Celtic Knotwork

I don’t remember how I came by it, but one day I found myself in posession of a wonderful book: Celtic Art: The Methods of Construction by George Bain. Bain’s son Iain later produced a practical volume that simplifies some of his father’s methods and presents a useful three-grid system. I devoured these books, and it set the stage for a life-long fascination with, and enjoyment of, this unique form of design and decoration. Here are some of my original works. Click on any for a larger view, or for a gallery of all of them.

Here are references to some great books:

• Celtic Art: The Methods of Construction by George Bain (William MacLellan and Co., Glasgow, 1951; reprinted by Dover Publications,1973)
• Celtic Knotwork by Iain Bain (SterlingPublishing, New York, 1986)
• Celtic Design: Knotwork, The Secret Method of the Scribes, by Aidan Meehan (Thames and Hudson, New York, 1991).
• A Handbook of Celtic Ornament by John G. Merne (Mercier Press, Dublin and Cork, 1974)