A Fractured Fairy Tale

Once upon a time in a kingdom by the sea a trio of weary travellers stumbled upon a modest castle. It was neither too small nor too large, but just right... for a brief sojourn out of the intense Mediterranean sun...

 

The trio were received warmly by the inhabitants who mentioned there had been only too few travellers of late.

Despite the hospitable welcome, our travelling trio began from the first to sense something amiss... Yet they were hesitant to insult their hosts and decided amongst themselves that they probably just had a bad case of post road jitters---with all the ogres, wolves and giants afoot, life could easily become overwhelmingly stressful---always watching one's back whilst fumbling among a weighty baggage for magic beans, talking dolls or golden egg laying poultry. Travel was without a doubt a tiring and dangerous prospect and it was good to relax for a bit...
Their hosts smilingly proposed a tour of the castle with an introduction to all its inhabitants. To commence, the travellers were treated to views of the latest in court fashion, worn by what must surely have been some of the leading innovators of the day....

And after, a dazzling show of courtly comedy...

Followed by an introduction to local practices of vino culture...

And a view of the amazingly lifelike displays in this groundbreaking cabinet of natural curiosities...

They were made privy to a thrilling glimpse of gold being coaxed from lead in the castle alchemist's subterranean chamber (although the trio wisely decided against mentioning the simpler process with their own golden egg laying hen...or was it a goose?)

Suddenly a sinister figure emerged from the shadows and the travellers felt strong hands placed roughly on their shoulders. Their hosts froze and began to back away slowly...

They were led through dim corridors hung with weapons...

Past increasingly more sinister sights...

until they found themselves in a dark place where they feared their wandering lives would end...

Suddenly there was a loud whisper from behind a curtain at stage left..."PSSST...I can get you out of here...but it's gonna' cost you..."

PHHEEWW...That was close!!!

Nightlight

Shadowy views of my night time work table with puppets and poppets ensconced, awaiting their moment on the stage...alongside some small mixed media works in progress.

I recently discovered this small brass and bone Moroccan mirror with broken frame on the dumpster top--brought it back to my workspace and filled the gaps with a mosaic of minuscule shells from the magic isle of Noirmoutier on France's Atlantic coast. It now has a proud, toothy grin.

Of Griffin Claw and Dragon Tooth

Random Sketchbook Pages: Paper and Digital

collage and ink

gouache

  

collage and ink

  

felt marker, ink, color pencil

 

 

found object and natural material "mini installation"

 

found object and natural material "mini installation"

found and natural materials, altered photo

 

Montmartre Cafe

Just a charming little place at the top of Montmartre that you might enjoy strolling by with me....

An evening of working and walking...

Searching for an entrance... working... thinking... Sometimes things come together gracefully and other times not... Sometimes my eyes and body simply become tired with looking and trying...

I value my night time walks--the restful darkness and rhythmic physical movement an antidote to any frustration, bringing fresh blood and fresh ideas to a tired brain. I saw these gorgeous poppies nestled under Mucha's lovely woman in the florist's night time window--- and so large and perfect were they that I had to look twice to be certain they were real...

And just around the corner, in a dim eighteenth century interior, this over the top hanging jewel from another century...

Book Works

marbled book boards, Japanese lacquered box lid, porcelain angel, vintage doll arm, bone, shell,  fossil ammonite, bone buttons, shelf fungus, glass, metal, paper text

We all know there are certain objects that possess a kind of life of their own, a value beyond the merely intrinsic worth of materials. Works of art are obvious examples of a "thing" invested with the special energy of human hopes and creativity that can elevate paper and ink, steel and limestone, found object and wooden box to the realm of the numinous, to become truly "something". And in a similar soulful universe there are musical instruments and books, things I have since childhood felt to be among those objects most deserving of careful preservation and reverent handling.
There are currently so many wonderful artists creating evocative work with altered books, successfully appropriating the power that a book shaped vessel carries in human consciousness. Although I've admired and tremendously enjoyed many of these pieces, when it came time to try my hand at my own version I've always felt a slight pang at the idea of destroying a book--- regardless of its apparent lack of merit as literature, etc. Maybe I'm just a hopeless, old fashioned librarian at heart (or was in my last incarnation). Lately, though, I've been especially entranced by the beautiful gold embossed covers and marbled endpapers that exist in abundance in the used bookshops of France (but covers, I rationalized, that often garb the most mundane of ideas in sumptuous clothes...). So I purchased a couple of inexpensive lovelies thinking I would finally have a go at creating something with them---Instead they've become a part of the "decor" wherever I happen to be working but remain untouched thus far. I was finally able to begin playing with the ideas they sparked when I made the happy discovery (literally just inches ahead of the sanitation workers) of a cardboard box filled with gutted vintage covers. There was no time to be particular or grab more than a handful before it all disappeared into the roaring maw of the garbage beast, but it was enough to begin work (guilt free!).
These are untitled as yet, still a bit in process, nothing set in stone...(or perhaps hot glue ..)

fabric covered book board, metal, wood, glass, bumblebee, pine cone scales, moss, poppy pods, acorn cap, buttons, paper text, shell

Fae Underground

To illustrate that the fae of many eras have sought subterranean shelter, I submit the following for your perusal--- the extraordinary, crystal illuminated laboratory of an ancient alchemist gnome, complete with minute alembics and the ubiquitous furnace in miniature...

 And a fae bedchamber of more recent date, illuminated by the rays of many wasp paper lamps...or in the more mundane light of day...

Paleolitic Fae?

If you've ever been curious about how early faeries lived whilst our ancestors were dwelling in caves and wrapping themselves in animal skins I'd like to take you on a short photographic visit to this recently discovered miniature troglodytic habitation, the first of its kind to be acknowledged and systematically studied by the scientific community. The cave site has been described by investigating scholars (in distinctly nonacademic terms) as "tiny--about the size of a large washbasin" and was discovered in the autumn of 2010 by a pair of recreational rock climbers whose Sunday outing dislodged the stones blocking the entrance. The actual location is a closely guarded secret and has been described by the press simply as "a steep cliff face in the Dordogne, France", a region already famous for its many traces of early cave dwelling humans. 
Although at this point in time there can be little more than educated conjecture concerning the original purpose of this amazing site, judging by the extensive wall decor and rich furnishings it appears to have been a place of some ritual or ceremonial importance. (In some aspects it also bears a striking if rather anachronistic resemblance to photos of mid twentieth century art galleries of the abstract expressionist persuasion--notice in particular the small sculptural pieces on pedestals). Whatever its original purpose, it is a stunningly well preserved glimpse into the distant magical past and yet another cautionary note to the fae naysayers.