Christmas card 1999

This card (scanned against a brown background) was drawn and painted at A5-size, and was commercially printed in full-colour. I used an italic hand for the text, and Roman capitals for the word IF, using black sumi ink for the lettering. In the commercial printing process, I chose to colour the text in dark purple to complement the background painting (and to suggest the royalty of The Wise Men, as purple is traditionally associated with royalty). The illustration was painted in gouache, and detail added with colouring pencils and technical pen.

The text, which seems apt in the frenetic pace of our modern world, reads:

If we consider ourselves so unimportant that we must fill every moment of our lives with action, when will we have the time to make the long, slow journey across the desert as did the Magi? Or sit and watch the stars as did the shepherds? Or brood over the coming of the child as did Mary?For each one of us, there is a desert to travel. A star to discover. And a being within ourselves to bring to life. Author Unknown.

The inside of the card then followed the cover message with this seasonal greeting (written in black ink, coloured purple at the commercial printing process):

Nollaig Shona ’99 is the Irish (Gaeilge) for Happy Christmas ’99.

Above, left: adding finishing touches to Christmas Card 1999 calligraphy. Photo: S. Fahy

Above: working on Christmas card. Painting and calligraphy done separately, and amalgamated on computer. Photo: S. Fahy