Celtic knotwork artist Brenna Hartnett in her home studio

photos and interview questions by Mark N

A special artist feature, just for St Patricks’ day: Brenna Hartnett and her Celtic Knotwork art! In our interview with Brenna, we show off her work and some behind-the-scenes shots from her home studio- and talk with her about her process, the influences of Ireland, incorporating modern themes into an ancient art form, and her upcoming book.

Hi Brenna! It’s nearly your favorite holiday! How are you going to celebrate it this year?

I normally celebrate with the more American tradition of corned beef and potatoes. Not a fan of cabbage, and of course chocolate cupcakes made with stout. I’ll have plenty of Irish music playing for the day. Gaelic Storm is an awesome band, and one of my favorite Irish music bands. You have probably heard their music before - they were in a big blockbuster movie that had an unsinkable ship.

We noticed you sometimes sign your name ‘Céad Mile Beannacht Geal.’ Where did this full name come from and what does it mean?

One hundred thousand bright blessings, a blessing in Irish Gaelic.

What area of the country do you hail from, and what brought you to the southwest Missouri region?

Central Arizona is where I am originally from, but a change of scenery and a new start is what brought me out this way.

How would you describe yourself, for those who haven’t gotten to meet you? Not just as an artist, but… as a person?

As a person I am very creative not just in the artist realm, but other facets as well. I am generally positive in my life outlook, but have a healthy dose of grounding reality. Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel is the train- that kind of mindset.

And what do you do for fun?

When I just want to relax and unwind, I play video games like Legend of Zelda, The Ori games and other console games. I am also very into gardening. I love growing flowers and my own herbs, fruits, and vegetables. It is a rewarding hobby. Nature is also a big influence on my artwork, so it is a way to recharge and get inspired.

You describe yourself as “an artist who tries to fuse traditional Celtic knotwork from Ireland, Wales & Scotland with modern themes.” Where did these influences come from for you, in your chosen type of work? Is this part of your heritage or is there just something that clicked about the artwork from that specific region of Europe?

It is part of my heritage; a large portion of my ancestors are actually from different parts of Ireland and Scotland. However, the influences for this particular style come from real life exposure. As a teenager, I was lucky enough to go to Ireland. Between that and my avid love of Celtic Mythology, I sort of just decided one day I wanted to take my art in this direction. I got a few books and taught myself. I used George Bain’s book, Celtic Art: The Method of Construction, so much it has fallen apart.

What inspired you about being in Ireland? Was there a feeling of being ‘home’ for you, in regards to your heritage?

It wasn’t a feeling of being home so much as the sense of being in a land steeped in an ancient and mystical past. There was some nostalgia at the time, but mostly it was that Ireland is the land of myth, fantastical stories, art, and music.

One of the most inspiring places I got to visit while there was Céide Fields, an archeological site in Ireland. Being able to walk back into the past was a marvelous experience. I would definitely recommend going there and taking a few castle tours for those who get the chance to visit Ireland.

image of Céide Fields by Sharon Cobo, Getty Images/Canva

What is ‘knotwork’ specifically? Tell us a little about that medium.

Knotwork is ornamental interlacing patterns, but the point of the knotwork is to give the image a sense of movement. When you look at the picture your eye traces the lines and the illusion is that the piece is moving, shifting, or rotating, depending on what you are going for in the design.

The history of the art form is definitely something that can be felt in your work. It seems really timeless. You mentioned modern themes too, though; how do you go about infusing something new into such an ancient art form?

I start out with researching and finding good references for the modern elements I want to incorporate. I can visualize how I want the knotwork to look, and normally that isn’t the issue. The biggest challenge is selecting the right linework to go with the feel of the desired finished image. I will do a few rough sketches that are a basic layout of the design and put notations on the page of what elements I want to include. Then I will do another sketch. After this phase, I let it sit for a day or two and come back to see what I can’t stand and what works well. I can usually visualize in my head what I want it to look like at the end, but sometimes what I initially picture and what works don’t coincide. Color selection is always crucial to this process and I always test out color palettes before I actually put brush, marker, or pen to paper.

How long have you been making art? Did you always know you wanted to do something like this?

Since I was a toddler. I always loved to draw. I knew I wanted to create art, but for a long time I didn’t know what kind. I jumped around within styles, genres, mediums, but nothing seemed to call to me. It wasn’t until getting a series of commissions for a Druid Grove out of NJ for deity icons that I actually really settled on doing Celtic knotwork.

It looks like you do a lot of online selling, through sites as diverse as fineartamerica.com (very fine-art-centered) to pxpuzzles.com (very niche way to translate artwork to physical products like puzzles or totes). What led you this direction for selling your work? And do you have any advice for other artists who have considered selling art online?

I wanted a way to get my work out there, but having prints made can get downright expensive. Some people who purchased custom pieces would tell me “I wish I could get it as a phone case, or some other way.” Fineartamerica.com was suggested by a friend and it turned out to be the perfect solution. My buyers can choose the image, size, and how they want it- from tapestries, bed spreads, to yoga mats, and phone cases.

As far as advice- research where you are selling from, their policies, their services, and make sure it is a fit for you.

And now, some big news. You have a book in the works! That’s very exciting. Want to tell us a bit about it?

Sure, I would love too. I have written a series called Sword of Stars. Book one of the series, Eternity is Not Forever, is the work to be published. It is a fantasy novel that involves taking you to a world called Altaris and transporting you into the life of the two main characters, Aria and Kestrel. The world is a complex creation with unique languages, cultures, and magic. The reader will get to enjoy maps and illustrations that bring the world alive. My publisher and I are aiming toward the second half of the year for its release at the earliest. Latest would be early 2023.

Sounds like a lot of fun! Are you writing, illustrating, or both? And how long has this been in the works for you?

Yes, I am both author and illustrator. Years, literal years this has been in the works. Over a decade. The story really did grow and evolve over time.

Two last questions we ask everyone…

1: What’s your favorite local spot?

Flicker Bar and Arcade. I love playing their guitar games and some of their classic arcade games; and I enjoy their quesadilla rolls and whatever drink fits my mood. I have video game themed art pieces for sale there too, for anyone who is interested.

2: What’s your favorite Nic Cage movie?

The Rock, but it’s more for Sean Connery than Nic Cage.

Featured St Patricks day artist: Brenna Hartnett

The Joplin Toad is a Creative Collective.