Elder Rune Studio

23/03/2025

Exploratory sketch for a new piece.
Dragons come in all shapes and sizes, so, for now, I'm just focusing on the head.
Sunday mornings are great for coffee and creativity :)

12/03/2025

An inked line drawing of the rune, Raidho (ᚱ).
The allfather, Odin, is represented by Raidho.
For those on a journey, (either spiritually or physically) Raidho represents adventure, direction, harmony, wisdom and a great sense of learning and exploration.
Thor is sometimes mentioned in association with Raidho for his continuous travelling.
This is a great piece for those people seeking a new start and serves as a reminder that growth is both a journey and a gift.

There is a link to this piece on my Etsy store in the comments below 🙏

10/03/2025

The Valkyrie. Feared, revered and adored in equal measure.

From the Old Norse "Valkyrja" - the "chooser of the slain".
While Odin would select those warriors adept enough to sit alongside him, it fell to the Valkyries to deliver them to Asgard's great hall of the slain, Valhöll.

I resisted the urge to add colour to this piece. Valkyries are often depicted with hair as golden as fire.
Bonus points for anyone who can identify the actor I used as reference for the Valkyrie's face 😃

Link to 'Valkyrie' on my Etsy store in comments.

05/03/2025

The Valkyrie. A work in progress.
This is the initial pencil sketch which, with a little refinement, will be ready for ink.

02/03/2025

Handfasting is an ancient Celtic and Norse wedding tradition in which a couple’s hands are bound together with a ribbon or cord, symbolising their commitment to one another. It was a common form of betrothal or marriage across Scotland, Ireland and parts of England and Scandinavia before the formalisation of Christian weddings.

The term "handfasting" comes from the Old Norse handfesta and Old English handfæstung, meaning "to strike a bargain by shaking hands." It was originally a temporary agreement but soon became something far more permanent and was later entwined into traditional marriage ceremonies.

Though handfasting fell out of favour with the rise of Christianity, it has been revived in pagan, Wiccan, and modern Celtic weddings.

This artwork is now available to purchase and download from my Etsy store. Link in comments.

02/03/2025

In Welsh mythology, Blodeuwedd was a woman crafted from flowers - meadowsweet, oak, and broom - by magicians to be the wife of Lleu Llaw Gyffes. But she was never meant to choose her own path.

Defying fate, she fell in love with another and conspired to change her destiny, only to be transformed into an owl as punishment - forever a symbol of wisdom, mystery, and the untamed spirit.

I created this drawing to capture her essence and I like to think that it serves as a reminder that we, too, shape our own stories.

It is now available to purchase and download from my Etsy store. Link in comments.

02/03/2025

The rune Uruz (ᚢ) is the second rune of the Elder Futhark and represents strength, endurance, vitality, raw power, and untamed potential. It is symbolised by the aurochs, a now-extinct species of wild cattle that was once widespread in Europe and represented primal, untamed strength.

Of all the deities in the Old Norse mythology, Uruz is most closely aligned with Thor. As such it represents power but can also indicate a trial of endurance - testing one’s limits to grow stronger.

Uruz can also be linked to Audhumla, the great cow that nourished Ymir in Norse creation mythology.

Audhumla is a life-giver and symbolises primal creative energy, endurance, and sustenance.

I think of Uruz as the icon of the raw power of nature and the ability to shape one’s destiny through strength and perseverance.

This artwork is now available to purchase and download from my Etsy store. Link in comments.

02/03/2025

The rune Thurisaz (ᚦ) is the third rune of the Elder Futhark. It is closely associated with Thor and, in some interpretations, the primordial Jötunn (giants), particularly Þrymr or Ymir.

Thurisaz represents power, conflict, chaos, protection, and destructive forces. It can symbolise both a defensive force (like Thor’s hammer, Mjölnir) and a chaotic, dangerous one (like the raw power of the giants). It is a rune of great force - one that can protect or destroy depending on how it is wielded.

This rune means a great deal to me since Thurisaz can signify a challenge, a test of strength, or a need for caution - but it also offers the power to stand firm and overcome adversity.

This artwork is now available to buy from my Etsy store. Link in comments.

01/03/2025

Ansuz (ᚨ) is a rune of the Elder Futhark.
The Allfather (Alföðr in Old Norse), Odin, is most closely aligned with Ansuz and consequently represents Inspiration, Communication, Wisdom and Knowledge.
My line drawing of Ansuz is now available to buy from my Etsy store. Link in comments.

28/02/2025

Fehu (ᚠ) is the first rune of the Elder Futhark.
It is closely associated with the goddess, Freyja, and represents wealth, prosperity and generosity, amongst other things.
I love this rune since it suggests that wealth is not merely about money.
In a spiritual sense, Fehu aligns with abundance and new beginnings.

28/02/2025

Excited to share the latest addition to my shop: Quake Symbol - Video Game Art, Nordic rune, Old Norse, Downloadable art, A2 https://etsy.me/41wufod

28/02/2025

I’m so excited to share my passion for creating line art, inspired by beauty, the natural world and ancient ways.

If you’re drawn to the same things as me, you can explore and purchase my downloadable art directly from my Etsy store. Link below and in Intro.

Thank you so much for your support. Feel free to like, share, and comment; I’d love to hear what resonates with you. ✨

Send a message to learn more