Kissing In Art And Illustration
And it seemed to her that kisses, voices, tinkling spoons, laughter, the smell of crushed grass were somehow inside her. Katherine Mansfield A kiss on the forehead-erases misery.I kiss your forehead. A kiss on the eyes-lifts sleeplessness. I kiss your eyes. A kiss on the lips-is a drink of water. I kiss your lips. A […]
Wet, Rainy Streets In Art And Illustration
How do artists convey wet streets in art? What kind of brush strokes do they use? Colours?
Arnold Lobel’s Frog and Toad: A Case Study In Kindness
Conflict, conflict, conflict. Writers seeking storytelling advice are constantly bombarded with the message: Every story needs conflict; nay, every scene! But is this really true? When advice-givers say ‘conflict’, what are they really talking about? Successful stories don’t need conflict… if conflict means arguing, wrestling and wishing each other dead. Stories need opponents. Here’s the…
Young Men Picking Up Their Dates
The header illustration was for the cover of a 1956 edition of the Saturday Evening Post.
The Phantasia Spectrum And What It Means For Writers
When reading a book, do you ‘see’ scenery in your imagination? If so, you are a phantasic person. Most people have minds which do this, which makes you one of the majority.
Carnivalesque Plot Type: Visitors Who Outstay Their Welcome
Something feels different about some stories made for children. Not all of them. Just some. Take The Cat In The Hat or The Tiger Who Came To Tea. It’s not easy to find stories for adults with a similar blueprint. In these children’s stories, a visitor arrives in a child’s house and makes merry mischief. The child has heaps of fun. Then, after a surprising climax, the visitor leaves. The child’s world returns to normality and safety.
What happens in Hunted Down by Charles Dickens?
“Hunted Down” was published in instalments across 1859-60, almost 20 years after Poe’s well-known detective story which kicked the genre off.
The Power of the Dog: How Did Phil Die? and Other Questions
The Power of the Dog is a 2021 film directed by Jane Campion, based on the same-named 1967 novel by Thomas Savage. Like a lyrical short story, this film is designed for a repeat viewing.
Artificial Intelligence: Illustrations of Venice
When you think of Venice, you may imagine a certain colour palette. But take a look at the illustrations and paintings below and it becomes clear: There’s no such thing as a ‘Venice palette’. It’s entirely possible to depict Venice as ominous and sinister, as well as beautiful.
AI Generated Art: Computer Paints Various Still Life
Artificial intelligence generators don’t do well with faces. They can do very well with landscapes. But what about still life?
The Lost Daughter: Why does Leda steal the doll?
The Lost Daughter is a 2021 film directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, based on the novel by Italian writer Elena Ferrante (2015). This is Gyllenhaal’s debut as feature-length film director. I look forward to seeing what she does next.
Compositions With Strong Vertical Divisions
Header painting: William Merritt Chase. May I Come In, 1883, pastel