A Walk With Fang, original upcycled vintage painting

“A Walk With Fang”

altered vintage painting by Heather Castles
61 x 91.5 cm (2 x 3 ft) vintage canvas
76 x 107 cm (30 x 42 inch) vintage gilded wood frame

The Forbidden Forest is not usually a place you would go for a walk in the woods… particularly if you are a cowardly mastiff! But with the gentle half-giant groundskeeper at your side, there’s no safer place you could be. From a muggle point of view, these two looked to be going on a typical winter walk in the woods… but who knows what magical creatures they were going to meet!

The original vintage painting was very nice, but had a creepy person in the woods! It’s human nature to be drawn to look at any people depicted in artwork… and if they happen to be a person lurking in the woods, it immediately casts an ominous feel to a landscape that is otherwise be quite beautiful. By removing the hunched, zombie like lurker, and replacing it with the peaceful groundskeeper and his cowardly dog, my aim was to transform the feel of the painting to something that makes you feel safe and secure. Original vintage painting signed Bernauer, c1978.

Original painting quality : The painting itself is in very good condition, with minor wear as you would expect. There is some discolouration but after the initial clean I was happy to leave it as it goes with the look of the art. There were some dents in the canvas (which can happen from leaning on it) but I repaired it  so it is now minimal in the corners. 

Frame : The original vintage frame is of very good quality, sturdy and not coming apart as so many old ones are. It had been banged and some of the moulding had been previously chipped off and re-glued by the previous owner. It came to me with a couple plaster pieces missing, and I had those repaired and then touched up so they aren't noticeable. It has been rewired and is ready to display on the wall. It is a heavy piece so will need secure screws. 

Altered Muggle Art : With this collection, I’m capturing magical moments from my non-magical “muggle” point of view. By taking vintage artworks and altering them to depict magical places and creatures, I am creating a historical fiction around the  idea that the world of wizards was real. With this particular piece of artwork I aim to celebrate and memorialize the character of Hagrid brought to life by the loveable Robbie Coltrane.

SHIPPING : This painting is too large to go by regular post so the only option for shipping in North America is via freight. I have found FedEx Freight to be the most affordable option. If you prefer another shipping service we can discuss this after purchase and adjust the shipping cost as required. If you are local you are welcome to pick up from my studio at no extra charge.