Ka Mua Ka Muri

…is the name of today’s story at Fictive Dream.

Throughout the month of February 2023 I will be showing you illustrations I did for Flash Fiction February 2023 at Fictive Dream, an online magazine devoted to the short story.

Here’s the image editor Laura Black chose for this story, Ka Mua Ka Muri by Sandra Arnold.

And here is the artwork with the banner. Take a look at this image. And then…

Read the story at Fictive Dream.

10 thoughts on “Ka Mua Ka Muri”

  1. Fictive Dream

    The narrator in Ka Mua Ka Muri by Sandra Arnold struggles with memories of an oppressive childhood in a coal mining area. This beautiful illustration mirrors the aerial view of a landscape with sooty buildings and pits that the narrator gives us as she soars above it all. The purple reminds us that she’s not the only to have been bruised by this environment. Most of all I love the sky which for me symbolises hope. This artwork perfectly complements the story and is gorgeous. Thank you, Claudia.

    1. Claudia McGill Post author

      I loved this story and it spoke to me personally. When I created this image I felt it portrayed a sense of floating or flying and I think it’s a wonderful fit. The dark colors once again could be heavy but the white spatters both emphasize the darkness and mitigate it so that it doesn’t overpower the turquoise, a lighter and warmer color. Once again I think it’s about contrast and how the colors play off each other.

  2. memadtwo

    I was mesmerized by that painting even before I read the story. The image of an eternal dusk permeating that part of her life is very strong–I like how both the author and you create a space for her beyond its weight. (K)

    1. Claudia McGill Post author

      Thank you. I really liked this image as soon as I made it – I felt such a sense of flying and freedom despite the dark colors. Once again the contrasting spatters give them life and the turquoise gives a place for the eye to move to and escape (or linger, maybe?)

  3. Laura (PA Pict)

    When I first saw your illustration, I thought it was beautiful and enchanting in a magical sort of way (in part because I love the colour palette and the twinkling effect of the spatter) but I also thought there was maybe something brooding about it, maybe even ominous. Upon reading the story, I see that you have captured the tone of the story perfectly, both the oppression of the narrator’s childhood and the feeling of freedom she experiences. I very much identified with the narrator of the story so I very much like that your artwork and the story suggest escape and hope.

    1. Claudia McGill Post author

      Thank you. I really like how this image turned out. And for me I think the white spatters are the key. Without them, it’s just a lot of dark but with them, there is a sense of lightness, literal and also in the sense of floating or flying, hovering. I knew right away to stop at that point, the picture just looked like a place I’d like to be.

    1. Claudia McGill Post author

      Thank you. Since I have been illustrating stories for the past few years, I have become much more aware of how words and art can work together – and each make the other stronger. It has added to my enjoyment in taking in works that include both, now that I have tried it myself.

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