Cards for Sale

Although I thought I couldn't get them printed in time for the Vyner Studio exhibition, here they are - greetings cards featuring my paintings and a couple of my Loli-themed drawings! There's 4 of each design, so if you'd like one get hold of me ASAP (they're £1.50 each)! I will do reprints if I have the demand for them. Thanks muchly to MOO for being very speedy, especially as I'd put in an order for 100 business cards at the same time (they're perched happily on my windowsill). Well worth the cash.

REVIEW: Everything We Miss, by Luke Pearson

*Warning: May contain spoilers*

Today, I received my copy of 'Everything We Miss', by Luke Pearson. This is the first graphic novella I've ever purchased, and I wasn't disappointed. I bought it on pre-order, and Nobrow included two free postcards as well as the free poster.

What immediately drew me to it was the preview - seven pages that portrayed many emotional points of view. The main story of Everything We Miss - a failing relationship going through its final stage with paranoia, nisunderstanding and disagreements contrasts vividly with the many abstract, fantastical and often childish happenings around the couple as they remain absorbed in the other and the crushing reality. The contrast is really charming and, although quite dark, often comforting.

The two 'settings' (reality and the fantastical) aren't the only thing that contrasts - the white, black, and various shades of orange are bold and stark. The cartooniness and simplicity of the art style lends itself to the fantasy element, but the characters' believable expressions and the strength of the lines compliment the element of reality. It fits together nicely, and expresses the confusion and restless emotions surrounding a newly broken relationship.

The conversations between the two throughout the book are incredibly human - you can imagine their tone of voice, their moods, their reactions and poses as if the interaction was taking place in the room you're sitting in. I found it very difficult to not be moved by them, and see both sides of the story (and how olive branches extended by the other are easily missed). The instances where we see glimpses of the stories of other people around them living life are also very easy to relate to. "Everything We Miss", to me, has two different meanings - the little details we just don't see in life, as we're too busy with our own issues and goings-on, and how a couple going through a rough patch or a breakup pine for the idyllic days of the 'honeymoon period' in their relationship. I won't give away the ending, but the last panel really sums up the title of the book and is a fitting ending to a sad, and very moving story.

All in all, this was a well-written, wonderfully illustrated read. If you get the chance to pick it up (see below for the link to Nobrow's shop), do so - I recommend it.

"Everything We Miss" is available to order here.

Luke Pearson's website (with regular blog updates) is here.

What's In Your Toolbox?

Well, we only have a couple of days of October left - and I have about three posts to make. Things have been packed in Polyrhythm-ville, and (most of) it is full of awesome.

First off, I love university to bits. I love the facilities and space, I love how everyone is very friendly and helpful, I love how I come home from a day in the studio or from taking notes at a lecture and I feel tired - but healthily tired. I feel accomplished. And that's a pretty cool thing.

I think I'm going to start off with an introduction to my new toolbox. It'll be like one of those 'what's in your handbag?' memes (but with far less lipstick and haircare products). The one I owned during Foundation was so battered, that on the last day of cleaning up the studios I squeezed the remains of useful materials into my bag and put it with the rest of the rubbish. I was sad to see the poor thing go. *sadface*

The new one I have is a little smaller, but I think it's helping me be a little pickier about what I keep in it.

 When I first brought it home. I like the little compartments up top - an improvement from my old toolbox is that the top compartments are more varied.

The inside - that lifts up to reveal a deep compartment for chunkier things like paint-tubes and huge scissors.

And here it is getting acquainted with my collection of arty bits. One of the little compartments can fit pens into it, which is really convenient.

Right now, here's what's nestled in it:

In the top compartment:
Mainly things I'd need to grab quickly. Working pens, a few pencils, erasers, two pencil sharpeners, a mini gluestick, a little tube of black acrylic (from this morning - I kept using it).

In the middle compartment, that lifts out like a tray:
Paintbrushes, two spools of thread and a needle, some superglue, a foldable (glittery) ruler, a mini water container, a scalpel and some spare blades for said scalpel, a putty eraser, graphite sticks. A couple of gel pens have made their way into there, too. Things that are too big to fit into the top, or things I want to keep more securely.

Bottom (deep) compartment:
Mainly, all the really chunky stuff! A roll of masking tape and another of gum tape, several decent-sized tubes of acrylic, a box of large charcoal sticks, a packet of 'Wet Ones' wipes (useful for smudging and for cleaning up - I've tried other brands, but these are still the best for me), two pots of metallic varnish, a little tin that can function as a water container and as a mini-palette, and a tin of watercolour pencils.

For a small box, it fits in a lot! It was £4.00 from Wilkinsons, and although it might not be suitable for those of you wanting something heavy-duty, it does the job for the paints and pencils I need to cart about and was pretty cheap (something that's always a bonus when you're a student).

It's that month again

That last post I made and then deleted - don't worry about it. I set up a separate Blogger account for my solely-university stuff. I'm still working on a few changes as I think the blog needs 'em, but it won't be anything major.

It's October again, folks! And this month means that Lishieomancy will have its second birthday. I'm pretty proud of myself, as previous attempts at personal websites and blogs all failed before they could even be properly established.

Now. Time for a bit of bragging. Take a look at this.

The paper has a lovely 'handmade' textured feel to it - in fact, the entire book has this feel to it. Looks pretty sweet, right? I found it in my university's art shop, and ...

Hang on. Let me dig up the HTML for this.

Ah, there we go.

£2.60!

My university shop has some awesome prices, but I expected a book like this to be at least twice what it cost me (then again, last year the art shop in my college town was pretty expensive, so maybe I'm just used to things being pretty pricey). I bought it, a very happy artist. There was only one left on the shelf, so I put it down to fate.

I do have plans for this little book, and so far it's going awesomely. *thumbs up*