RSS 2.0 FeedAutumn 2009, Featured Articles, Ragged Elf
Atlantia
The harvest sun is swelling the pumpkins in my veg patch and mysterious mushrooms dot the lawn in the damp mornings. A new season heralds a new project in my studio...
The remainder of this article is not available.
To see the rest of the article you may:
- Register for a regular subscription to this publication
Ragged Elf
"I have been in the business of 'creating' for almost all my life. It all started with plasticine, paper and glue during my early school days, progressed to a brief period of creating havoc during my teenage years before moving onto the creating of false teeth as a school leaver; this was followed by creating hand-painted roller blinds in a factory and then greetings cards. By my early twenties I had left London and moved to the Somerset countryside where as a young father I spent my days creating magazine covers in our living room surrounded by toddlers and squeaky toys.
It had been a full 29 years before I was able to combine my implicit desire to be a creator with full job satisfaction; and that was when I began a career as an artist for the fantasy series of 'Discworld' books by Terry Pratchett. I was given a free and generous rein by the author to wander his universe with my sketchbook to hand, which resulted in the publication of a variety of illustrated books and products.
These days I still dip into the ingenious world of Sir Pratchett to illustrate book jackets and various commissions, but most of my time nowadays is spent working in the realms of my own imagination.
Moving to the New Forest and marrying my wife Vanessa helped to open the doors into a new world of deep inspiration. Fuelled by folklore and a taste for the peculiar, inspired by nature and coupled with the oblique squint of my own perspective, (rather like those joke spectacles that give you the vision of a fly, or a fairground mirror) I have recently been painting and sculpting the mythology of faerie, enchantment and magic and it feels like I have at last found my way home to being a creator in my own right.
My recipe for a happy and creatively busy artist (but yours might be different)...
Jokes and ridiculous conversations - sometimes they spin into the absurd and trigger an idea. Can be very useful and the laughter is invaluable, even if it doesn't lead to any eureka moments.
Cake - but it has to be home-made, just don't eat too much.
Going for a walk, we have a dog so there is no excuse not to get out there whatever the weather and we are always thankful to have done it.
Exhibitions, invaluable, whatever the subject matter... it's always great to see the creative processes other folks gets up to, whatever their style.
Movies, for the same reason.
Music, the right music playing in the studio helps me capture the right feel in my artwork. It might be anything from my large and eclectic collection, but just lately I have been listening to The Fleet Foxes, The Mummers, Goldfrappe and REM.
A veg patch, it's very grounding to get your hands dirty and work in the soil when you do a sedentary job like mine. Growing stuff is one of the best feelings.
Sleep and enough of it, if I don't have it my eyes go pink and itchy.
Family, mine's a large and jumbly one but they are all inspiring in their own unique (and sometimes infuriating) lovable ways. They always bring a fresh perspective too.
Going away on holiday. It's fascinating to go to new places, eat new food, see new art and architecture hear new languages and smell new smells; and it's always wonderful to come home."
Paul has been a member of Enchanted Folk since February 2009
More Featured Articles
The Ghosts of Kilmartin and The Kings of Dunadd
The journey took us through the Trossachs, which is wild with an array of colour from burnt oranges, reds aglow with the morning sun, and golden yellows. The mountains, which surround us on the road, cocoon us on our journey separating us off from the noisy chaotic world. Here you can breathe clean fresh air that fills your soul and makes your heart sing. The journey is enough to heal you from your heavy burdens of life
The Sleeping Giant Awakes
The giant has just awakened from a century's long sleep and is moving from his resting place where he has become part of the landscape and geography. On his back are the trees and the shrubs that have grown there over the years along with the ruins of human habitations that have been built thereon long ago- castle-like structures and ruined edifices, all from a bygone era like the giant himself.
Raven Call
When I have the opportunity to travel, I often go with my dear friend, Carla, whom I have known for over thirty years. It is always fun to travel with someone who has like interests and Carla is like a second sister to me. We both enjoy exploring off the beaten path finding places less people venture.
Exploring the Stone Circles of Cornwall
During our recent holiday to Cornwall, my partner and I were lucky enough to pay a visit to several of the incredible, ancient stone circles that are in abundance in this part of England. When thinking of the ancient standing stones, one immediately thinks of Stonehenge or those at Avebury. However, Cornwall has a plethora of ancient circles and megaliths that are well worth visiting in their own right.
Autumn Ramblings
An elderly relation of mine has always said that you can judge how cold a Winter will be by the amount of berries that grow in the Autumn that comes before. "Nature looks after her children," he would say. "And offers plenty before the long dark days come. Look to the trees - the more berries you see, the harsher a Winter you should expect."
The Gathering, The Unfolding….
I hold my breath. There's a distant drumming echoing around the edge of my consciousness, unable to decipher whether it's my own heart or the beat of another place and time entirely I let it flow on regardless.
Of Scoop Marks in the Lawn, Creatures of the Night & Dreams of the Machine
It had been a busy summer in the garden at Blaeberry Glen. Work in the garden had kept the gnomes busy from dawn till dusk and sometimes In-between. 'In-between', in fact, is often the busiest time for the gnomes as that is when all sorts of wild creatures visit or pass by in their secret lives.
Dark Alchemy and Temperance
This wintertime of longing can offer us beautiful dark-gemmed treasure. It is a time for waiting, for hoping, for gathering and for dreaming deeper into ourselves. A time for expanding our roots and drawing up the nourishment from summers past - enriching us for the coming spring. A time for Alchemy.