21.11.10

The Knotty Celtic

Drawing Geometry Patterns


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.

How to draw Celtic Knotwork book & sketches.

Using old tracing sketchbooks with some graph paper and 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
Celtic Knotwork sketches


Jim and I decided in 2010 that we needed a change of scenery so decided to put our loft up for sale in October and have since moved from the west coast to the east coast of Canada.


Celtic Knotwork Corners

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 stick by with the process of packing, clearing, and planning for this huge change and move is “KISS’, the acronym for ‘Keep It Simple Stupid’, easier said than done.



Toolbox with drawing tools and Sacred Geometry books.

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 decided why not full fill 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
Celtic Knot in ink hand drawn


One evening I dragged the sketch kit out and started to read 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.

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, is written for the novice by 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 for the total beginner as their only book to learn from as I feel it is lacking the beginner point of reference but fine for someone with some inclinations to figuring out patterns and geometry. I think because I have worked with geometry before, I could work out solutions to creating the Celtic knots but would not recommend this book for a total beginner.


Celtic drawing sketches.

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, taking a hard pencil lead to draw out the guidelines, next following the guidelines to finally turn out a design. To finish it up I use a black felt pen to show off 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 the Nudes, Geometry, and Flowers, I will add the Celtic Knots. May the painting be titled, “Knotty Nipples!”…

Knotty Girls have more fun…Minaz Jantz

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