Kaluta's Celtic Calendars
Since we’re a day or so into what the Celts considered the new year and since this is Mike Kaluta’s seventy-fifth birthday year, it seemed fitting to look back on a Kaluta project from two decades ago: his ‘Celtic calendars’ for the Celtic League.
From what I understand, Alexei Kondratiev--Celtic scholar and founder of the Celtic League--commissioned art inspired by Celtic myth and legend from Mike in 2001. The Celtic League calendar, published late in 2001, was advertised in the Bud Plant catalog, which is where I bought my copy. Apparently, it was successful enough to warrant a follow-up and a 2003 calendar with new Kaluta art was issued in late 2002. That was the end of it, but kudos to Kondratiev for making it happen and many thanks to Mr. Kaluta for the great art.
Below, you'll find my personal favorites. I simply don't have time to post all twenty-four plates. All of the illustrations are drawn from Irish or Welsh myths and legends. Kondratiev chose the subjects and then communicated what he wanted to Mike. Kaluta then ran with it.
To me, the illustrations have a very 'classic' feel, echoing art from the Golden Age of Illustrated Books. They kind of feel like Arthur Rackham and Willy Pogany got together and went all Art Nouveau with their bad selves. However you slice it, these are very cool and unlike almost any other 'Celtic' illustrations that I've seen.
Enjoy and Happy New Year!
This is the cover illo for the 2002 calendar. A black & white version also illustrated the month of December. It depicts Manannan, son of the Sea, coursing through the waves.
Gwydion the magician creates Blodeuwedd for Lleu. From the Mabinogion. April, 2002.
Thomas the Rhymer and the Queen of Elfland from the Scottish Border ballad. July 2002.
The Second Battle of Magh Tuireadh. Balor of the Evil Eye with that eye pierced by the spear of Lugh, his grandson and future king of the Danaans. Very stylized, with echoes of art from Celtic illuminated manuscripts and also from Art Nouveau. August 2002.
Cu Chulainn—holding the sword—demands training from Scathach the warrior-woman. She is flanked by her two sons. September 2002.
Cernunnos, the Horned God, leads the Wild Hunt on Samhain Eve. October 2002.
Isolt, King Mark and Tristan. From the Arthurian legends. January 2003.
The feast of Imbolc. The goddess, Brigit/Brigantia, looms above as a wise-woman drinks from a holy spring. February 2003.
The Irish hero, Fionn Mac Cumhaill or, in the Anglicized spelling, Finn mac Cool. Much like Arthur, he is thought to be merely ‘sleeping’ in an Irish cave, awaiting the call to save Ireland once more. Also in stasis are his war-band, the mighty Fianna. March 2003.
The great Welsh hero, Pwyll, along with the goddess, Rhiannon and her jealous suitor, Gwawl. May 2003.
Cernunnos. July 2003.
The god, Lugh, slays the dragon. August 2003.
This one has me stumped. All the notes written on the prelim say is “Nede & Fercheirtne”. As I recall, Fercheirtne was a medieval Irish filidh or bard. I assume he is the harpist on the right. Regardless, this is a cool pic. September 2003.
The Dagda, his massive club, ‘the Grinder’, in tow. He is locked in a passionate embrace with Morrigan, the raven-goddess of war. October 2003.
We end as we began—with Manannan mac Lir, trickster and god of the sea. The title of this illustration is “The Feast of Manannan mac Lir”. This was the November 2003 illo. The boar carcasses and apples suggest a traditional Samhain feast, though Manannan’s feast-day fell on the midsummer solstice. A cool, if slightly mysterious, pic.
All of Mr. Kaluta’s Celtic calendar art can be found here.