After years of trying and trying to come up with the perfect idea, I have finally managed to create this illustration:

I expect after that introduction you’re a little confused. “Why would it take years to come up with a girl in a balloon with a disobedient dog?” is perhaps what you’re thinking.

Well, actually, it’s a picture about depression.

I’ve never had it myself but I’ve had friends who have had it over the years, so its a subject close to my heart. I’ve always wanted to do some sort of a picture about it, but not an obvious one. Not a grey, dreary one, claiming to show what its like to be a person with depression, because I honestly do not have that experience. This picture is about how I view the people I know who suffer from it.

The girl has potential to rise up and join everyone around her, and she wants to, but she’s held back by something that stops her fulfilling her potential. Often my friends have been creative people, whose work has suffered, but this black dog also holds people back socially, not letting them really get out there and make the most of things. Also, because everyone else is in a balloon, they don’t necessarily notice her trouble, or they think it is unimportant since the dog is so small looking to them. Even the ones who do notice are unsure how to help someone who seems so far from them.

All is not lost though, since the rope is fraying slightly, so hopefully she will be free some day.

It might be nice to do more pictures in the series with more ropes, since so many people do suffer from depression during their lives. I believe last time I heard the figure it was 1 in 10. Just something to think about.

I know I said I’d scan that promo postcard last week, but then I visited my friend and twisted my ankle, so I can’t get to the scanner. Needless to say, running to catch the train was interesting, and I’m actually quite glad I don’t own a car currently, as it was my left foot. I did however manage to take some rather lovely photos (using my phone, which I’m sometimes a bit huffy about, as the colours aren’t perfect on sunsets/low light):

Here’s one taken just before I fell over! For anyone interested, it’s Bradgate Park in Leicestershire. Apparently Lady Jane Grey used to live in the area.

I also recently visited Bath where I did not fall over. No chance to draw, as I was running around with my family for only a few days but lots of photos were taken:

Sometimes I think I draw too many windows. Then I look at pretty much any English architecture and there’s always somewhere with more. Until the Window Tax anyway.

I’ll leave you with an adventurous girl whose ankles are in one piece

I’ve come across Skottie Young‘s artwork for the Oz comics recently and I have to say it is absolutely gorgeous:

His linework is just so lovely! And the colours are spot on. I’ve ordered the newest ones from my local comic shop so I have something to gush over some more.

I think I just have a thing for child characters with, well, character. I’m never going to be able to just do cutesy work, they need some sort of underlying personality.

Also look at that chicken! That is how you draw a chicken. There’s a cat on the promo postcard I picked up and it’s just as good. I may just have to scan it and put it up to share.

In other news I’ve updated the website some more, put up my new children’s book double pages along with their respective poems, and started learning how to do comics work. Not aiming for the industry, to be honest, but more as an exercise to learn more. It’s been much more demanding in terms of page design and pacing than anything I’ve done before and though I’ve failed many times (and expected to) I’m now succeeding more and putting my new skills to good use elsewhere too!

I really need this Oz comic though. I wonder if it’s in today.

Oh, in related Kirsty loves non-typical comics news, I picked up Nonplayer issue 1 a while ago and it’s stunning. Definitely worth a look for anyone remotely interested. The artwork sometimes reminds me of an almost stained glass, art nouveau style. Mostly because of the colours used while in the game world. The rights have already been bought to turn it into a film (how they would pull that off, I’m unsure. Half the attraction is in the detailed artwork), so it’s definitely worth knowing about.

There’s now a better, updated version of My Mummy Is A Monster on the website, with hand written lettering.

I went to the Cult of Beauty exhibition on at the V&A. it might be pretty obvious by now but I have a real soft spot for Victorian art and design. The idea of ‘art for arts’ sake’ is one that often rather appeals to me – in that a piece of artwork should always be, no matter what, beautiful to look at. The exhibition is highly recommended! Seeing Aubrey Beardsley’s work in person is somewhat awe-inspiring.

I’ve also been working on planning my own comic/graphic novel, and it’s been quite the learning process. If you like to see work in progress, with all it’s failures and successes along the way then I’ve been using this blog to record my progress. Some of the drawings are terrible at the start, but if I take them down it’s not really a true reflection of the process, so up they stay. Whether I end up with a comic (which I would love to) or not, the learning curve has been very instructive, and has had a knock on effect throughout my work.

I’ll leave you with another poem, subject to editing changes:

I like to watch the stars at night

And wonder what they are

I know what they’re supposed to be

This is more fun by far

Perhaps they’re big old fireflies

Flying up in high dark places

Or maybe they are angels

Looking down here with kind faces

It could be where the light bulbs go

Once their job down here is done

Or tiny flames that break away

And dance around the sun

They could be lamps to light the way

For airplanes in the night

And maybe if I flew up there

They would seem twice as bright

You may shake your head at me

And sigh like I’m bizarre

But you’ll never see the world my way

And that’s sadder by far

Just a quick one! I’m sure my mum will appreciate this on her card.

Time for another poem. I’ve tried adding the text into the pictures but I may go back and hand write it.

This is dedicated to my mum, who was pretty insulted by it when I read it to her until I reached the last line!

Well, I said I was going to put up photos of the show, and I have them, but they’re just not as interesting as a silly poem.

I’ve been digging through my hard drive/sketchbook and finding old things I scribbled down to play with.

I Wish I Had A Parasol

I wish I had a parasol

To use this sunny day

It’s not that I detest the sun

I just wish it would go away

I’ve tried to like this weather

But I cannot smile with ease

For every time I see the sun

It makes me want to sneeze

‘But a tan is healthy,

You should leave the house,’ they scold.

But frankly all I do is burn

And it makes you all look old

I don’t want to be orange

Like the other girls I know

So inside I will stay until

The weather turns to snow

New work has been added to the site, along with an update for the main and about pages.

I’m off to London tomorrow to bring my work down for the exhibition, let’s hope the trains all run on time!

My work will be appearing in a group exhibition this week/next week called Subjects for Change at Red Gate Gallery in London from the 25th February to the 3rd March.

I’ll try to get some photos for the blog!