In the beginning (of this story) ...

Sketches by Karen Curran

Stories are important to all of us for they are part of the fabric of each and every person. We love to hear stories of other people’s adventures, and we make up stories of our own. Sometimes those stories are unhelpful ones - like unhelpful beliefs about ourselves. Sometimes those stories have been made as a form of Protection. Or unfortunately became so embedded within us that we can forget who we really are.And other stories are cultural like stories of the dreamtime, or stories from folklore or from family, passed down the generations.

Stories are also important to share with children and young people. Reading together is not just a skill - it builds connection, thereby building relationships.Watching a movie with a story that we can discuss afterwards as adults or teens can be very fulfilling as the soul longs for connection to share and understand, and to be understood.

In the beginning (of this story) …The sketches above are the first in preparation for a book I am writing and illustrating of my own. They have been created over the past couple of weeks.

The story includes themes around acceptance, fears, and metamorphosis to something new or wonderful. My sketches are either in Lumograph pencils, or direct in watercolour using a needle-pointed brush. They are preparation, and the book illustrations will be more developed.

Even though I am adept with digital tools - like a pen and iPad and the Adobe Suite of products - my preference is for traditional methods. I love the tactile feel of using pencils, paints and so on. And the more technology increases, the more the importance of using tactile tools to create.

And decades ago, in the mid seventies, my initial training and work was in commercial art where everything was created by hand, photographed, deep etched and placed with galleys of type onto the pages for print. Typography and Photo-lettering were an art in themselves.

I will share more as my project evolves.

For now, I leave you with a mind image of a little elephant on its back, waving its legs happily in the air watching the cloud shapes and imagining ...

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REFLECTION: I wonder what you would imagine doing the same thing? What would you see? Warm wishes,

Karen Curran Copyright

Elephant sketches by Karen Curran