Those are beautiful books to work on! And I love seeing your planning and process for how you do these paintings. Fascinating. I can't wait to see what they look like.
Thanks James. I agree, they are beautiful editions and I am looking forward to taking this from planning to execution. Glad to hear you enjoy a bit of the 'behind the scenes' process. Artists' process are really interesting to me, hence why I share mine in hopes that someone else will also enjoy it...or hopefully be inspired to try something similar. :)
Wow, those designs look incredible (and it's exciting to see how you've progressed to more ambitious projects over time)! I'm interested to see how they turn out. I've also never heard of Our Mutual Friend and thought at first you were referring to someone you didn't want to name. I'm not entirely sold on Dickens, but I guess I might have to check that one out. What do you enjoy about his works?
A Tale of Two Cities was my entry point into Dickens' longer novels (and I absolutely adored it), but my sister also really loves Great Expectations & The Old Curiosity Shop...so you might consider checking out either of those if you haven't already? There is so much to love about Dickens -- the detailed portraits of the Victorian era that can only belong to someone who lived in that time; the lively caricatures and witticisms of his hilarious side characters; the far-reaching story arcs; his passion for social justice; his criticisms of the corrupt, misguided, or completely inefficient government, legal, and fiscal institutions of the time...and above all the universality of his characters and their emotions: their toils, joys, loves, and heartaches...humans truly don't change, and Dickens is all about the small, everyday heroes fighting their way through the cogs of the big system. He's an author to be luxuriously enjoyed, not hurried, and I think a true genius for the ages.
Thanks for the detailed explanation! I’ve read Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, and A Christmas Carol (all for school-related things, though, which might have influenced the indifference)…but have never met anyone who genuinely enjoyed Dickens! You make his writing sound lively and interesting. I might try A Tale of Two Cities.
Being forced to read him for school stuff could lessen one’s enjoyment for sure… I’ve not really heard of many people who read Dickens in school have much memory of his stuff! I hope you pick up A Tale of Two Cities and give it a go, it’s set during the French Revolution and though it takes a little while to pick up, it’s a really moving and emotional read and goes like a rocket in the second half as the foreshadowing starts to pay off.
I feel ambitious but very excited about it! Hehe, I'm glad you agree -- A Tale of Two Cities was the first Dickens' novel that I read, and so it remains a dear favourite, but Our Mutual Friend absolutely knocked my socks off, a genius piece of literature.
I know, those last few pages just cut through to the soul every time...! There's also that greatly moving chapter where Carton visits Lucie and says, "I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul. ... Think now and then that there is a man who would give his life, to keep a life you love beside you."
I love the locket idea. These are going to be beautiful. I can't wait to see them 😊
I hope so! They will certainly be challenges, but I am looking forward to stepping out of my comfort zone to create something beautiful.
Those are beautiful books to work on! And I love seeing your planning and process for how you do these paintings. Fascinating. I can't wait to see what they look like.
Thanks James. I agree, they are beautiful editions and I am looking forward to taking this from planning to execution. Glad to hear you enjoy a bit of the 'behind the scenes' process. Artists' process are really interesting to me, hence why I share mine in hopes that someone else will also enjoy it...or hopefully be inspired to try something similar. :)
Wow, those designs look incredible (and it's exciting to see how you've progressed to more ambitious projects over time)! I'm interested to see how they turn out. I've also never heard of Our Mutual Friend and thought at first you were referring to someone you didn't want to name. I'm not entirely sold on Dickens, but I guess I might have to check that one out. What do you enjoy about his works?
A Tale of Two Cities was my entry point into Dickens' longer novels (and I absolutely adored it), but my sister also really loves Great Expectations & The Old Curiosity Shop...so you might consider checking out either of those if you haven't already? There is so much to love about Dickens -- the detailed portraits of the Victorian era that can only belong to someone who lived in that time; the lively caricatures and witticisms of his hilarious side characters; the far-reaching story arcs; his passion for social justice; his criticisms of the corrupt, misguided, or completely inefficient government, legal, and fiscal institutions of the time...and above all the universality of his characters and their emotions: their toils, joys, loves, and heartaches...humans truly don't change, and Dickens is all about the small, everyday heroes fighting their way through the cogs of the big system. He's an author to be luxuriously enjoyed, not hurried, and I think a true genius for the ages.
Thanks for the detailed explanation! I’ve read Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, and A Christmas Carol (all for school-related things, though, which might have influenced the indifference)…but have never met anyone who genuinely enjoyed Dickens! You make his writing sound lively and interesting. I might try A Tale of Two Cities.
Being forced to read him for school stuff could lessen one’s enjoyment for sure… I’ve not really heard of many people who read Dickens in school have much memory of his stuff! I hope you pick up A Tale of Two Cities and give it a go, it’s set during the French Revolution and though it takes a little while to pick up, it’s a really moving and emotional read and goes like a rocket in the second half as the foreshadowing starts to pay off.
So keen to see how this turns out! And I agree, Our Mutual Friend is hands down my favourite Dickens 😍
I feel ambitious but very excited about it! Hehe, I'm glad you agree -- A Tale of Two Cities was the first Dickens' novel that I read, and so it remains a dear favourite, but Our Mutual Friend absolutely knocked my socks off, a genius piece of literature.
A Tale of Two Cities is a close second...one of the only books I've ever cried while reading. Sometimes I'll open it just to read the last few pages 😭
I know, those last few pages just cut through to the soul every time...! There's also that greatly moving chapter where Carton visits Lucie and says, "I wish you to know that you have been the last dream of my soul. ... Think now and then that there is a man who would give his life, to keep a life you love beside you."
💔