housed within it. We call it Celebrate Lancaster!, and serendipitously, the morning of the festival, I woke to the wonderfully shocking news that our country made a staggeringly progressive move and legalized freedom to marry nationwide! 

Then there was Gay Pride.

And now, for the beginning of July, we're coming up on the exciting annual 4th of July weekend, for which I forecast another positive and festive few days.

So, here's my contribution for the Mad Cap Credo in recognition of a minority and the under-acknowledged achieving what they deserve, at long, long last.

After all, this illustrated monthly installment - series 2, is all about "the way of wise fools and punk pierrots, romantic rogues, butch mavericks, and reinvented femme fatales; the indivisible soul, the willing rapscallion. The artful bad-ass." In all forms.

Initially 'LGBT Liberty', I went with a painted, flesh and blood version of our symbolic statue of Liberty's visage. The rainbow is an obvious symbol on the subject at hand. And of course the doves of peace and partnership bearing what is most intentionally a violet infinity shape from two air-born ribbons.

Freedoms should always be paramount.

And celebrate for others!

For questions, ideas, or interest in purchase, contact me directly HERE.
Until next month,
As always,

-Mairin-Taj

Series 2 - Clown #3 - Crab Jab

When I'm pushed too far, a "sod off" sentiment is what comes boiling up, and the jab comes out.

You might say we are all, in our own way, familiar with what can bring us to that point.

In my fascination with women's boxing and the education in primal self-defense, I've come across the term "southpaw", which is to define those in boxing that, either through training or from natural dominance, fight left-handed. Left-handers throw everything off, and to the right-dominant world, it comes off as just..."wrong". (I am ambidextrous in many things, with a right-hand inclination for art and writing).

There is something mean and final about the southpaw jab. I almost named this redhead "Southpaw", but I wanted the title to reflect more of the crab and the cancer zodiac association...Which, by the way, is a conceptual, happy accident, not anything to do with some predisposition towards astrology. I don't put much stock in the mysticism of astrology, on the whole. The archetypal language is great for visual story-telling though!

I was fresh from a rotten argument and this image of a self-sovereign woman putting up her ready claw as if putting up the English two fingers, and snarling, was an immediate vision for me.

After some conceptual editing and practical application, this is what came of the thought, for Clown #3 - Crab Jab:

To buy an art print, for questions, ideas, or interest in purchase, contact me directly HERE.
T-shirts and bags with her featured, COMING SOON.

Return again on July 1st for our next Clown, Series II!

-Mairin-Taj

Series II - Clown # 2 - May Day

Happy May Day!

In Celtic culture, and others, May first, or the official welcoming of warm weather and the summer season, is a time for outdoor celebration, fires, flowers, and lovers.

...'The birds and the bees', if you like.

You might say that May first is the archaic and elemental version of Valentine's Day for our forebears, as ancient as early cultures. 

So, not to put too fine a point on it, I'm celebrating that special aspect of human connection* [See note at bottom] with this month's series II Clown # 2 - Miss Lock and Mr. Key embracing in the blooming woodland, hopefuls, dreamers, passionate souls, poets, lovers, fools, all of us, whatever your orientation.

Take hold of your love and be happy the sun has returned for longer hours!

(If you want to have children, today is a great day for getting to it, as tradition would have it, haha)

Clown # 2 - May Day:

Miss Lock & Mr. Key, as it were.

It was great fun fleshing this one out yesterday, for a few hours.

To buy an art print, for questions, ideas, or interest in purchase, contact me directly HERE.

Return again on June 1st for our next Clown, Series II!

*A note about content depiction and sexual implication: I am a firm friend to the homosexual community, and alternative love stories and orientations are respected. My artwork is not discriminatory, or meant to be as such, in any way. I created this specific depiction from experience, personal preference, and on the note of biological conception, only.

-Mairin-Taj

Series II - Clown #1 - April Bluebird

Ah, the bluebird. I love birds. And this is a symbol for happiness, not to mention the bird of my childhood state, New York.

April, coming round again to start the second year of Clowns here, marks a nice anniversary for the Madcap Credo; not to mention, April 1st - Fool's Day, and the god of Laughter's day in the ancient Celtic Calendar, for a fun tidbit - is my birthday.

"He who laughs, lasts", said Mary Pettibone Poole, wisely.

The Fool often has a kind of sharp wisdom about him, through all cultures, and I enjoy how the longevity of humor, wit, cleverness, and the invariable insight that comes with that package, is apart of the Fool's pathos. It lends to the archetype's power in the long run.

So when my birthday, or for everyone else, Fools Day, comes around, synonymous notions kickstart in me.

Given that this is the start of our second year here at A Madcap Credo, I wanted to rejuvenate my drive on the subject and do something fresh. The first series last season was loosing appeal, and no longer held interest for me in the approach I had habitualized. Perfect time for a new direction!

Combining all of the above components, you get before you now, a welcoming, initiatory, pleasantly happy, quirky self-portrait for Series II of the Clowns of A Madcap Credo.

Clown #1 - April Bluebird:

Here's to a new year and a second series!

And as always, for questions, ideas, or interest in purchase, contact me directly HERE.

Until May 1st!

Mairin-Taj

Clown #12 - The Lass - For Pi Day and Saint Patrick's Day this March!

I went with a bit of a mash up and combined a month of festivities that are particular favorites of mine: pie for Pi Day (3.14159...etc), and the verdant cultural richness behind Saint Patrick's Day on the 17th, not to mention International Women's Day!

So, 'The Lass' is smarted up in head-to-toe greens, checked with a clover, and bearing an abundant pie for the assemblage to imagine using as desired.

 

Here's my favorite, metaphorical whiskey neat raised in good cheer to the glory that is pie, Irish culture, and the diverse female half of the world. Here's to March!

(And then it's my birthday on April 1st!)

And as always, if you're interested in more of the Clown selection, more Clown products - prints & posters, cards, tote bags, iphone cases and more - Shop here

Share to friends and colleagues.

Join in discussion and critique.

And connect!

-Mairin-Taj

Clown #11 - Je Sui Charlie

On January 7th, Charlie Hebdo publication of France was assaulted with terrorist violence, and quality creatives and staff were murdered for their work's expression.

In response, not only the nation, but the world, raise their pens and pencils, brushes and markers, as a sign of support for the right to free expression, free speech, and the enduring power of the "pen" over the "sword"...

Fellow creatives and free-thinkers, sympathizers and loved ones, have all done their part to share in the response to the attack on culture. We all have.

For the following month's Clown, I chose a noble 'Strong-Man' archetype raising up the pencil - as so many French mourners did in Paris - for the country, for the world, and for the good power of the creative voice.

And a note from me from January:

 

Respect - Here's to true artists, free-thinkers, humans of liberty; the pen, or paintbrush, is indeed mightier than the sword, in the end.

"...Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light; I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night..." -From 'The Old Astronomer (To His Pupil)' by Sarah Williams

#CharlieHebdo - Charbonnier, Wolinski, 'Tignous' Verlhac, Cabut, Maris, Honore, Renaud, Ourad, Merabet, Brinsolaro - I honor you. These are my tools, my weapons of choice.
#peace #art #liberty 

Until next month!
Check out my other WIPs and connections in the meantime, to your right!
Cheers.

Clown #10 - January 2015! - Kindle

That's right - Kindle. 

Kindle your new year, kindle your passion, kindle your justice, kindle your drive, your daring.

Got a lighter, anyone?

Good luck!

-Mairin-Taj, 2015