"I have always preferred the reflection of life to life itself." - Truffaut

(I know its sort of terrible that I'm using watercolours on printer paper, sorry if anyone feels offended by this...but when it comes to experimenting and playing, I don't feel so precious if I use cheap materials. Drawing tools should always be good quality though - gilot mapping pens are delicious, but leaky biros and blunt pencils are going to make you feel like you can't draw)

Sleepy cat

A sleepy cat linoprint/painting I made for Mother's Day. Our cat Hebe loves cardboard and will often attempt to curl up to sleep in the tiniest spaces possible, including easter egg boxes.

Making Space at Expresso Cafe, Norwich

Yesterday we set up our new exhibition at Expresso Cafe, and luckily for us everything went smoothly. Rob and Rosie from MakingSpace were wonderfully helpful in organising the whole thing and assisting everyone with hanging their work.

I made 5 pieces, a series of ink and gesso drawings on the life of Mata Hari.

(the last image in the series, pictured above, is also featured on Tate and Creative Review's Blast/Bless blog)

Mata Hari

I'm working on a set of 5 paintings relating to the life of Mata Hari - a Dutch exotic dancer who pretended to be a Java princess, and who was executed by a French firing squad as an alleged German spy during WWI.

The paintings are for an upcoming exhibition in Expresso Cafe, Norwich.

Lapins

I've been experimenting today, on postcard-sized watercolour paper.

Lady Gaga

a competition entry for V Magazine)

Hebe

A birthday card I made for Mum earlier this month, featuring our cat Hebe (and his new obsession: string)

He was a very good model and actually kept the pose for the whole time I drew him.

The other day I sat outside in the sun with the typewriter, away from all distractions, and made myself write the first draft of the first chapter of my comic book. I wrote it with the images in mind, rather than any dialogue, and when I re-read it, bits of it came across quite funny: (click to enlarge)

Emma Ridgway (c) Copyright 2010

Emma Ridgway (c) Copyright 2010

Emma Ridgway (c) Copyright 2010

The Plant

Emma Ridgway (c) Copyright 2010

Ceci n'est pas une petit chien

Emma Ridgway (c) Copyright 2010

I am more of a cat person than a dog person, but lately I really like dachshunds. 

I'm still experimenting, but I think I will probably work in this style for my comic, I'm much happier working loosely with paint than neatly with pen and ink.

(I have realised that for me, trying to be controlled = fear of making mistakes = creative block.)

Book for Line

Emma Ridgway (c) Copyright 2010

Let's get up early now, dive clear into the day.

At the moment I am working on a cover for Rachael Dadd's forthcoming Moth in The Motor EP.

I've made a little sketchbook for my experiments...at the moment they are all very Tinguely-inspired, and I've been experimenting with masking fluid too...but I intend to develop it more into my own thing!



I'm also making a large poster for Back 2 Bikes, a local charity selling second hand bikes. My little brother is a volunteer there, and my own little bike was born there, and Dan's bike travelled all the way from there to Amsterdam. And now they are giving me a large sheet of paper and some spray paint, so I am very excited, as you can imagine!



And today I have been asked to exhibit some of my work at The Just So Festival next August. The festival is set in 65 acres of woodland and will have lots of fun activities for children and their families, ranging from trapeze artists to storytelling around the campfire to children's theatre. It sounds lovely, so I am really excited about this and can't wait to get started on some new ideas!

Robert Walser

"With all my ideas and follies I could one day found a corporate company for the propagation of beautiful but unreliable imaginings" - Robert Walser (Institute Benjamenta)

(The Quay Brother's film Institute Benjamenta, based Walser's book, and one of the most beautiful films ever made, is due to be released on DVD next month)

a birthday card for my cousin Amy

Porcupine