The Sea Rabbits - III

The Sea Rabbits - II

The Sea Rabbits - I

Amelia's Magazine 10th Anniversary limited edition book

Please pinch me! I have been told by none other than Amelia Gregory herself that my illustration At the Root of The Stars will be included in the Amelia's Magazine 10th anniversary limited edition book! Now is the time to be woken up by the alarm clock or to be given a slap in the face after my passing out - I passed out after drinking too much cinnamon tea, obviously, it cannot be true. I will try to keep my composure while I'm writing this post, so that you do not start thinking I have gone completely mad.

This is such a great opportunity that is presented to me, and such a privilege. It is bliss to have my work shown among those of artists I revere, and to be involved in a project that is unhoped-for for an illustrator and book lover as myself: have my work published in a book, an actual one made of paper - a book you can actually put on a shelf and show off ad nauseam.

Less than a month ago Amelia Gregory offered artists and writers to take part in an open brief on the theme of 'That Which We Do Not Understand' to celebrate the ten years of Amelia's Magazine in due form.

On this occasion she decided to put the magazine back into print by releasing a special issue, a limited edition book! One that "will feature specialist gold spot printing on beautiful paper with great binding and a special gold foiled celebration cover". This is such a relief to still find people dedicated to the Art of book printing in our digitalized world.

I am excited about this project and hope it will eventually take shape. The contributors have been very inspired I must say, how beautiful the artworks are so far! Well it is not surprising with such a theme! If you are curious to have a peek at the other submissions, here is a list for you:

Science and Magic by Anna Jane Searle, The Empress by Daria Hlazatova, Mater Gaia by Niall Grant, Shamaness by Essi Kimpimäki, Dark Matter by Liv Bargman, Crystal Girl by Fay Brown, Moon Rabbits by Carly Watts, Wormholes by Adam Corn, Rhiannon beneath her castle by Sarah Tanat Jones, Crystals by Lindsay Lombard, Marie Laveau by Sophie Illustrates, Modern Witchcraft by Maia Fjord, Danse Macabre by Yelena Bryksenkova, and many many many more!

We need your help! A KICKSTARTER campaign has been launched in order to fund the publishing of the book. Please pledge and spread the word. There are rewards for those who get involved on kickstarter ;)

If you have not read my previous post yet, you will find below my attempt at explaining my piece 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 corn. There are references made to the spinning wheel, the idea of weaving, spinning - a beautiful allegory for storytelling.

At the Root of the Stars

My submission for the Amelia's Magazine 10th Anniversary open brief, 'That Which We Do Not Understand', is at last finished and is entitled At The Root Of The Stars. Fingers crossed.

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 corn. There are references made to the spinning wheel, the idea of weaving, spinning - a beautiful allegory 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.

An addendum to the post 'The legend about Kościół Mariacki's towers'

You may remember the post The legend about Kościół Mariacki's towers, or not - then read it, I promise it is enthralling. Towards the end of the last paragraph there is written "he was standing by the window and shouted outloud that he was the murderer, showing the knife which he had used to kill his brother. Then, he used the very same knife to stab himself [...]". Well, for those who are still sceptical, let me show you the murder weapon. I have made you gasp, haven't I? Do you believe me now? ;)

It is said that following the terrible events the decision was made to hang the knife up on the walls of the Cloth Hall (Sukiennice) for everyone to see. Still today, you can spot it on the left field of the Cloth hall facing the church.

The legend about Kościół Mariacki's towers

While I was in Poland, I bought a staggering book of legends from Krakow. If you happen to have read my post 'Climax', just forget about it! I found out the 'true' legend behind Kościół Mariacki's towers, written by Józef Mączyński in his book Pamiątka z Krakowa (Souvenir from Krakow), published in 1845. I do not know exactly if he had just collected the legend or if he had made up the story from beginning to end - does it matter? I find it captivating.

There were to be two architect brothers; they planned that each one of them would build one of the two towers - the two towers were expected to be exactly the same and to stand for their brotherly love and consensus. But, as they started working on the plans, no agreement could be made; the eldest brother would not build according to his younger brother's plans, as the latter wanted a very high tower on foundations that were not solid at all. Thus, it was decided that each brother would build his tower according to his own plans. When the younger brother started to erect his own tower, he saw that his elder brother's tower would be higher than his. His pride could not bear that humiliation, and it made him think that the death of his elder brother would stop any further building, and thus his tower would come to be the tallest one - this is what happened when he stabbed his elder brother. No one could find the murderer, but the younger brother's conscience gave him away; when people gathered to see his tower after its building had been finished, he was standing by the window and shouted outloud that he was the murderer, showing the knife which he had used to kill his brother. Then, he used the very same knife to stab himself, and threw himself out of the window.

See addendum.

Światowid - Zbruch Idol

Climax

For those who have been strolling around my blog for a while, they know I have posted here and there - in a disparate way - lots of pictures from Poland, without really telling about my stay there and the wondrous discoveries I made. As I am going tomorrow to Poland, I have decided to write a proper post worthy of the name. Indeed, I am obsessed about that country - I won't deny it - and get outraged at seeing its treasures left neglected because they are not profitable for those idiotic bureaucrats. Poland is a magnificent country. What you see below is Kościół Mariacki in Krakow. I was told a fascinating story about its building.

Once, two brothers made a bet. Each of the two said he would come first to build the highest tower possible. Well then, that is how the race began between them. The base of the towers was the same, but as the brothers advanced, the perfect symmetry was seen no more. The brother who was building the tower on the right, endeavoured to catch his brother up in the race, and failed when he fell off the tower and died.

The beauty of Krakow is enthralling, it is a very interesting place to visit. Here some pictures to have a fleeting moment of marvel, and make you want to go there.

Orange Tree

L'oranger est symbole d’amour et de chance. Il est dit qu'orner la robe de fleurs d'oranger ou les intégrer au bouquet, présage le meilleur pour la (future/jeune) mariée.

The Orange tree stands for love and luck. If the dress of the bride/bride-to-be is adorned with orange blossoms or if the bridal bouquet is assembled with the latter, it foretells a very good omen for the bride/bride-to-be.

(To me the good omen would be her husband being crushed to death by a rock. I love grim humour.)

A wonderful custom in the Tatras

When you go hiking in the mountains for several days, you do not see very often a lot of people on the way. However, when you encounter someone on a mountain path, custom has it that you say hello.

The Tatras

It was said once in Poland that if someone wandered about in the Tatra Mountains, he had to be careful when after he had climbed up a mountain he came up to some clouds.

If he stood facing them and he saw* for the third time – it did not have to be necessarily the third consecutive time – his shadow on a cloud (the shadow being casted by the sun behind the person), he would eventually die.

*I lay stress on the fact that the tale is not about someone who would be 'spaced out' and who would hallucinate.

That tale is so thrilling! When I go to the Tatras, I will have to keep in mind not to encounter any cloud.

Tales From Far-Off Poland

I have been preparing myself a little since the beginning of July for my trip to Poland (yepi yeah) in about a week and I have just found out some new old tales from there. Here are some delightful ones.

Mistletoe

Two young lovers could not kiss each other unless they were married, as it was considered a sin to do so out of wedlock, except if the two lovers found themselves under a mistletoe.

Broom

People did not let anybody sweeping round them as it was said that they would never become rich or that they would lose all their wealth.

Fairy Tale

A few weeks ago, I had an exam where I had to write a story that would end by the following sentence : "if you run after two hares, you will catch neither". A weird exercise but it was fun to do it! Here my fairy tale.



Once upon a time, far off the land, lived in a remote castle a princess named Alice. She was a spoiled girl who could have whatever she wanted – thus she had never had to choose. When she was given the choice to have either a black horse or a white one, she took them both.

Her mother Queen Ann was obsessed with finding her a husband who would be the next king when she and her husband King George would pass away – they were very old.

The King was said to be an odd person. He had never said a word of all his life. Some said he was dumb and others said his tongue had been cut some day during a battle. But it was not true. Actually, King George was not timorous, he had always thought that the world was full of people who did not listen to what others said and that it was a waste of time to open his mouth and utter words that no one would listen or understand as it was too difficult – the king was very intelligent, too intelligent maybe. The forest and its animals was his favourite place in the kingdom – that was why he spent his spare time hunting.

One day, Queen Ann decided to organize a ball where all the young men of the realm would be invited. Thus Alice would choose – at last – her husband. So the next evening, all the men arrived at the castle. It had been a hard night for Alice as it was the first time in all her life that she had to make a decision – as in the kingdom the Queen was not given the right to have several husbands.

She had been thinking for several hours when she eventually chose two young men. But it was too hard, she could not decide which one she would marry. Both were handsome, nice, they had beautiful hair – and the most important for Alice, they were both very wealthy, thus they would give her whatever she wanted. The dawn was going to break and Alice still had not made a decision. Her mother could not bear it no more and called for the King to come. The latter arrived and sat. Alice had to wait for a long time before her father looked at her and eventually said : “Dear Alice, if you run after two hares, you will catch neither”.

The Raven and The Fox

Perch'd on a lofty oak,

Sir Raven held a lunch of cheese;

Sir Fox, who smelt it in the breeze,

Thus to the holder spoke:─

"Ha! how do you do, Sir Raven?

Well, your coat, sir, is a brave one!

So black and glossy, on my word, sir,

With voice to match, you were a bird, sir,

Well fit to be the Phoenix of these days."

Sir Raven, overset with praise,

Must show how musical his croak.

Down fell the luncheon from the oak;

Which snatching up, Sir Fox thus spoke:─

"The flatterer, my good sir,

Aye liveth on his listener;

Which lesson, if you please,

Is doubtless worth the cheese."

A bit too late, Sir Raven swore

The rogue should never cheat him more.



Jean de La Fontaine





Maître Corbeau, sur un arbre perché,

Tenait en son bec un fromage.

Maître Renard, par l'odeur alléché,

Lui tint à peu près ce langage :

"Hé ! bonjour, Monsieur du Corbeau.

Que vous êtes joli ! que vous me semblez beau !

Sans mentir, si votre ramage

Se rapporte à votre plumage,

Vous êtes le Phénix des hôtes de ces bois. "

A ces mots le Corbeau ne se sent pas de joie ;

Et pour montrer sa belle voix,

Il ouvre un large bec, laisse tomber sa proie.

Le Renard s'en saisit, et dit : "Mon bon Monsieur,

Apprenez que tout flatteur

Vit aux dépens de celui qui l'écoute :

Cette leçon vaut bien un fromage, sans doute. "

Le Corbeau, honteux et confus,

Jura, mais un peu tard, qu'on ne l'y prendrait plus.



Jean de La Fontaine

A New Hat

Mazie has decided to start a trend. She has made a new hat for herself! Why? She does not want to be left on the shelf! So beautiful hat she does have! It looks like a bat! Oh No! It looks like the head of her late dog Ed!

All Saints' Day

On All Saints' Day - at the end of October - people go to the cemetery as you know. If you go to Poland to see their wonderful cemeteries, you will see that on every grave of the cemetery there is a candle. At night it is so beautiful to see a lit cemetery and it is so warm when there are lots of candles. But why people do light a candle? Dead people are said to find their way when they get lost thanks to that candle. They do not get lost in the darkness. Candles are to be found on the graves throughout the year, not only on All Saint's Day. What an amazing custom it is!

In Ukraine I heard that people share their food with the dead, they do eat 'with them' on the grave.

Do not eat me please!

This is a story about Katy Stripescat. Guess what she got for last Christmas – An enormous pink dog! Firstly, she hates pink as it makes her fill sick. Secondly, this dog is far too big for her! And the distant cousin who gave her that present knew those two information. It has been a year that Katy Stripescat does her best not to be eaten by Doublegreenmole – this is how she named her dog. Good luck Katy Stripescat! I hope you will get a smaller present for next Christmas. :)

A tree with a scarf

Yes, this is queer actually! A few months ago, there was a small storm in our neighborhood - it was a bit frightening. The day after, my mum was looking for her scarf in the kitchen - the one she left on the ironing board next to the window. She could not find it and thought we had done something with it. When I walked the dog a few days later, I noticed something weird in one of the trees of the neighborhood: something green and red. To my great surprise, I realized it was my mum’s scarf! I can’t understand how the scarf found itself in a tree. Our window in the kitchen is very small and the scarf was far away from the window. It must have been a strong storm! The scarf is on the top of a very very tall tree, I do not know how we are going to do to get it back. I do not think the firemen will bother helping us - this is not a cat.

About my Small trip to Krakow

I forgot to tell you something in my last message about my trip to Krakow. Every year in Krakow, in Summer, on June 24th, there is a celebration - called Wianki - that dates back to the pre-Christian era. This celebration commemorates the sacrifice of Princess Wanda. Actually, she threw herself off the great wall of Wawel Castle into the river (Wisla). Why? Because she preferred to kill herself than to get married to a German king. I think I would have done the same...