THE HANDLESS MAIDEN
"A Mirror of Resilience & Healing Cycles"
The Handless Maiden
This work explores the story of the Handless Maiden, a story of resilience and the cyclical path of healing. We are reminded that each return deepens us, alters us, remakes us and it’s clear that “The forest is never the same the second time around”
A future heirloom.
Made with 20 years of mythic practice and trauma-informed holding, this work carries more than colour and form; it’s a companion for seekers and a future heirloom crafted to speak louder the longer you live with it.
Made to bring quiet mythic resonance into everyday spaces, crafted for those seeking sacred objects over trends
Acrylic on Canvas
101 x 101cm
Created 2025
Ready to hang
There is a moment in the Handless Maiden tale when she walks away from everything she has ever known. Her hands, cut away by cruelty, are both wound and offering: she enters the forest marked by absence, guided only by the possibility that something else is waiting.
This painting was born in that liminal space, the dark woods between endings and beginnings. Its surface is layered and shifting with pigment built over weeks until it felt like a map: a path traced by touch rather than sight. When you stand in front of it, the colours don’t settle; I hope that they breathe. They invite a kind of looking that is slower than scrolling, slower than our ordinary days.
The Handless Maiden’s story has followed me for years because it’s a story of radical return. She begins with nothing. She wanders. She learns to live close to the Land. And when she emerges, it is with wisdom and a self forged by both grief and grace.
She knows that “the forest is never the same the second time around”.
Bring home a work from the Mythic Ground series
Each painting is an original artwork, created as part of my Mythic Ground: New Stories for Old Lands exhibition. These works explore the meeting point of myth, memory, and material - made with pigment as a conversation between body and landscape.
When you purchase, you’re securing your artwork with a 50% deposit. Once payment is received, I’ll personally be in touch to arrange final details such as shipping and your preferred payment timeline for the remaining balance (maximum 2 months).
If you’d like a payment plan, that’s absolutely possible - I’ll email you directly within 24 hours to finalise a simple two-part payment option.
From Mythic Ground
This work was presented with 5 other paintings as part of the Mythic Ground: New Stories for Old Lands exhibition.
Ready to Hang
The Handless Maiden is painted on canvas stretched over wooden bars. You are able to hang the piece immediately by the wooden frame.
Discover the Story
My Substack “Mythic Ground” is a step behind the veil of my practice. It follows the thread of my imagination and creative process - with tales, reflections, and glimpses into the making of The Handless Maiden.
Ready to secure your artwork?
$2550 deposit
Full artwork price $5100 AUD
Free shipping Australia-wide
$2550 deposit
Payment Options
A 50% deposit secures your artwork.
Remaining balance may be paid in one or two instalments via invoice. The process is streamlined at the checkout.
For any questions, please reach out directly.
would you prefer a payment plan?
Deposit (50%): $2550 upfront
Balance (50%): $2550 split over 2 months
Monthly instalments: $1275/month x 2
about the artist
Claire Lefebvre
For more than twenty years, I’ve been walking a creative path shaped by stories and Nature. A path where ancient myths feel alive and pulse beneath the surface of modern life. These stories are not just tales to be told; they are companions, teachers, and gateways into deeper creative and spiritual connection.
My latest suite of paintings was born from this long journey. Each one is a retelling, a reimagining of a myth or story that has spoken to me deeply: the Selkie who remembers her wild self, the Handless Maiden’s spiral of healing and Circe’s fierce power, supported by the Natural world surrounding her… These works aren’t just paintings. They’re objects of slow magic, crafted with intention and layered with meaning (made to live with you for years). They invite slow looking, reflection, and a kind of conversation with the living world and your own creative spirit.
Art is a living mythic language. For collectors aching for the handmade and myth-infused, I create talismanic artworks and creative tools for re-enchantment, meaning and belonging.
A Personal Practice Inspired by The Handless Maiden
Take a moment for 3 slow exhales. Let the image of The Handless Maiden guide you into the forest of your own creative flow.
As you engage with this work, I invite you to reflect:
What season are you in right now?
What are you leaving behind?
What is quietly, patiently, returning?
How have you grown your hands back?
The Handless Maiden: A Mirror of Resilience & Healing Cycles
FAQ
HOW MUCH IS SHIPPING?
Within Australia, I'm delighted to offer free shipping. Please contact me for International rates.
what is your privacy policy?
Your privacy is very important. I respect your personal information and will only use it to provide you with excellent customer service and art that you love. I will never sell, rent, or share your personal information with anyone.
Information submitted to Claire Lefebvre is only available to myself and service providers that process your order, such as Australia Post. I will keep this page updated regarding any changes to this privacy policy.
I’VE CHANGED MY MIND. CAN I RETURN MY ITEM?
Detailed product information is listed in the item description and I ask that you please choose your artwork carefully. I am unable to offer returns for change of mind.
Is the deposit refundable?
No, deposits secure your chosen artwork and are non‑refundable due to customer change of mind. This ensures the piece is held exclusively for you during the payment plan.
Can I pay it off sooner?
Yes. You’re welcome to pay the remaining balance early, simply reply to your invoice and we’ll adjust the schedule for you.
When will my artwork ship?
Artworks ship once full payment is received. Shipping is free Australia-wide for paintings.
Do you offer longer payment plans?
At this time, payment plans are set to two months to keep the process simple and grounded.