Friday 23 March 2012

Little Shadows

                                                                                               R480                                                       32.19 x 43.93 cm                 


This is one of my favourites.
As you may have noticed, I am quite obsessed with detail (this drawing fulfilled my compulsion nicely) and I've found that I have to counter it with lots of quiet negative space around all the anal line work.I don't want to say too much, because I like it when people interpret pieces for themselves. Just like it is with music. When you hear a song that you like, it resonates with you because generally apply the lyrics to your own experiences and can relate to it better. It is as though the song was written just for you..and by applying it to your circumstances it kind of makes it 'your' song. Yes no? Anyway, that is how I would like people to interpret my illustrations. 

So. Here is naughty kid all dressed up in her bird suit doing her best to literally scare the life out of some little birds but most of them are not really phased. (I really like little birds.)
I've embossed some ghost birdies going up the left hand side for those poor few who could not bear the fright.
I like to think that my work appears sweet and whimsical at first, but a darker undertone soon overrides the first impression, which is especially evident in this piece. 
The print came out really beautifully, thanks to the editing skills of my boyfriend Quint who will henceforth be referred to as Pants, his russian mafia alter-ego that makes his appearance  between 8-12 most mornings. Its not as fun as it might sound. Really. Check out his magical illustrations here.



Stem the Tide


                                                                                                  R850.00                                                                          66 x 45.74 cm


This picture was a result of a horrible break up.
Amongst maaany other things, I was left feeling like I had an overwhelming amount of built up moments,memories,emotions and expectations to sift through and (eventually) release. Like a bathtub full of water and only a small drain to let it run out? Perhaps I should leave analogies to the writers..but, well.. you know how it is.

Mouthful

                                                                             26,74 x 34,89 cm


This is still part of the body of work I produced for my third year studying Fine Art Printmaking and Illustration. 
If you are not in the mood for artsy-fartsy whaffling, consider yourself warned..


Throughout my 3rd year I found myself thinking a lot about the consumerist nature of society today and how similar it is to the nature of young children, who live in tiny worlds of their own and rarely think about the ramifications of their actions. The 'I want it, and I want it now' attitude that is usually characteristic of children seems to have become the mantra of society today. We strive to satisfy every fleeting fancy and show complete disregard for the consequences ie. the wellbeing of our incredible planet.


Anyway. My characters live in a simpler time. A time long before fact replaced folklore and before industry polluted our souls. Because I would love to live in a world like that, full of mystery and adventure, daydreams and danger, and plenty of fearsome and not-so-fearsome creatures too.
Mouthful is kind of a response to the pondering above. 

Moments Become Miles


                                                R480.00  



Time it was, and what a time it was, it was 
A time of innocence, a time of confidences 
Long ago, it must be, I have a photograph 
Preserve your memories, they're all that's left to you 

- Bookends, Simon and Garfunkel


I am not a fan of letting things go, I'll tell you that much. 
When I was little I had a hidey-hole in the side of my cupboard, which in my opinion was a truly brilliant if not essential feature for a cupboard to have. In this secret space I squirreled away feathers, rocks, leaves, notes and all manner of bits and bobs. These treasures were weighted with now long forgotten relevance, but I remember how important they were to me as a kid and I can't bear to throw them away. I still collect moments and memories and now that my grown up cupboard doesn't have a hidey-hole to store them all, I keep them in my head. These strings of stories and faces and faded photographs often carry an overwhelming sense of nostalgia along with them. But no matter how small and seemingly unimportant, I think every sweet moment you're given is to be treasured because as this song so aptly puts it, when the present has past, they're all you're left with.


Oh dear. As much as it may sound like it-these are not the sentimental ramblings of an obsessive hoarder! Promise. Although I do have a penchant for collecting things..especially ceramic birds...(you may want to put this fact in the memory box for future birthdays-Mom,I'm looking at you!).. but I digress.
This drawing is an illustration of Miss Adventure's miles of collected memories and how they are carried along with me her.