Little Fictions...........

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The more i think about it, the more it occurs to me that my images are like silent little fictions that could never be written. They remind me of the spaces between words, a pause before action, the turning point on a journey to who knows where. They are my very own worlds, yet the characters that populate them are a mystery to me. They have tales to tell that i am not even aware of yet.

What goes on in my head..........i wonder?

Here are some examples. New things.

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The Bored Aristocrats

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I imagine these two girls are sitting for a portrait, but cannot be bothered acting up for the camera. They are most likely used to this by now, and of course, the real magic is invisible, the props are merely playthings.
Resting between rehearsals. Mellow after tea and cake. Silent and Confident.
We know very little about their world. We are not given access. They are aware of the distance in mind between the viewer and themselves.  The caged bird isn't beyond significance, either; It sings to them, tunelessly, repetitively. It may or may not be mechanical, stuffed. This is a 'closed' scene, but the offerings we are given still retain an air of mystery, like a half-told secret or like the details from the tail end of a dream. 

I'm starting to think these little ladies are a tad smug. They know too much, and they are keeping it to themselves.

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Nine of Spades

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Not quite as menacingly secretive as the previous set up, but a Magician's Daughter all the same.  I like to imagine those little trees behind the nine of spades are approaching, slowly, deviously.................the bunny knows. They always do.
This little girl doesn't have anything to hide, in fact, i am of the impression that she has failed some sort of task set for her. Or else she is confused about it, preferring to walk through the meadow listening to the twittering of little birds. But the magic won't let her alone. It's genetic, you see, a frightful burden. I am beginning to wonder just how many 'daughter's' this legendary magician actually has. p

Ruby

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Another Magician's daughter.
Ruby and the birds. Arctic Ruby with an apple for a head. It is quite obvious that these metallic red apples are not going to disappear any time soon. They are far too applicable.  My characters adore them, and so do i. I didn't actually intend this girl to be so sweet looking, but her face just sort of 'evolved' and then her personality grew out of it, so to speak.
This happens. I don't argue.
Perhaps she is the same girl from the Nine of Spades, above, after finally completing her mysterious meadow task. And maybe the caged birds are her rewards.............or her watchers. Yes, the birds protect the girls. I like this idea. I think i'll stick with it :)

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The Guide

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When i utilize these particular landscapes, it is usually more suggestive of the significance of the main characters or objects that hover within them than as a symbol of isolation. I like the purity of this.......it reminds me of how i prefer to write poems, a sort of stilled revelation that stands alone, well, stands apart from the regular clutter and chaos of my ideas, thoughts and feelings.
A Magician's Daughter again. You might remember her from the levitation picture in my last blog post. The arctic wolf is a puzzle, literally.  He sings, too, but you will never hear him.

For some reason, this image reminds me of a painting by Hugo Simberg, called The Wounded Angel ( I very nearly wrote the Wounded Angle, which is so profound;) and yet the images are nothing alike whatsoever........ i mean, they are nothing whatsoever alike. Same thing, yeeeees! I'm possibly just having a weird moment, but i will share the painting regardless, because it is one of my old favourites.

It used to remind me of myself. A sad fact.

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The Magic Hour

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I love this image. Something about is pains me, but i can't tell exactly why. She has seen something, someone............that has just appeared before her, and i feel a mixture of dread and excitement at what might happen next.
I was thinking of twilight, the division between our own world and other dimensions. Ok, so not as thrilling as a Phillip Pullman novel, but never mind. This little girl with the curious headgear has become witness to something that she will never forget.
Or will she?

I did.

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Future Lives

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What i tried to convey here is impossible to put into words.
This is why pictures appeal to me. They assist me in translating that which i cannot voice.
I am starting to sound too mysterious for my own good now, so i will shut up.

I would rather you made of this what you will.

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Bathroom Sister 2

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Yes, very much in keeping with Bathroom Sister 1, but a different position, a different perspective. The image seems too bright on this laptop screen, I'm just hoping it doesn't look quite as dreadful on others.

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Rafael

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I'm not so used to working with male figures. I am rather unsure about the body in this image, he doesn't seem to stand quite right, but i did a decent enough job curling his hair and perfecting the exact facial expression that i had in mind.  It still surprises me that i can do this, translating something that has only known life within my own imagination into something tangible, visible, almost real.
Nine times out of ten i will fail.
But this time i conquered.......apart from the freaky body, but i don't much care about that. It will do.

A couple of things worth noting about Rafael :
He isn't getting married.
He isn't a vampire.
And he doesn't exist.

(Note to Maren : Nor is he Roderick Usher) (!!!)

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Well, that was a pretty lengthy post, but i suppose it makes up just a little for how infrequently i get to update these pages.

I will be back soon, hopefully, with a little more variety.

Comments

[Sarah]

Ruby and The Magic Hour make me inordinately happy. Like, happier than any of your art has ever made me, and that's saying something!

[Frankie Kins]

You are still amazing to me. Everytime I look at your work, I am amazed that so much talent comes from one human being.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Ruby. Perfect, perfect work and I love her little apple head-dress.
She is my favorite from this blog post's offerings.

Future Lives is quite amazing. I love the colors, the mood, the little girls and the bubble. Fantastic.

I know I shouldn't pressure you to blog more, but you just cannot believe how much I look forward to your posts and seeing your new work.

Have a great day!

:D

[dees]

I just left you comments on flickr too after I had picked myself of the bedroom floor again from falling in complete awwwww!Your art always reminds me of the show Carnival.My daughter and I watch it over and over to get a taste of that gloomy dusty mood!I hope you saw it too and if not you realy should some day because I think you will love it!
Chapeau to you and lots of hugs
Dees

[Marjorie]

Oh! Future Lives is my favorite...and I love them all!! Yeay for Art and Ghosts bloggy-goodness! I arrived and saw your update and said "Ohhh!" to myself! Ooooh, indeed! :)

Beautiful work!

Oh, and I sometimes feel the same way about little fictions that appear as my little girls and moppets pop up in the most peculiar way as I draw! : )

[lou]

Thanks so much for these comments:))

[marinkel]

hey hey, he COULD be good old rod is all i'm saying! and who's he keeping in that cage behind the castle doors? hansel? ;)

i love the bathroom sister, the second installment, just as much as the first. watching a little man go down the drain i presume. very fine indeed. bye bye birdie...

and the bunny ear girl with the black spots in her autumn landscape. i want to take her by the hand and run across the fields in a mad attempt to find happier visions... i love that girl! :)

[Nina]

Oh! I just love your art so much! I love the way you incorporate your dolls into the image, your work is very impressive! ^_^

[sarahblank]

I am in love with this post, and I too look forward to your entries! The variety of magicians daughters are plentiful...he sure must have some interesting women....or are they all from the same mother?
I love the bird cage theme too. I am on a bit of a bird cage rampage myself, only I combined it with my first love-of-the-moment...ships!
ps- how do you do it...create all these images! I wish I was as productive as you are;)

[Museum of Fire]

i like the idea of your images being the spaces, pauses and turning points - if only because it helps explain why i'm always left at an utter loss for words when first encountering them.

These 'Little Fictions' are all perfect examples. Though visual and on first glance existing in two dimensions, letting them leak into time and time leak into them opens them up in such wonderful ways.

The Bored Aristocrats and their heads cocked just so grow more mischievous by the moment... we may never find out the story behind the one striped sock, but despite the danger we'll at least see what happens when we roll the dice.

Ruby is a funny one - one moment dropped on the door step a la Paddington Bear (wooden buttoned coat and all), but tilt the head and she's leading us, welcoming rather than arriving.

Future Lives still allows no words, reaching beyond explanation and deep into a shared pre-language. methinks.

And Rafael may not marry (or even exist), but i bet estrella snowby causes him consternation nevertheless.

[samantha]

I love the Magic Hour and Ruby. I love reading the little fictions you create with each work.

[kiwi]

The Bored Aristocrats has a 'Twin Peaks' feel for me. Those girls would be right at home in a David Lynch film. Rafael has an anime aestic to me. Something about his slim lines and posture.
I think you could write some magical stories to go with some of your beautiful images.

[t8designs]

Oh my...the wounded angel is one of my all-time favorite paintings. i've carried around a print of it from a vintage calendar for almost 15 years. i'm so happy to see someone with your talent and vision appreciates it as much as i do.

[pat]

you never cease to amaze me with your work another magical journey through image and art.quite a lengthy blog this time, but well
worth the effort. l cannot choose one image
as a particular favourite, as l was enchanted
by them all,but if you held a gun at my head,
l would choose the angel,for it reminds me of
someone, only you and l would know about.
your standards never slip,in fact to me as your mum they get better, love alwaysxxxxxx

[Black-Eyed Suzie]

Stunning - I can't believe how much gorgeous work you are creating. I particularly love the victorian lady and bathroom sister - so haunting and beautiful. I'm still looking for the perfect frame for my print...

[stilettoheights]

Oh I love Bathroom Sister II, I need to save up and get both...we are moving into a new (much bigger and more expensive) place...they would be lovely on the walls.

[Mae Jane]

I lovelovelove "Nine of Spades" I can't help but be drawn to it! I envy the magical inner workings of your mind; your creations are beyond a dream. :}

[lou]

Benjamin - Estrella Snowby? My god, she is real, isnt she........i had my suspicions, but lets not forget the wraith either, all of her incarnations must be aknowledged. How's Ron by the way? !!!

Mother - I did not stick my own head onto that angel. This is what worries me:) And your faith in what i love, however curious, is what makes you so angelic, to me. Yes, a soft moment. They happen...

And thanks, everyone, for such encouraging words.

xxx

[A Fanciful Twist]

I don't have blog lines, so I am totally unaware of new posts! I am so sad! But, at least I figured it out on my own, ;) I love them all, I just adore them. And, I do believe you know that to be true!!!! Oh goodness... Perhaps.. another order... I can't have bathroom sister one, and not two... You are a talented wonderful soul! xoxoxo

[Mica]

Okay I love them all but very fond of the girl in red wearing Docs. and the Future Live piece!!! I am always in awe of your work!!

Mica

[lou]

thankyou:)

xxx

[ana]

I am in awe! I have just found your blog and I find your images haunting in a moreish way. I could not help just watching them not even looking at them it is almost as though they are alive on screen and 'Future Lives' I love it is almost like a woman giving away pieces of herself as she goes through life from childhood through to adulthood and then to second childhood.
I love your work.
Ana

[Daniel Colvin]

Your work is wonderful. As for bathroom sister 2, I find it to be perfect on my browser (safari) not to bright at all. In fact I think this is a wonderful image.

[lou]

Daniel - thankyou!

Ana - i love that, thankyou very much:)

x

[Monica Yvette]

How cool! Your work is so whimsical and dark. Love it!

[Krazykatedesigns]

Incredible work and wonderful blog.

[Sweet Spice]

wow!! Your work is amazing and the stories that you put along...I must say that I fell in love with Ruby...something about the apple head struck me as beautiful!

http://sweetspicestory.blogspot.com/

[Tiffini Elektra X]

I love all that red! Wonderful - that one sock is just so fantastic! You just rock! Fantastic new pieces. Sigh. . .♥

[Alexia]

I am completely amazed by your work. I'm with the previous commenter: that one sock- it is sublime.

[lou]

Thanks very much, all of you:)

xxx

[marinkel]

i just had to say once again, or for the first time, that your candy apple red cheers me to my soul! warms me from the inside and makes me think of autumn country fairs i have only read about in books... :)

[Hilary Glime]

Claire Voyance is beautiful