The Gamekeeper's Hut, original upcycled vintage painting

"The Gamekeeper's Hut"

altered art by Heather Castles
18.5 x 25 cm (7.25 x 9.75 inch) print on canvas
26.5 x 32.5 cm (10.25 x 12.75 inch) vintage frame

"There's no Hogwarts without you, Hagrid" — Harry Potter

That really says it all… the loveable gamekeeper was truly a gentle giant. I thought it was sweet how in the books the kids would regularly visit Hagrid, who always listened to their problems, looked out for their safety, and cared for them like his own kids. Knowing that someone so caring lives there, when I see Hagrid’s hut it brings a feeling of security, that someone lives there who makes others feel safe and looked out for.

So with painting this alteration, I wanted to capture that warm and cozy feeling, and feature the gamekeeper’s home. Because it wouldn’t be Hogwarts without Hagrid.

Did you know that between the 2nd and 3rd Harry Potter films, the location of Hagrid’s hut was moved? I very much prefer the location from the 3rd movie onwards, as it has more of a moody highlands feel to it. Creating the view of the school from the gamekeeper’s hut was a little challenging, as the most famous views are of the castle perched on top of the cliffs, and Hagrid would face the less picturesque backside of the school. I used my creative license to adapt the layout to fit the terrain of the art I was working with.

The original surface is a print on canvas by Dutch painter Barney Cornelis Koekkoek (1803-1862.) Koekkoek was nicknamed the “Prince of Landscape Painting” and recognized as the founding father of Dutch romantic landscape painting. It was a pleasure to paint on this print and study his work as I added the alterations.  

Original art notes : This acrylic painting is on a coated printed canvas and as such it is fragile and requires special care. Avoid touching the painted surface as it could damage the paint. Display somewhere dry and out of "splash zones" such as kitchens or bathrooms... any moisture may cause the paint to lift off the surface. 

Frame : vintage wood frame in very good condition, ready to display on the wall.  (Note : I am having a mat and glass cut for this frame to help protect the fragile painted surface. 

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.