Newsletter from Falmouth Illustration MA

 Falmouth University - Illustration MA

Term Two

Well I have completed my second term and put in the portfolio and report and await my results. I think I have done enough but one can never be sure. Nine people failed last term.

This term as stated we had to make an artefact which reflected our theme.  After some reflection a children's book was not going to be applicable.  Instead I decided to invent a board game.  It reflected my work in that it had a psychological framework and was a journey and a story around a villae.

The game was called 'The Happiness Village Game'.  Based on Norton Fitzwarren I took photographs of the village and they became the perimeter of the game.  I illustrated the centre piece by doing an Ariel map of the village locations. Using a dragon ( Somerset    Wyvern) players went around the board throwing a dice and encountered instructions that pertained to happiness.  The object was to collect happiness tokens and pocket money each time they passed HOME.

In addition I included a zine* which told some interesting historical facts about Norton Fitzwarren.  It is aimed at children aged 6-11 and their families.  

I hope to crowd fund for the professional publication of the board game when it has been tested.

It is hoped that it will be available on my new website www.artythingsplus.co.uk priced £19.99.

We have seen during lockdown wonderful kindnesses from people facing adversity.  Psychological research indicates that happiness is achieved by giving acts of kindness on a regular basis and being an active part of a community. I hope that my board game will illustrate that to the children that play it.

In addition this term I constructed my new website and started to produce craft items such as pin brooches out of shrink plastic and also develop craft kits for sale.

Zoe Ainsworth-Grigg

* A zine is a small handmade book usually A6 or A5.  They are collectable and offer art produced affordable craftwork from writer/illustrators. 

Illustrations by Zoe Ainsworth-Grigg

Update on Falmouth Illustration Course

 

Well I passed the first term and it was very difficult.  Trying to find out how to use all this new technology for me was a nightmare.  I suppose the youngsters found that bit easy!

This term we are onto Professional Practice and I am enjoying the things that I am learning.  Fortunately I do know how to make a youtube film and my rendition for a presentation is below.

We are designing things too this term and we have to make an " artefact" my artefact will be one of my books.  I published two of them last term based on the course.

I am designing a new website so please watch this space.  I hope you enjoy my presentation:

presentation

Final illustration for first term Illustration

The Princess and the Pea

 

"The Princess and the Pea" (Danish: "Prinsessen paa Ærten"; literal translation: "The Princess on the Pea") is a literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Anderson about a young woman whose royal identity is established by a test of her sensitivity. The tale was first published with three others by Andersen in an inexpensive booklet on 8 May 1835 in Copenhagen by C. A. Reitzel.

(ref 62)                                                                                                     

 

There are several versions of the oral tradition of this story, one of which dates to the 11^th Century in India when a Prince undergoes the test on a straw mattress.

 

There is dispute as to whether there was an oral tradition of folk tales (63) but Jungian analysts believe that they contain deep truths about the psyche.

 

“Fairy tales are the purest and simplest expression of collective unconscious processes... They represent the archetypes in their simplest, barest, and most concise form ... [and] afford us the best clues to the understanding of the processes going on in the collective psyche.”  — Marie-Louise von Franz (63)

 

As an explanation of what Carl Jung term, the Self means:

 

Self. The archetype of wholeness and the regulating centre of the psyche; a transpersonal power that transcends the ego.  (63a)

 

To consider the story of the Princess and the Pea in this regard is to look at the relationships between the characters. The Prince wants to unite with a bedraggled girl who might be his equal. The girl represents his shadow side that he has the desire to unify and psychologically become whole with his consciousness.  The parent, mother in this case devises a test.  The Prince as yet has not separated from the mother.  In Freudian terms, he is still inveigled in the Oedipus situation. The girl passes the test (which is improbable in reality.)  Is she proving nobility? This is largely discounted. Or is she the shadow side of the prince that will bring him to wholeness and that he subconsciously wants to acknowledge.

The test allows them to marry and unite. The marriage does not represent a romantic notion but a psychological message of a spiritual nature. The Animus and the Anima unite. The prince is the animus and the girl the anima, the two major archetypes in Jungian theory.

 

In this image the top represents the journey of the anima and the animus. The bottom right is the test of the bed mattresses and the pea and the left image represents the marriage and spiritual union of the couple.  I have used Asian imagery to show that the earliest reference to this story was in India.  In India the bridegroom journeys to the wedding on a white horse.  There are references to India in the bedstead and the anklet on the girl’s foot as she lies awake.  The three are united in a stained-glass window to show a spiritual unification. I have used acrylic and collage.

 

First Term at Falmouth University Illustration Course

Falmouth University - 1st Term of MA Illustration online course

I feel as though I have been through a washing machine and hung out to dry.  I have never had so much information given to me in such a short space of time,

Firstly we were asked to read A LOT /every week.

Then chose the marks we were going to use in a series of images.  We were restricted to twelve so we had to chose very carefully.  The images were chosen for us e.g

The wedding; the chicken; a portrait; a landscape.

Then we had to make four drawings of our own choice and then draw around them, after placing the drawings on a blank piece of paper.

Researching and looking at other illustrators has been fun but the academic work has been challenging.  This has added to our efforts to make the images really work. I have been very conscious of prejudices in our culture following the BLACK LIVES MATTER CAMPAIGN  and have endeavored to take account of ethnicity and social and cultural divides.

Images really sculpt our unconscious mind and if we are aware of what we portray then perhaps society will change for the better.

I have been very conscious of the technology involved with modern illustration and art. I cannot at this stage learn new technology such as Corel Draw, and Humaans or even photoshop.  I have to use traditional methods and made an articulated template out of cardboard for a template for one of my story characters. the lack of technology skills nearly has been a game breaker for me.

One illustrator I found that was very useful was Alex Deacon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeFYHtWc2Vs





I am now very aware of 'happy' colours,  An artist in the Observer supplement this weekend:

Yinka Ilori

What I have learnt is that illustration is about the status of Auteur, a recognisable readable style that complements and illuminates the words that it acompanies.

corona virus diary - end of lockdown

War of the invisible

It came swiftly across the air a killing miasma crossing counties without care.  We all jumped for cover in our homes waiting release or worse waiting for incarnation of intensive care or worse still death.

It was an education a learning process and a presentiment of possible future mutations. Each day the death toll was announced and rose; the fear of the invisible touched us all.  We watched the daily news avidly until it became so ordinary it was impossible to watch anymore.  But we learned how to adapt in the drudge of waiting. No longer 'eating out' we enjoyed the pleasures of cooking again.And for some the waiting in line for food parcels.

We learned to listen to the silence, to the mindfulness of nature and to watch webinars. We had gratitude for a walk once a day among the cleaner air and bird song. We learned about young boredom that invented dance on tiktok and old loyalties and courage that raised £30000 for the NHS charities. We learned compassion and appreciation for those dedicating their lives and working practice and training to fight on our behalf and to just keep on going and kept calm.

But others took advantage and scammed the elderly and wore coughed and killed the faces of the innocent doing a job.  We heard their rage, rain down on others.

We willingly did our duty and observed isolation when in fear  the virus came to our shore.  Struggling with th reflex to run and find help from friends and family.  We zoomed if we could and we telephoned those who could not.

We appreciated our outdoor space and one special God given gift - the sun kept shining on us throughout and seemingly went on forever. We dug, we planted vegetables. We fed birds, we had moles, next door cats;ants;bee swarms; as guests in our garden.

Our family bonded closer together with the adult members coping with furloughed payments or job loss and home schooling.  Parents simply let go and seemingly coped with the chaos of family life. And on the dark side domestic abuse rose to alarming proportions.

We of the older years relaxed into prayerfulness inactivity knowing that the grim reaper was not far away.  Our job was to keep spirits up where we could, keep smiling, keep calm and carry on, showing and giving life examples to worried offspring.

Clapping on Thursdays and impromptu coffee mornings on our personal front drives helped us to talk to neighbours and passers by as never before.And now shall we remember this time in years to come when we eventually reach the new normal.  Shall we remember with humility and pride in being in a country that hangs and cleaves together in times of crisis; That forgives the small minority that cannot conform?  And shall we remember Care homes and their sacrifice?

Newsletter- join me on my journey on my Illustration course with Falmouth University

On June 1st I begin my course




Well beginning this MA is nerve wracking.  So before I started I did some reading

 Quote:
The picture has the power to: Communicate instantaneously. Communicate to a global audience, regardless of age, location, or era. Locate the viewer within the image. Represent literally the human experience of seeing. Visually delight, again and again. Be arranged sequentially to communicate narrative. Connect instantaneously with emotion, memory, and experience. Delight through shape, color, and form.
Hall, Andrew. Illustration, Laurence King Publishing, 2011

.
And I also did some preparation:  I found that Domestika is a good prep if you choose the right course and they are inexpensive.  One tutor advised to get out all of your art materials and examine them.  I had loads:
Inks calligraphy ink; acrylic of course; water colour and w/c crayons; crayons;felt tips/chalk; etc.

I then sorted all my pens; brushes; and materials.

He then advised to combine two or three together; eg.  To use a crayon and go over with watercolour.  To make a splodge of water and drop in ink. Use two pens together. Then try to draw an animal with eyes closed.

I am indebted to Chris Dart at my CICCIC, www.ciccic.com  art courses for already practicing these methods but this time with more control and making detailed notes on what materials were used in an experimental sketch book. I have experimented a GREAT DEAL and new characters for books have emerged. I have not used pen and ink before and a weird looking creature came on the page that I have called Fiz and the story just flowed.

My favourite Domestika tutor advised :- Start a new sketchbook for each book and then use this as a portfolio to show to publishers at illustrator fairs. The other thing to do is to illustrate an established fairy tale.  I tried out ‘The Princess and the Pea,’  but I have also tried to do this before: I tried to illustrate ‘The Owl and the Pussycat’ in acrylic with Chris Dart as tutor.  It is one painting that I have sold which I wish I had hung onto.

I also found a publication called the ‘Association of Illustrators’ which I have not bought yet but intend to follow up.

Of course illustration is not just about illustrating books it is also about graphic art in posters and greeting cards and stationery. This worries me a bit.  I think I could give greeting cards a go and the course also covers videos which I have also dabbled with. But there is lots of reading and essays to do too.  Basically it is about finding my voice and networking with colleagues, that is greatly encouraged, so I will try not to say too much to start with.

 www.zoeainsworthgriggbooks.com


WISH ME LUCK -ZOE

Carona Virus Diary Week 7 May 6th

Week 7 of the virus has not been great.

My son in Liverpool has covid symptoms and has decided to e tested.  I have twisted my hip and I usually go to my chiropractor or have an injection of steroids in my hip but neither is available until after lockdown.  so I am limping for the rest of the duration.

I have achieved things and up until now I have enjoyed the lockdown it has given me the opportunity to get stuck into projects and I have written, published and illustrated two children's books.

Up until now I have thought that I will not go back to the lifestyle that I have had before: I am weller just pottering about he house and not doing a lot of energetic things.  I have just bought things that I need and realise I dont need a lot of the things that I buy or do.

I would like a quieter way of life but I think John would find that difficult.  He hankers for going for train rides, his cricket and going out for meals. He has to his credit embraced looking after the garden and has taken pleasure in it.  With me it is all art, art, art.

I have finished knitting the frightful frog toy for Rachel's baby when she comes.  It is so cute I should like to knit one for myself.  I used the baby soft wool in baby wool and it is very cuddly and a soft pink.  I have given it a nice little smile and it looks very welcoming and happy.  It has a big pink ribbon bow around the neck.  I am quite proud of it as I am not a natural knitter.

Today we are celebrating VE day with a party in the Close.  I have scones and jam prepared and we will take chairs, table and a cream tea onto the front drive and the neighbors are organising the music.  I have found some red, white and blue ribbon and I will decorate the front garden tree.


Behind all o this is my worry of my son and his test result.  of all the members of the family he has been most abstemious about social distancing, but the North West has been hit as hard as London.  It just shows that absolutely anyone can get it. Their two year old son is coughing too, such a worry.

Signing off.  I hope everyone is well and keeping safe please get in touch.

Corona virus week 6 April 30th

Week 6

We have rain this week after many weeks of sunshine. I am reminded of Elizabeth Bowen's prose,

'The screen of trees that reach like an arm from behind the house-embracing the lawns, banks and terraces had darkened deepening into forest. Like splintered darkness branches pierced the faltering dusk of leaves. Evening drenched the trees; the beeches were soundless cataracts.'

I loved her writing and read one of her books his week.

I am also getting on well with Rachel's baby girls cuddly toy  I am knitting furiously baby is due on my birthday May 28th.  The accompanying book is published.

My first tutorial with Falmouth is happening today.  It is as though I am establishing a new way of living, and I quite like it.

My over 55's ballet and exercise class with the Brewhouse Theatre is very enjoyable too and I have found others on YouTube.

I don't think I shall go back to how I lived before. Experimenting with the internet has given me endless possibilities and actually I see more of the family than I did before via Zoom. I do miss friends and church but that is all.  shopping used to be a pastime but honestly do I need that perhaps not. I shall just buy what I need.

I hope the environment will benefit and I am sorry for businesses that are suffering but I think it is time for society to change.

Corona Virus diary Week 5

Week 5 and it seems like an age that this new way of life happened.  I am so accustomed to the routine now that this way of life feels normal.

The weather has had a big impact.  Being able to go into the garden and enjoy the spring flowers with a glass of something has been most enjoyable.  It has almost been like having a holiday in our garden. Missing is the pool and Jacuzzi but I have plans. Gardening is no longer a chore but a pleasure and I bought a hare garden ornament which I love it is a great addition to my border.

At the same time the news out there is horrifying and we cant imagine what some people are going through either shut inside a small flat with a family or on the front line dealing with daily deaths.  We watch the news religiously to keep in touch with the other reality. And I hold them in my prayers nightly.

We are taking daily walks around the village and I know other people of our age who do not.  However my weight makes it a necessity, I need to eat less and exercise more. I also took an exercise class with Maxine at the Brewhouse Theatre and this was most enjoyable.  I had to pay but it was worth it.  the class was like a ballet training for older people and then a short choreographed dance.  It was good for my mind and body as I had to concentrate. I shall book in for next week God willing.

Now we have an established routine we are going to try to introduce some changes, like shopping at different places and going in the car a short distance for a different walk.  I shall use a mask and am going to make two myself this afternoon.

Zoom is so frustrating , we lost the internet in the middle of a zoom meeting because of an outside call coming on the landline, it took ages to sort it out.  Better luck next time I hope.

Well signing off, I went through the seat of my favorite garden chair but luckily it is very old and I have replacements in  the garden shed. one more job to do today,

Corona Virus diary Week 4

Well we are into week four and they think the number of people infected is flattening out.  Trump is being as crass as usual in America they have 30000 dead and he wants to open the country's economy as soon as possible as so do we but differently we are aware of safety.

One thing I am proud about in Britain is the joint effort made to design an alternative method of ventilator for people suffering from the virus and then to put that design out into the world for free.  This confirms what I have always thought of the British is their creative inventiveness in a time of crisis.

A hundred year old veteran Tom  Moore  has raised millions for NHS charity partly due to the air time given him by the BBC and social media. However this is what can  be done with a good idea and good publicity,

I am starting to feel institutionalized in my own home.  the highlight is to go to the food shopping once a fortnight. \I am putting on weight when one of the things I am doing is cooking a lot, keeping the calories down is a struggle. Keeping the excersise up is also a struggle.

I am tempted to laze around, the garden is lovely and the weather tempts us to sit under the trees in the shade enjoying the vista of our garden.  One of the things we found when food shopping is some plants at Sainsbury's.  We have planted some wegelia and hollyhocks and have changed around some difficult plants and replanted daisies instead if it works there should be a show in summer.

I am trying to get to grips with Zoom and have nearly mastered it. We will see next week. I think Zoom will be very useful for workers in the future but does altogether replace meeting people.  We have a routine now that on Sunday afternoons in the close of eight houses, we all sit out on our own drives with chairs and table and a glass of something and talk to one another. People come down walking to get exercise and we all obey the social distancing rules apart from our trouble maker next door.  They had a raucous family and friends party on Easter Sunday in the rear garden people arrived in cars and went in, and we were united in disapproving of him. But for me I really look forward to this Sunday afternoon, it has replaced church social.  I watched Bristol Unitarian Easter Sunday service and it was lovely and moving and I appreciated but for community I love these Sunday afternoons.

In these troubled times we dont know what the future brings and at the back of our minds there is always the fear that I or John might get the virus or one of our family.  Each week we meet up on Zoom and catch up with their difficulties.  Pray God we survive this.

Carona Virus Diary week 3-2

IS THIS A DRESS REHEARSAL?

Walking along paths devoid of human life

City skies quiet and newly welcoming to birds

Buses and trains running nearly empty across the land

Queuing politely to get food to keep us going

Whilst the internet traffic is busier than ever

And we speak with our friends and family through the cloud..

Our lives suddenly slower paced and maybe calmer

As the virus demands we give it our highest attention.

But for some trapped in small flats or waiting for emergency payments

The benefits of isolation are absent and hope scarce.

These are between times when we can choose the way forward

There is fear that some of us or our loved ones will die

Or that we will be unable to live the life we enjoyed.

And yet…..

Once the virus has departed what next?

If airlines have closed down

And our air-freighted food no longer available,

Our out-of-town car- dependent stores bankrupted

Maybe we will appreciate this time of calmer happenings 

of sitting quietly  and using time wisely

And seek  this new life..

Going to Minehead rather than the Maldives,

Getting our food from the farm gate,

Enjoying touching again those loved ones

Meeting our new grandchildren,

Walking in fresh country air,

Yes and practicing our new skills of zoom.

Enriching our earth with a re-learned simplicity

Not overfilling  the pockets of those with too much

But sharing the God-given fruits of the earth

As we were meant to do.

Is this enforced reduction in activity

A dress rehearsal for life as it will be?

Let us hope we learn the lesson the universe is teaching us.

contributions from my husband;  John Ainsworth

Corona Virus diary April 10th

Nearly 10000 dead.  We are now into week three. It is beautiful weather and tempting to go to s beauty spot I am sure many people will disobey the directive of lock down and go out. Even if it is at night.

It does feel like a war situation, there are many similarities

• There is an unseen enemy
• Instead of soldiers on the front line dieing to protect us instead it is NHS staff and like WW1 they are very unprepared in terms of uniforms and artillery to ward off this virus.
• At the moment it seems to promote a community feeling and we are all urged to clap the NHS and care workers on Thursday at 8,00 pm.

My son Nigel and his family have the worse scenario in that he is a university professor and the Universities are struggling to survive. As well he has no child care for a two year old.  His wife is an Assistant Professor and they are working twelve hours in two hour shifts, taking turns between working from home and childcare. Tim is OK he has signed on and that is enough money to keep him solvent.  Liz, Richay, Linton, Joshua, are all struggling together but surviving just.  John and I are OK except I have a touch of acid reflux and need to chat to a doctor about it because it recurs.

I have been making curtains, zooming, and watercolour painting.  Next week I have planned to experiment with Pro Create and take notes for the future. I have photographed the garden as it is really beautiful and full of spring blooms. I plan to use some of these photos on Pro Create.

Our downside is we have moles in the garden and slow worms caught by next door's cat.  Apparently moles do not like moth balls so ordered some from Amazon.

We are only on Week 3 there are 9 more weeks to go at least. It seems like a lifetime already.  Our lives are changing.

Carona Virus Introduction

First Week

Well we knew that the virus was coming to the Uk but the speed with which it overtook us was surprising to say the least.
First of all we had to stay six feet away from each other, we were allowed to visit family and walk outside.
Then after months of rain and flooding we had the first day of spring and lovely sunshine.  We went to Hestercombe Gardens.

 there were about a dozen people and we had no trouble keeping a large distance from each other. Hestercombe was doing takaway sandwiches and I had a lovely prawn sandwich sitting overlooking the fields toward Taunton and the Blackdown hills.



But other people headed for the beach and local beauty spots and gathered in crowds.  this forced the government to bring in more regulations. suddenly we had lock down all food cafes were asked to close.  My family found their jobs furloughed and no money coming in until they had claimed the 80 per cent.  First son and second son were working from home via the computer.

Things got worse we went from hundreds of deaths to thousands of deaths and London and Midlands most effected.  Italy and Spain very bad indeed.

Next cam total lock down all shops closed.  It happened so quickly.

We adjusted to using the internet to keep in touch.  My contemporaries who had been so proud that they didn't believe in social media and used old computer technology were left isolated. We had to learn Zoom, Messanger Whats App Google Geo for different friends.

We set up weekly get togethers and sorted out all the jobs we were meaning to do and hadn't got around to. So we were busy.  John gardened and the garden looked lovely.  I didn't have a cleaner anymore so arranged a cleaning routine with JOhn he vacuumed and I did the rest.

Slots for home deliveries were like gold, w shopped at the smaller venues and were OK.  I got a 24 pack of toilet rolls and felt like I  had won the lottery.

It was daunting to think of twelve weeks. I enjoyed having my husband at home. Applied to do an MA in illustration at Falmouth and was accepted starting in May 24th.

Carona Virus diary April 3

I have decided to write a diary of these unprecedented times.

Week one

We started by having a zoom creative writing session for U3A.  We were all tired pat and bobMabberley were present so I decided we would talk about our bucket list.

Me

• skinny dipping
• getting a book published by a publisher
• having a party in August to celebrate our twentieth anniversary.
• dont die
• win a premium bond - no luck this month
• be happy with things as they are reduce anxiety
• give myself a facial
• join the campaign not to buy any clothes for one year.

I took possession of my new ipad pro and downloaded proreate and have been experimenting ever since.  I saw on the news David Hockneys attempts on his ipad and inspired I painted my glorious plum tree in the garden

Plum tree

On Thursday we watched 'one Man Two Governors'  It really changed our mood and it was great to watch something other than films and television. I will send ten pounds to the National Theatre musk loved by me. We broke off at eight to clap the NHS and had two words with Sharon next door she has been a nurse for 38 years and is a midwife.

Today we had an hour conversation with Liz Osborne and Jeanette, and was told all about rat catching by the rat man. It is good to see other faces.

Tim  is not good he has lost his job because he is on a contract and self employed and the job he was doing is furloughed.  We hoped to see him today but perhaps tomorrow.

Just had word to zoom our american friends.

Cleaning tomorrow and film night.  John to walk to Rumwells for fresh veg.  Steak and chips and wine for me.

Incredibly this is only week 2 of lock-down.  The PM does not look well, worse than Prince Charles I would say. Lets hope they both recover.

signing off will attend UU American service on sunday and have silence with John.

Zoe AinsworthGrigg