Happy Mother's Day

Mother's Day here in England was back in March, but it's today in the US.  Happy Mother's Day to all moms everywhere...especially those otter moms!

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Tomorrow is the submission deadline for the 2012 Penguin Design Awards. Ken Kesey's acclaimed novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, was chosen for the adult competition brief. 

Below is my cover design, in linocut on paper.

 Set in a mental hospital in Oregon, Cuckoo's Nest is a story about the experiences of a group of patients (namely, newcomer Randle Patrick McMurphy and the iron-fisted governing head of the division, Nurse Ratched) who live there.  If I remember correctly, Kesey based much of the book on his own interactions with patients when he worked in a hospital himself. 

The cover design is based on one scene when McMurphy takes some of the patients (the 'Acutes') on a fishing trip.   It's quite an important part in the book; even though the patients are momentarily free from the ward, I tried to make the 'boat' look like a nurse's hat as a reminder of Nurse Ratched's all-powerful hold on them.

Figure work

 

                                             

   

Cambridge has been so warm and sunny lately...and I've been wishing for the seaside!

Norooz Mobarak!

! نوروز مبارک

Today is the vernal equinox, which marks the first day of spring.  It is also the Persian New Year (Norooz)! Wishing everyone health and happiness with friends and family today. 

(This is the table spread, called Sofreh e Haft Seen, which is set  up a few days in advance.  Each item signifies something for the new year, such as good fortune, growth, health, prosperity and love).

If you would like to read more about Norooz:
http://www.persianmirror.com/celebrations/noruz/noruz.cfm