…is the name of today’s story at Fictive Dream.
Throughout the month of February 2022 I will be showing you illustrations I did for Flash Fiction February 2022 at Fictive Dream, an online magazine devoted to the short story.
Here’s the image editor Laura Black chose for this story, The Thing About Thistles, by Sherry Morris.
And here is the artwork with the banner. Take a look at this image. And then…
Read the story at Fictive Dream.
Claudia McGill and Her Art World 
Thank you Claudia! I love it!
Thank you. That means a lot to me. I love how the thistle image sort of superimposed itself in my mind over the actions and thoughts of the characters (if that makes any sense) to give them another layer of connotations.
A part of today’s story The Thing About Thistles by Sherry Morris plays out in the Scottish highlands and for me the palette in this illustration reminds me of long walks with my family. And yet, the painting reminds us that the relationship between the characters is unsettled, prickly if you will. I Think it works very well with the tone of the story. Thank you, Claudia.
Thank you. I love the purple and blue colors here; they are favorites of mine. I also have always liked thistles, with their fluffy flower heads and nasty thorns, and I think that image in the story adds such a unifying layer of connotations to the story and how the characters evolve (or don’t!).
It’s interesting to look at your artwork after reading the stories. I can see things from it in there. This is a damned good story and I am now following this author at amazon. She nails the dynamic so well.
Thank you. Yes, that is something I have gotten from participating in this event over the years – meeting so many good authors I would never have known about. I read a lot, but there is a lot to read in this world! and this event has focused me on flash fiction and people who write it in a way that has really been wonderful for my reading habits.
You’re welcome. Murakami said he prefers writing short stories. They certainly have their charms.
As you know, I am extremely familiar with the setting of this story so I can tell you with some authority that you have captured the colours of the landscape beautifully. I also like the way the patch of thistle purple is intersected by those dark lines, suggestive of spikes or a barrier – both of which work well for the story. I am very fond of thistles – and not because they are my national flower – because I appreciate how stoic and assertive they are, that soft fluffy top but with the prickly leaves. Obviously the story utilizes that effectively as a metaphor but I also see if in your work with the balance of softness and strong elements.
Thank you. I consider this great praise given your credentials! We had thistles when I was growing up, I am not sure if they are they same kind, but I was always fascinated by the purple fluffy tops and the incredible stickers they armored themselves with. And what roots. I like the colors in this image a lot. SOmething very strong about the combinations that I like.
What an awful man. But your illustration is exactly right. (K)
Thank you. And you are right. Odious.
Quick note from the writer–thanks so much for the comments on my story and the Amazon follow. Maybe one day, I’ll have my own collection of stories…