'Oestrodolls: Braido, Habetrot, Mother Night, Cattern and Lilith' 2023, with 'OestroGel Diary' 2023 in the background
Two new and inter-related projects about hormones and archetypes. These witch dolls are constructed around empty Oestrogel bottles, which are a biohazard if improperly discarded. Each doll represents a mythical or historical female character, so I might make a book about them. The method of making depends on the character and on what materials I have available. I am trying to use up my existing art supplies before buying anything new. I am making 28 dolls at this size, and then I'll see where they take me. (The 'OestroGel Diary' collage project also has links with the Medicated Bodies theme.)
Two new and inter-related projects about hormones and archetypes. These witch dolls are constructed around empty Oestrogel bottles, which are a biohazard if improperly discarded. Each doll represents a mythical or historical female character, so I might make a book about them. The method of making depends on the character and on what materials I have available. I am trying to use up my existing art supplies before buying anything new. I am making 28 dolls at this size, and then I'll see where they take me. (The 'OestroGel Diary' collage project also has links with the Medicated Bodies theme.)
'Taweret' WIP 2023 (Oestrogel bottle, cotton duck, Modroc, acrylic paint, metallic paste, poppy seeds)
An Egyptian hippopotamus goddess doll, photographed midway through gilding. One of Taweret's roles was to look after women during childbirth, so her headpiece is filled with poppy seeds for pain relief. This is a close-up, in real life she is about 22cm tall.
An Egyptian hippopotamus goddess doll, photographed midway through gilding. One of Taweret's roles was to look after women during childbirth, so her headpiece is filled with poppy seeds for pain relief. This is a close-up, in real life she is about 22cm tall.
'Carcass' has been WIP since 2017 and an earlier version was exhibited in 2018. It started out in the mould I used for some earlier resin pieces, and then when it was solid enough it became freeform. It is built of layers of different kinds of paper-based personal documentation, collaged over each other with wallpaper paste. This version has a top layer of the Post-it notes I used to record my body composition from 2015 to 2018, a habit I started in my bodybuilding era. The work will be finished when it is 163cm long (my height) and the final layers will be made of the list of its contents. It is an archive that keeps the layers of my history safe, and that would be destroyed by any efforts to access it. The construction process is meditative and soothing, although it seems never ending. It is a burden I will gladly put down.
'Carcass' is part of a much larger ongoing project called 'Seven Sisters', which will have a webpage of its own later this year.
'Carcass' is part of a much larger ongoing project called 'Seven Sisters', which will have a webpage of its own later this year.
This is a panel from my graphic memoir 'All the Dead Dogs', started in 2018 and progressing rather slowly. It's a family history focusing on the periods when we had dogs (and one cat), narrated from the point of view of myself at the time (or as close as I can get to those memories).
I restarted it in 2020, when I was properly recovered from neck surgery and could draw small again. I have two zine issues completed, out of a planned 16, and then I will collect them into a graphic novel (probably in around 2028 unless I speed up). I love planning the layouts and making the drawings, but the storyline is occasionally challenging.
I restarted it in 2020, when I was properly recovered from neck surgery and could draw small again. I have two zine issues completed, out of a planned 16, and then I will collect them into a graphic novel (probably in around 2028 unless I speed up). I love planning the layouts and making the drawings, but the storyline is occasionally challenging.