My submission for Amelia's Magazine 10th Anniversary open brief, 'That Which We Do Not Understand', is at last finished. It is entitled At The Root Of The Stars.
I have always been fascinated by storytelling and superstitions, the fertile imagination people have when they try to explain the world surrounding them. My illustration is somewhat a celebration of that imagination. To add my contribution to the great tapestry of tales (as I like to call it), I came up with my personal explanation of the origin of the stars, how they were created.
It all began in a far off forest, at night, a very long time ago. A witch and her unicorn were weaving stars while crows hung them up in the sky. The witch cut her beautiful red hair and let it spin into golden stars with the help of the unicorn's horn. There are references made to the spinning wheel; the image of weaving and spinning are beautiful allegories for storytelling.
Amelia Gregory, the creator of the magazine, has launched a KICKSTARTER campaign to fund the publishing of a limited edition book and fine art prints (beautiful prints with real gold leaf!). Many very talented illustrators have taken part in this beautiful and exciting project - Anna Jane Searle, Daria Hlazatova, among other amazing artists! Your help in spreading the word and supporting the project would be very much appreciated.
personal work, 2014.
Black ink, gouache, coloured ink, watercolour, and watercolour pencil, on mixed media paper. A4 format.