Some I made earlier ...

Wings are still feeling very fragile in this home of ours. We're hoping that a restful week-end will soothe all. The wings pictured here were made a few weeks ago pre -illness. We are feeling greatly comforted by the wonderful news of the arrival of our dear friends baby. We have been doing quite some pacing (emotionally at least) waiting to hear their good news. I feel all sentimental and misty eyed thinking of my dear friend 'Gentle Ben' (as I like to refer to him in my head!) becoming a papa for the first time. His life and his lady's life forever changed by lil' Miss.H's arrival at 3.27pm today. Life is beautiful ... 

Mills and Boon Drawing - Update

I haven't yet named the female character in this drawing. So far I have been calling the drawings the 'Susie Sue Series' but I definitely need to name this character as I want to start writing a narrative for the drawing series.

Last night when I was working on this drawing I selected a film to keep me company as I often do when I draw and much to hubby's amusement I had chosen Hitchcock's 'The Birds'. He asked if it was intentional that I was hand stencilling pigeons and birds whilst watching a film of the same subject matter. Well, I think the answer is yes. I am all about birds at the moment ... infact I've just had an idea! The main character in the film, the marvelous 'Melanie Daniels' is played by Tippi Hedren, so there's a lovely birdie connection ... the character in my drawing shall be called 'Tippi'. Tippi & Bob. Yep, I like it.

I love writing ... and that whole stream of consciousness stuff! To take a look at what the drawing was like before click here and here and here.

Inspiration list - Week six

1. street of crocodiles by the Quay Brothers

2. sweetness by Yes or what I like to call 'The John&Missy Song'

3. the grayson perry process

4. josephine baker's 'banana dance' here and clip from 'la revue des revues'

5. lorraine pascale's savoury palmiers

6. the man with the dancing eyes by sophie dahl

7. juana molina

8. ghanaian waakye & shitor

9. the wire

10. the pink panther(nominated by zach&elliott)

Here are some updated photos of the current drawing/collage that I am working on. I managed to muster some energy to do a little work on this, hopefully I will find the time to catch up on all that sleep missed earlier in the week ... hmmm ... perhaps not, it might just have to be more comfort in the form of 'Aunty Adelaide's waakye&shitor. Waakye brings back fond memories of family in Ghana, in particular my cousins Doris and Abigail.

Doris would arrive unannounced bright and early in the morning having picked up our dish from our favourite street vendor just along the cantonments main high street. She would arrive with it still hot and we'd sit on the veranda at Abigail's house, ushering the children away just like our mums/aunts/older women had done to us as kids, we'd each sit on a stool and Doris would place our prize on the low table before us, we would see the steam rise off it as we opened up the plantain leaf that waakye and gari is traditionally served in, then the three of us would 'chow down' three hands scooping in and washing it all down with ice, ice cold muscatella.

I'm really pining for Ghana right now, that said the hubby and I did have 'a moment' as we were driving along winding country roads, with a light drizzle coming down,checking out the fabulous british landscape and burnt sienna leaves whilst listening to the stranglers. It was beautiful! But waakye&shitor with Doris and Abigail it ain't!!!!

work in progress

Before

Work in progress

Before

detail of work in progress

detail of work in progress

Susie Sue - A Graphic Novel

I created the character 'Susie Sue' in 2003 whilst living in a quirky rental flat in Sherwood, Nottingham and existing in my loft(although not quite a properly converted one, I could only stand up in one central part of the space)studio day-to-day.

My husband was and still is a big fan of graphic novels and had finally convinced me that they were not only read by wierdos and geeks and after a trip to Page 45 I had succumbed and read my first graphic novel, 'Blankets' by Craig Thompson which completely blew my mind!

Having always loved mixed-media and collage, it made sense to me to create a character in pencil and simply add the character to the mixed-media collages I so enjoyed making. I never did get round to making the Susie Sue book but I haven't been able to stop thinking about her recently .... maybe this is her year? It's hubby's birthday in June and he has been asking me for years about when I am going to tell Susie's story ... this would be a great birthday gift and it gives me a deadline too.

More cards and the start of Susie's story coming soon, I promise!

Susie Sue 2003

Work on paper 19.5" x 24" detail

Pencil, oil stick, collage 2003 detail