East of the Sun, West of the Moon

East of the Sun, West of the Moon is a fairy tale with a special place in my heart. It was the first story I read that had the female character setting off to save her husband rather than waiting at home. My reading of tales has since deepened and I have read many, many more tales.

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It is also one of the tales being studied this month with the Australian Fairy Tale Society, I joined in on the zoom discussion a few weekends ago and met up with some people in Canberra in person last weekend at Smith's Alternative. Both meetings's were fun.

I have been reading Five Norwegian White Bear Tales translated and Introduced by Simon Roy Hughes - a recent translation. Hughes includes a previously unpublished version called "Sir Varian" collected in Fåberg in Øppland. Hughes writes that it was sketched out by Jørgen Moe in the notes for East of the Sun West of the Moon. It reads like a Beauty and the Beast/East of the Sun West of the Moon mash up.

As always, this digital image includes traditional media. Acrylic pens on paper for the main character and mono printed abstract papers for the textures. I made a new batch last weekend for a new project and I am loving some of the unexpected textures of too much paint.