Skellig Rock soft pastel on sand paper 9" x 18"

 From afar the Island has a mystical feel as if it could not be a real place,  I have had several people comment on my new style of celtic fantasy art. so I just thought you should know a little history of this real but mystical place.


Skellig Michael (from Sceilig Mhichíl , meaning Michael's rock), also known as Great Skellig, is a steep rocky island  about 9 miles from the coast of Kerry in Ireland. It is the larger of the two Islands. After probably being founded in the 7th centuary, for 600 years the island was a centre of monastic life for Irish Christian monks. The monastary is situated almost at the summit of the 230-metre-high rock became a in 1996. It is one of Europe's better known but least accessible monasteries.

Since the extreme remoteness of Skellig Michael has until recently discouraged visitors, the site is exceptionally well preserved. The very spartan conditions inside the monastery illustrate the ascetic lifestyle practiced by early Irish Christians. The monks lived in stone 'beehive' huts (clochans), perched above nearly vertical cliff walls.