Tag Archives: writing

Secret Project Revealed: Day 7

Background: You’ve read about the secret project in my Art Diary…now, here’s what it’s all about.

I have provided illustrations for a short story competition, September Slam 2018, at Fictive Dream, an online literary magazine specializing in short stories. The Slam is featuring seven stories this week, September 24-30, one a day, and I did the illustration for each one.

This story is the last one for the September Slam 2018. Thank you to Fictive Dream Editor Laura Black for giving me this opportunity, and thank you to everyone who’s been following along. I am grateful.

I’ll be writing posts to describe the illustration process in a week or two – keep your eye out for them. But for now…let’s read.

Today’s story is Farewell to Europe, by Adam Kotlarczyk.

Here is the illustration. Look it over and then go and read the story!

Fictive Dream Farewell to Europe image 1 layers and text flattened 9-18 small

Secret Project Revealed: Day 6

Background: You’ve read about the secret project in my Art Diary…now, here’s what it’s all about.

I have provided illustrations for a short story competition, September Slam 2018, at Fictive Dream, an online literary magazine specializing in short stories. The Slam is featuring seven stories this week, September 24-30, one a day, and I did the illustration for each one.

And…I’ll be writing some posts on my experiences in illustrating these stories later on. Keep an eye out for them.

 

Today’s story is Chemical Cosh, by Cath Bore.

Here is the illustration. Look it over and then go and read the story! What do you think?

Fictive Dream Chemical Cosh image 1 9-18 flattened small

Secret Project Revealed: Day 5

Background: You’ve read about the secret project in my Art Diary…now, here’s what it’s all about.

I have provided illustrations for a short story competition, September Slam 2018, at Fictive Dream, an online literary magazine specializing in short stories. The Slam is featuring seven stories this week, September 24-30, one a day, and I did the illustration for each one.

And…I’ll be writing some posts on my experiences in illustrating these stories later on, in a week or two, I think. Keep an eye out for them. But for now,let’s read!

Today’s story is On The Brussels Train, by Rachel Stevenson.

Here is the illustration. Look it over and then go and read the story! I wonder if you will think I’ve captured something of the author’s message in my drawing.

Fictive Dream On the Brussels Train train scene 8-18 text #2 small

Secret Project Revealed: Day 4

Background: You’ve read about the secret project in my Art Diary…now, here’s what it’s all about.

I have provided illustrations for a short story competition, September Slam 2018, at Fictive Dream, an online literary magazine specializing in short stories. The Slam is featuring seven stories this week, September 24-30, one a day, and I did the illustration for each one.

And…I’ll be writing some posts on my experiences in illustrating these stories later on. Keep an eye out for them. But right now, let’s read!

Today’s story is Dear Damien, by Dave Wakely.

Here is the illustration. Look it over and then go and read the story!

Fictive Dream Dear Damien full size 8-18 #2 adjusted text small

Secret Project Revealed: Day 3

Background: You’ve read about the secret project in my Art Diary…now, here’s what it’s all about.

I have provided illustrations for a short story competition, September Slam 2018, at Fictive Dream, an online literary magazine specializing in short stories. The Slam is featuring seven stories this week, September 24-30, one a day, and I did the illustration for each one. And…I’ll be writing some posts on my experiences in depicting these stories soon. Keep an eye out for them.

But for now, let’s read! Today’s story is Eat to Live, by Sarah Daniels.

Here is the illustration. Look it over and then go and read the story. Did I capture the essence of the author’s work?

Fictive Dream Eat to Live Image 1 text flattened small

Secret Project Revealed: Day 2

Background: You’ve read about the secret project in my Art Diary…now, here’s what it’s all about.

I have provided illustrations for a short story competition, September Slam 2018, at Fictive Dream, an online literary magazine specializing in short stories. The Slam is featuring seven stories this week, September 24-30, one a day, and I did the illustration for each one. I’ll be writing some posts on my experiences in depicting these stories in a couple of weeks. Keep an eye out for them.

But for now, let’s read…

Today’s story is The Albatross, by Steve Carr.

Here is the illustration. Look it over and then go and read the story! Did I capture something of the author’s words in this image?

Fictive Dream The Albatross 8-18 #2 text and flattened small

Secret Project Revealed: Day 1

If you follow my Art Diary, you may have noticed over the past couple of months the inclusion of snippets of what look like pen and ink drawings. I have described these tidbits as being part of a “secret project”. Now all can be revealed!

I have provided illustrations for a short story competition, September Slam 2018, at Fictive Dream, an online literary magazine specializing in short stories. The Slam will feature seven stories this week, one a day, and I did the illustration for each one.

I will write about my experiences in doing this project later on, but for now, let’s concentrate on the stories. Today’s story is It Seems Impossible It Could Ever Begin, by Helen McClory.

Here is the illustration. Look it over and then go and read the story! Did I capture something of the author’s work in my image?

Fictive Dream It Seems Impossible It Could Ever Begin 8-18 #1 adjusted flattened yellow text small

I feel it inside

Here’s another little artist book. I made it back in the spring. I think I have another one to post from that time, and then I’ll be caught up – don’t know why I’ve let these photos languish in my holding bin.

When I make these little books, I usually have a group of them going at once, and I work on one, then another, a page at a time. I do it this way because the glue or paint or whatever has to dry on one page spread before I can go on to another one, so it makes sense to have several to work on at once.

I created the images with no idea what the text will be or even how the images will relate to one another. I like the serendipity and the formlessness of this approach for its utterly relaxing and undemanding lack of prescribed direction.

When I’ve finished the pages I write up whatever I think makes sense. It is always interesting how the book turns out to have a story or a theme even if I did not try to create it that way.

I am sure I’ll be doing some more books soon – I have some new ones all set up and ready to get to work on.

The images for this book appear first and then I’ve written out the text below.

I Feel It Inside

The orbit of my thoughts:
all the inquiring looks
the examinations
the mysteries
the layers of meaning
all the unknowns the sun shines on

a mirror image
a corporeal being
the colorful life
the everyday solid and sturdy
the landscape of the living
vibrant everything
the patterns the significance the known

The orbit of my thoughts.

Art Book On the Move

Here’s an artist book I made not too long ago. I took two painted surfaces (ad cards, the shiny kind you get in the mail and that advertise pool cleanings, eyeglass deals, or retirement homes, etc.) and folded them in half and stapled them. Then, I sat down to do what is, I guess, a collage poem in several parts, to fit the pages. The text just sort of evolves, depending on what direction the snippets of print send me in.

I made this book to send to someone. It’s a spur to my creativity to fit words and art together like this.

Here are pictures of the book and the text is typed out below.

It Was Just A Dream Flowing Past

1.
sleep
wandering across the rooftops
between the dark
and insomnia.

2.
roads in the dark disappearing
into the black forgetful sky

3.
fear
That old thief
was in jail.
The reward was
to survive.
nobody around here
had to be reminded to survive.

4.
darkness broken
gray light
gray clouds,
light.
The black scorch of night
washed clean
and the tall white building
upright in the sunlight

5.
this morning
the burning dark
and
the bruised daylight
come to a sudden
agreement

6.
the light tapping at the windows
a cold chill pale day
and unpredictable
the whole story nearly forgotten
and
hastily scribbled down.

Growth Stages

This summer I spent some time doing collage with some friends I have mentioned before – we get together when we have time and lots of interesting things happen.

This time, I took a little book made of paper I had painted, intending to work on it. It was just a few sheets of paper folded in half and stapled with a saddle stapler.

While I was there, I pasted in the furniture pictures.

Took it home. A few days later, I added the people.

Later on, I added the words.

Somehow a coherent book emerged. I didn’t try to make it happen, but it does make some kind of sense. And where it doesn’t, the viewer/reader is certainly invited to fill in the gaps.

Thanks for the inspiration, Anna, Luke, Liv, and Nellie. Until our next session!