Red House stamps

Omen stuff

So I should likely be sorting together some final compositions for this proposed book since I technically have his CHARACTER CARVED ON THE INSIDE OF MY SKULL NOW.

Instead I want to make a side cranked automaton of him designed like one of those pay by silver fortune teller booths... Zoltar Speaks?

Mmm.... automatons, I need you in my life.

Thomas Kuntz kickass Automatons

I have entered into a world of delights with this, look at these works of absolute genius. Urrhgfhghfsz.

Paul Verlaine, Arthur Rimbaud, and Automatons...

So, I've always had a bit of a 'thing' for shoddy funfairs. The air brushed Ghost Trains, although.. you rarely see nicely painted ones anymore. Gaudy stripes and bulbs, they are disconcertingly lively places. Pier amusement arcades, noises, flashing lights.

It also transfered into 'theme' parks, dark rides, anything theatrical and audio based. I am especially enchanted with animatronics, I guess it must be that sense of the 'uncanny'.

Yesterday I discovered the sheer ecstasy of delight that is the 'Automaton'. They are so captivating that I actually feel the most intense desire to research, and make one of these myself. Here are some of my absolute favourites.




Apparently her harp is only visible at the point of death.





I also discovered Arthur Rimbaud, who might be my new favourite figure. And I nobbled a bunch of fantastic books from Red House's second hand stash, THEY ARE SO SO BEAUTIFUL. But damn I need to draw so bad it pains me, this weekend coming... I must do some.

WHOO.

My workshop went really good! It seemed to go down really well, with both kids AND adults getting involved, much to my delight. We even had people come back the next day asking if it was still on! And they made some really beautiful cards too, it was lovely weather.


My job is amazing, so so amazing... but trying to fit in illustration work as well is the hardest thing, argh. I get in so exhausted, but... I am going to start trying to cram in drawing everywhere because... I'm rusting up, look at Earnshaw's stupid legs. Eeesh.

Work and secrets

WORK. Illuminated manuscript Easter card people, I'm trying to avoid MY way of working for these... which is difficult as I'm rather set in my ways. Edward Burne-Jones is helping me through it.



But also here is a sneaky bad omen, aaaahhhh... I have a book planned for him stiilll... I need to think about cutting off his ears and tail and giving him a fox friend or something, I dunno.

LIFE.

So... since leaving university I have, pottered about drawing silly characters with animalistic features and getting good at photoshop colouring without a tablet. NICE. I've also been helping out at SEVERAL Historic houses (which is a sneaky way of getting inside for free to drawdrawdraw).

Somehow I've worked up the ranks, and am now employed by the National Trust! I work at William Morris's exquisite 'palace of art', the Red House in Bexleyheath. So when I'm not tending to a pesky til, cleaning a 150 year old windowsil, or making tea... I am drawing <3. Currently I'm designing an activity for kids, we're going to make Medieval Morris design inspired Easter cards!


These are just some roughs I worked out, I'm using a combination of... rubber stamps, lino stamps, foam stamps, stencils, and little pre-made vinettes. I want the kids to also design their own illuminated letters if I can, 'cause thats always fun.

Oh sigh, I love my job, how did I end up here.