Styx second challenge piece

20Perspectives second challenge theme is "Doors, Portals and Windows" and the size requirements are

Styx by Paula Rafferty

detail of Styx

Photo of full moon, river Shannon, 6.55am February 2021(image by artist) and inspiration for my piece

My first time seeing the river covered in mist early one winter morning was scary. It was described by a swimming companion as the “River Styx” You couldn’t see 10 feet in front of you, let alone the river bank on the other side. Getting into the water in the pre-dawn light with the moon still visible through the mist felt almost mythical, I had to trust and believe that all was ok, blind faith! As I swam out I could only see the area directly around me and a vague outline of the trees in the distance.

This is my portal to another realm, a place where I have to place my trust in mother nature, that she will keep me safe and return me from the other side.

The River Styx, in Greek mythology is a river and deity that forms the boundary between Earth and the Underworld. In some versions of the story, the ferryman Charon is sometimes described as having transported the souls of the newly dead across the river and into the Underworld.

This piece was created digitally and printed on cotton sateen before being intensively quilted on a domestic machine. This quilting process although very intense and time-consuming allows me to get into a state of flow, where hours disappear and my mind wanters through a myriad of adventures, coming up with new ideas, solving issues that I"m having and allows me to avoid housework!!

Styx 2 Styx 3

Because I couldn't decide which image to use for this project, I ended up making three in total for this challenge!

Here is a link to my website it you would like another look: https://www.dogdaisydesignsbypaularafferty.com