The Knotty Celtic

Learning how to draw Celtic-style knots. 

I packed my geometry books and a Celtic knot workbook along with a minimalist art kit stuffed into a small fishing tackle box, including a variety of pencils, charcoal, felt pens, drafting tools, and my iPod.

How to draw Celtic Knotwork book & sketches.

Using old tracing sketchbooks with some graph paper, I decided to spend some more time working on more lessons on sacred geometry and tackle the learning of Celtic Knotting. I have had this book titled “How To Draw Celtic Knotwork” by Andy Sloss now for several years, and it was time to take on the challenge of becoming a Knotty Celtic!

Celtic Knotwork sketches

Jim and I decided in 2010 that we needed a change of scenery, so we decided to put our loft up for sale in October and have since moved from the West Coast to the East Coast and are now in Canada.

Celtic Knotwork Corners

At this present time, we still have no permanent address, being homeless. ‘KNOT’ to worry; we are in the process of designing and building our new cozy home with two studio spaces, one for me and one for my guy (a musician). 

What do I take with me? I could not decide whether to take all my pastels when packing for the trip or to take this time of being a minimalist traveler to focus on drawing. The mantra I attempted to adhere to during the process of packing, clearing, and planning for this massive change and move is ‘KISS’, the acronym for ‘Keep It Simple Stupid’. Easier said than done.

Toolbox with drawing tools and Sacred Geometry books.

Painting and drawing the ‘nudes’ for many years, it seems to bring the reputation of being knotty, so I decided to fulfill the infamous honor of such a character description and put it into another creative process, connecting it to my mother’s Celtic lineage, while also using her old sketchbook to learn Celtic Knotwork. I wanted to learn how to be Knotty the Celtic Way!

Celtic Knot in ink, hand-drawn.

One evening, I pulled out the sketch kit and began reading the Celtic Knotwork book. Well, I just got all dyslexic and frustrated grumping to myself…” I need a brain transplant to figure this out”. The next morning, I woke up fresh, announcing,  “…I can do this,” and sat down with a clear, rested brain, figuring it out, for the most part, that day.

FIRST TRY... Starting with the left hand 
border knot, then trying out some closed knots.

The book titled “How To Draw Celtic Knotwork” by Andy Sloss says in its introduction that it is written for the novice, giving basic skills that can be learned in a very short time. The basic skills are mainly explained in the written word, which is not how I like to learn… gives me step by step so my dyslexic brain can catalog the knowledge visually. I wouldn’t recommend this book as the sole source for a total beginner to learn from, as I feel it lacks a beginner-friendly point of reference. However, it is suitable for someone with some inclination towards figuring out patterns and geometry. I think that because I have worked with geometry before, I could work out solutions to creating Celtic knots, but I would not recommend this book for a total beginner.

Celtic drawing sketches with black markers on tracing paper.

If you’re so inclined to challenge your creative brain, I say try Celtic Knotting because it is gorgeous, fun, meditative, and definitely a brain gym.  First, I set up the tracing paper over the graph paper, using a hard pencil lead to draw out the guidelines, and then followed them to create a final design. To finish it off, I use a black felt pen to highlight the design. I got into the freehand flow of curves using the nine simple shapes taught in the book, also making sure that every underline is the next in line. The mathematical Celtic possibilities for design are endless.

Somewhere in the future, in my painting series, "Nudes, Geometry, and Flowers," I will incorporate Celtic Knots. May the painting be titled, “Knotty Nipples!”…

Knotty Girls have more fun…Minaz Jantz