Tuesday 2 February 2016

Tatterdemalion


OVER THE YEARS OF BEING AN ARTIST, I have come to think of and describe my paintings as Waymarkers to the Otherworlds, as gateways, portals, signposts to take you through to those Other places, those worlds just beyond this one: behind, or beside or underneath our every day. There are many ways through, of course, and many different destinations, too, which all depend on the traveller and their particular way of reading the sign. 


As the signmaker, I don't usually have any idea (or control over) where my paintings take people, or what happens when they get there. But four years ago, one traveller to these otherworlds followed my painted signposts and came back with her story. 

Sylvia Linsteadt, as many of you know, is a writer of great talent, who has an incredible ability to conjure the beautiful and uncanny and barely-seen wild worlds which shiver at the periphery of our perception. Four years ago she began writing the stories of the worlds my paintings took her to, and when she sent them to me, I was blown away. Her work is lyrical and profound, folkloric and unique, and for me, these stories were so moving to read - so familiar and yet so new. We knew we had to make a book.


These past years have seen these stories grow and enmesh and they have become what we are calling a post-apocalyptic mosaic folktale. A back-to front book which began with the illustrations, a tale of wheeled and raggedy folk, of edge-dwellers and shape-shifters, itinerants and wild ones, and their imagined futures in a world after the breaking we are currently living through.

 

A perfect meeting of arts and souls, and a book born of it on this day of new beginnings. Sylvia and I met at last in the flesh last October; she came from her native Northern California (where the book is set), to visit us and stomp the tors and woods and Dartmoor's bronze age relics with us, to share our hearth and breathe these winds for a while. It was a wonderful meeting, which seemed to have happened long ago already.

 
And while she was here, our book was taken up by a publisher. Unbound is a publisher very suited to this tale: it is liminal and powered by its readers, it is back to front and supportive of the unusual. Which means that this book cannot be without you! To preorder your copy and find your way to this utterly wonderful, strange and necessary Otherworld - bejewelled and ragged, rooted and sung - click on the image below! 
Bring Tatterdemalion into the world!


https://unbound.co.uk/books/tatterdemalion

16 comments:

Anita said...

Beautiful post and blog!

nofixedstars said...

what a joy this will be!

Kate said...

Oh YES!

Anonymous said...

I must confess, I can hardly wait for this inspired creation to be published~ I cannot think of a better combination of story and image. I love it already.

Ms. said...

I've been following alonf for several years now and seeing you again is a joy. I will contact you by email about purchasing the book. Meanwhile BIG love.

Ms. said...

Sorry--suddenly mail is asking my password and I can't recall it. It was okay through September 2015 don't know what happened but I upgraded my browser. So please email me at chenrezigs@gmail.com--need to know if the pledge of 20 is pounds or euros and could anyone tell me dollar amount AND I can only send a check or money order - no finances on the internet, no credit debit or pay pal either.

widdershins said...

What a wonderful voice this storyteller has. :)

suzi.crockford said...

Cor, this is nearly as exciting as Sometimes A Wild God!!! Well done lovely. x

susan hemann said...

can hardly wait to see your drawings and to read the book!

mab said...

Ordered and soooooo excited x

Trace Willans said...

Oh how wonderful this looks. I must say a set of Oracle Cards based on the Characters in the book would be amazing.

lesizmo said...

I saw this little stop-action fairy tale produced in Estonia and thought of you. I hope you enjoy it! (This is not spam!) https://vimeo.com/89515712

jess said...

I'm so glad I found your blog again. Your art and your words are real alchemy. I look forward to getting my hands on this book. <3

Unknown said...

Your work is indeed a gateway to the otherworld. I have your picture "singing to the trees" here, and have always enjoyed your presence at weird and wonderful wood. Your blog and posts are truly magical.

Saskia said...

looking forward to reading the book

Kra'air said...

Such amazing work. A friend donated and we are reading the book aloud to each other. At then end of St. Margaret 's chapter I was overwhelmed with joy and sadness and just cried for a time. Your pictures and story are affecting me deeply. Thank you for sharing this amazing work with the world.