Poe

This weeks London Epoch Times poetry pic, published 25/02/09.

A Dream Within A Dream
By Edgar Allan Poe

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow—
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand—
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep—while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?

The original article can be read here.

The Grey Trap

Looking at a copy of the Epoch Times last week, with the Hypnosis illustration printed within, I cringed to notice that my work is edging towards the grey trap*. A dreaded place indeed.

Through experience I've learnt that to make an effective black and white illustration one needs to create an image of crisp, clear contrast so that it is bold and punchy. Just recently my weekly works have been using more and more areas of neutral grey tones (just look), which when printed can end up looking muddy and weak.

This narrow brush with the grey trap has put me on alert for forthcoming works.



I feel that this pic came close to being too heavily grey, but was just saved by the clean white used.

The wisdom of this awesome lady is worth taking note of.

*Not official terminology or Art speak :)

Hypnosis

An illustration to go in an 'Advertorial', on the Epoch Times Health page this week.

Original article here.



This rough doodle was scribbled down while brain-storming (none of that 'thought shower' nonsense) for an image that would work. I didn't develop it further for being too 'new-agey' whilst the article required a more scientific image/angle.

Power of Bobservation

This is a little experiment I've wanted to conduct since
(B)obtaining a lightbox. The first image is the original portrait of my friend Bob that I made in 2007. Each following image is a tracing of the previous one, using a different medium each time.

My theory was that the image should simplify a little each time, hopefully resulting in only the fundamental aspects that are required to make an identifiable portrait left at the end.
What is left out of an image can be just as importrant as what is included, especially in trying to make something appear alluring and mysterious.
I don't think I'm quite there yet with this one, but it has been fun so far.

What I'm really trying to capture is a bit of this guys magic touch.

CrocaDilla

Illustration for the Epoch Times UK, Art & Culture page, poetry column.

A Crocodile
by Thomas Lovell Beddoes

Hard by the lilied Nile I saw
A duskish river-dragon stretched along,
The brown habergeon of his limbs enamelled
With sanguine alamandines and rainy pearl:
And on his back there lay a young one sleeping,
No bigger than a mouse; with eyes like beads,
And a small fragment of its speckled egg
Remaining on its harmless, pulpy snout;
A thing to laugh at, as it gaped to catch
The baulking, merry flies. In the iron jaws
Of the great devil-beast, like a pale soul
Fluttering in rocky hell, lightsomely flew
A snowy troculus, with roseate beak
Tearing the hairy leeches from his throat.

Click here to see the complete article (with the US version illustration).

Im really pleased with this picture. Once I had the image set in my mind it felt quite easy to draw. This is partly due to my having stayed in my room and worked at a lot of drawing recently, so I was well warmed up for the task. Its also due to my not having drawn anything vaguely monstrous for a long time, so I was quite excited by it.



PS - I am really loving doing these poetry illustrations, I think I have found my calling.

Plum Blossom in Snow

Plum Blossom in Snow is the story of Australian Zhizhen Dai and her little daughter Fadu Chen. Their beloved husband and father, Chen Chengyong, was persecuted to death in China for his belief in and support for Falun Gong. Determined to let the world know about the brutal death of her husband, and the ongoing suffering of millions of persecuted Falun Gong practitioners in China, Zhizhen Dai now journeys around the world together with her daughter. She carries the message of human rights, truth and justice with a conviction that can only be achieved through personal experiences and deep insights.

It has recently been released on DVD
(Available HERE - ARTJUX.COM)

The illustration above is totally drawn from a photo used on the film poster and cover. This is not usually good practice as far as being original goes, but I love the photo so much I had to imitate it.

Homepage - plumblossominsnow.com
Facebook page



I really dont watch enough documentaries.

Marley

Initial mock ups for a commission from Cornwall.

Pixel Portrait

booooooom.com is a site I frequent daily. It's run by Jeff Hamada, a designer from Vancouver, "in hopes of fostering a community of people excited to go out and be creative"!

The latest active project is called Pixel Portraits, and is open to submissions from anyone.

Above is my effort.

Click here to see the whole gallery so far.