winter 2010....remember the snow ?

I wrote this in 2010, and have just found it again.
Thought I'd share it.

A confident sun eased itself, stretching, over the horizon

basting with melted butter

the uppermost limbs of the trees in the valley.

A pledge of restorative warmth

to the stoic waxy holly

and encumbered viridian ivy.

Improbably bright flickers of light

flashed and glanced on frigid leaf and branch.

Long fingers of shadow

the colour of robins' eggs

reached out over the pale golden hillside across the river.

Maybe today?

Then

a single dusty flake

then two....three....

a flurry......

And turning to face the stiffening breeze I saw it.

A featureless, towering, slate-grey wave

Looming over the virginal, cowering landscape

and breaking on the shoreline of scratchy bare trees,

engulfing them in a swirling insistent smoke,

turning them to a muddy watercolour blur.

There would be no thaw

And so it begins

The cart is bought
The wooden panelling too
The plans are drawn
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you...

THE MOBILE  MARIONETTE THEATRE

Small marionette
 painted and ready for strings

Finally, a stem on his pie

He has a checked cap

I wonder what I should call him.....

Last Christmas I painted part of the Christmas display for Liberty of London

Process video, gilding and painting for Liberty.

Reverting to the earlier torso design, and loving how it looks and moves.

Getting there now

He's coming together now, and developing a personality !
Next, a pair of trousers and a coat.

This is a puppet I'm working on at the moment

Chasing the marionette dream

Some time ago I posted a picture of a puppet head I was carving. I've now added a bit of hair, and he is starting to get some character.
I have been inspired to redouble my efforts, as I have been accepted onto a course in long string marionette manipulation at the Little Angel Puppet Theatre in London.
I cant tell you how excited and scared I am about 9 days in London, but I couldn't miss the opportunity.
This will all help in forwarding my current project of building a mobile puppet theatre on a farm cart that's

over 100 years old. Pictures to follow soon.

This is a major new chapter in my life, and when it all comes together my aim is to leave children slack-jawed with wonder, and remind their parents what it felt like to dream

Painting the sign for Atlantic Hotel- Scilly Isles

Here's a film poster that I provided the illustration for.
The film, " The Beast", is by Dream Seekers Productions, headed up by Peter Dukes, a very talented independent film maker in USA

www.dreamseekersprods.com

Some sketches for my book

These preliminary sketches are for some of the characters in the book I'm writing.More will be along soon.
Some of them will probably also be made as puppets.

Just had the privilege of meeting Brian and Wendy Froud, and attending Wendy's sculpture masterclass.
Learnt a lot there that will be very helpful.You should follow their blog, "Realm of Froud". Lovely stuff from sincere people.

Coming Home

After a whole year building the studio and moving the business I am finally home, and with big plans for the future.

I'm going to Live the Dream!

for Freya- a lullaby

I wrote this the same time as drawing this sketch
when my little girl was new to the world

Just a tiny ripple
on an ocean vast and wide,
Barely even noticed
by the overwhelming tide.
Who knows what far-flung places
this little wave will reach,
Majestic, icy wastelands
or some warm exotic beach.

Just a little flutter,
a gentle summer breeze,
The lightest, freshest whisper
softly stirring in the trees,
brushing past the butterflies
and lifting up their wings
Shimmering on cobwebs
like tiny guitar strings.

Just a ray of sunshine
coaxing flowers into bloom,
subtly and silently
dispelling shady gloom.
Charming us, and teasing out
a smile from every face
Warming all she touches
with her innocent embrace.

She's just my little Princess,
not even two days old.
Like putty in her tiny fist,
my heart is hers to mould.
Already she has conquered me
and brought me to my knees
my ripple on the ocean
my warming summer breeze

daddy 16/7/08