Once, upon a winter

A ghostly tale ❄️

Dec 24, 2023

❄️ ❄️ ❄️ Thank you, thank you for reading along this year! Whether you have commented, liked, subscribed, shared or followed along quietly - I am so happy you are here! Big hugs! See you again in 2024, my friend! ❄️ ❄️ ❄️

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The following nonsense came about because of a challenge from Orange Beak Studio. This is a revised version of the story from my instagram.

Collage and dramatic angles were my main aim. I took composition ideas from The Cabinet of Dr Caligari and dialogue ideas from Wuthering Heights, sometimes directly. I was also watching Bodies on Netflix and was quite captivated by Stephen Graham’s victorian gentleman 🎩

So, here we go . . .

Gothic castle in snowy mountainous landscape. Illustration in collage and watercolour

Dash it all! I neither expect nor wish a guest!

A man leans out of tall open front door to see a small floating plant like creature in the snow. Illustration in collage and watercolour

This rootless weed would squeal all night and so...

Victorian gentleman walking through snow carrying plant like creature, casting a long shadow

we search for the dismal sapling's home. I wish him gone from me.

A large key in the foreground. Victorian gentleman and plant creature look at it in surprise. Snow is falling

Will this help us? And beyond, what strange vision?

Victorian gentleman and plant creature climb a steep rocky snowy hill towards a glasshouse. Illustration in collage and watercolour

Now I can be done with this infernal shrub!

Close up view of plant creature over the man's shoulder. Heavy snow falling.

Man and creature look up in despair at looming palm trees inside a glasshouse. Outside a tiny comet can be seen in the sky. Illustration in ink and watercolour

I cannot leave him here anymore than I can leave my heart

Close up on comet seen through glasshouse

Victorian gentleman looks up into sky smiling. The comet is revealed to a be a spacecraft carrying the plant creature and another creature the same, away into space

For I have learned his true heart and he has shown me mine!

Snow filled landscape. in top corner, Victorian gentleman holds up a candle and stares up in to the sky. Illustration in collage and watercolour

❄️ ❄️ ❄️ There’ll be more pencil history, sketchbook stuff and book illustrating chat in 2024. Have a wonderful festive break! ❄️ ❄️ ❄️

Thank you for reading Secret Sketchbook this year. If you fancy, please do like, share, subscribe or comment

All my posts are remaining free and open for the foreseeable future! If you fancy getting me a cuppa tea that would be amazing! Totally up to you, we’ll still be friends!

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Kopfkino

Jan 9, 2024

Well, this fantastic ‘nonsense’! I had not seen thoses images on instagram and I absolutely love them! ❄️😍❄️

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1 reply by Nanette Regan

Susannah Elizabeth

LOVED seeing these on Instagram and then together here. They really achieve a great sense of depth and scale via excellent and efficient use of contrast. Thanks for the inspiration and insights this year. This is such a great Substack . X

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Once, upon a winter

A ghostly tale ❄️

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