Authorial Illustration Projects
My Practice
2020 to 22 was a remarkable few years. We all have key moments that we can point to and say something changed.
My time at Falmouth University will always be one of the best moments in my adult life.
I was introduced to new idea's and possibilities.
I am a true artist who is also a dyslexic, with traits of Autism I have found writing and numerousy a struggle and yet I love words, poetry and study. I dont understand the rules of writing but I express myself in poetry.
It was story telling and its allied threads of illustration, Print, History, Geography and Belief that stimulate my interest in coastal communities and their stories.
Some are highlighted below.
My first story,
The Old Whale and the deep blue sea are now completed and ready to go it is now 2025.
I am returning to the 'Maid of the sea' to bring it to completion. Illustrating it and creating a limited number of books in the spirit of William Morris and the Kelmscott Press.
I am seeking funding to complete the task and publish these illustrated poetic stories.
And I invite you to partner with me to help me realize my vision.
Please donate here
https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=R5Y2ABFGTGCQS
The Old Whale and the Deep Blue Sea
It wast the halfway point a two year Masters in Authorial and Illustration Practice at Falmouth University. I have to say one of the best educational experiences of my life.
I marked the point by painting a Nocturne. 'The Deep Blue Sea'. After the exhibition I kept visiting the painting asking the question when the setting was? And Is it a modern weekend sailing or a dramatic whale hunt of the 18th and 19th century? It was to be the latter. Some where in the 19 century whaling voyages from one of the whaling towns around the coast of Great Britain. .... I then began to write a poem about a whale hunt. The story is told from the Old Sperm whales perspective. And of course illustrations to accompany the poetry and a 'dummy book' was made for my final submission of the MA. That poem led me into my dissertation, on how whaling powered the industrial revolution. Focusing on two ships and the town of Whitby where they where from. The ship in the Poem is the 'Lively".
Update. 18 Sept 24. New illustrations have been added to the layout and general changes made.
Next steps
1. Advice sort on Publication, Self directed publication or through a publisher?
2.A digital Presentation is ready to submit to publishers.
Maid from the sea
The Mermaid of Zennor
In 2018 I began my masters degree in Authorial and illustration practice at Falmouth University.
It was one of my life's best decisions so far, giving me new possibilities and opening locked doors in my thinking and imagination.
'Quote: Introduction
'Many years ago almost two centuries, a young man heard of a story that many said was true. Not a fable or fairy tale, but something that had been passed from generation to generation from father to son and mother to daughter. The young man was a writer and had been in search of extraordinary tales for his book. He traveled to Zennor to investigate. He had been told there he would find for himself proof along with people who would recite to him the story'.
ref ( maid of the sea)
The art work:
Drawing from the father of the modern press and decorated book William Morris is the inspiration for the approach to this project.
William Morris, Emary Walker together the founded Kelmscot Press. Burn-Jone (life long friend) was the illustrator of many of the books.
Morris and Jones created and decorated books that harked back to illuminated manuscripts and the fist printing press of the middle ages.
I have already made sketches mock ups and paintings and decorated boarders as part of the MA. I plan to use the mocks sketches and paintings as a basis to create more illustrations now that the text is complete.
Tree of Life
The tree of life is a messianic poem. Inspired by my faith in Yeshua. It began as a small book with line drawing and text roughly put together. I then developed it into a small booklet for my MA exhibition.
Old Laird of Muck
This is a work in progress. And tells an alternative story of the Laird of Muck. And how he came to be on the Island long ago in the 16th Century.
Initial sketches where made and then drawings.
Book Making
The dummy book,
a fabric cover and inlaid illustration front and back.
This book is made up using grey board and glue.
But gives a pleasing Finnish. It is now ready to present to a perspective publisher or agent.
Print Making
A screen print was made based on the poem and line drawing I had made for my poem of the same name. This was submited to the 2020 print exchange exhibition.