October 30, 2010

For the Love of Monsters

A work mate smiled kindly at me yesterday and said, you really like that fantasy stuff don't you?

Oh my, I've let my slip show haven't I?

 I've always been one of those odd ducks, you know the ones clutching the fantasy or poetry book.  As a little girl I loved Poe (why is no one surprised?).  I thought the Bride of Frankenstein was the most beautiful creature ever. 




Why Monsters?  A little pigtaled girl with her nose in Fangoria at the news stand  (no one would buy it for me, if I was lucky I would get a Casper comic!)
  I don't like modern scary movies (you know the ones) all gore, no wonder.

Then so eloquently, Mr. Gaiman sums it all up in a quote by Ogden Nash.  When asked in this interview, "Why monsters?"  He replies with the quote by Nash,
         "When there are Monsters, there are miracles"

    Which pretty much sums up why Gaiman's stories are so powerful. When I read his tales the characters and places are so very real because there isn't just dark and light but all sorts of gray. He does all this and yet weaves it with such care to the wonder ..miracle that beating heart of whatever beast he has awoken for his tale. Being a caretaker of monsters is no light task, he dares to walk the tightrope and you feel it in every story.





                          My wicked little "Snow White" drawn after hearing (and seeing) the Atlanta Raido Company perform Gaiman's "Snow Glass Apples"  Hope she doesn't come knocking for treats tomorrow night!






pssst... here is the lovely interview with Mr. Gaiman below!

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

You prove yourself a renaissance woman over again! Beautifully written, and a wonderful little tribute to the GLORIOUS Mr. Gaiman.

-Sky

Maria-Thérèse ~ www.afiori.com said...

Lovely drawings - and thank you for reminding me of Neil Gaiman! I have a collection of his short stories (and also the novel Stardust and the dvd...) and I think there are a couple I haven't read yet.

Jaime Haney said...

I'm right there with ya sistah. Growing up I was the same way and I remember somehow obtaining a single comic book called the Witching Hour and poured over it again and again. I was a little more fortunate that my mother also loved scary stuff and allowed me to watch (at a young age of about 7) a show called The Trilogy of Terror that I feel shaped my childhood and adulthood for a love of all things scary. I've never been any other way and wouldn't want to be.

I love your Snow White... Happy Halloween!
Jaime

p.s. come see my scary costume on my blog if you can.

Tammie Lee said...

such lovely and wild little ladies you have shared here....
funny the things people say,sometimes they just can't help themselves.

mermaiden said...

ah, living in The Magical World, source of that which stirs the wonder of being.
Lucky us :D

SaraLynnArt said...

Tehehe, I feel like I can relate to you! I adore Gaiman and people always seemed to act oddly about the fact that I love fantasy - I wonder why people do that? It seems like such an ordinary reading choice to me!

Anyway, these drawings are gorgeous! They are elegant, but also spindly, spikey and mysterious... like these ladies are pretty, but have some dark secrets...

Unknown said...

Excellent post!! I just got my 3 year old and my 5 year old hooked on Gaiman's picture book Wolves in the Walls... have to make sure they're monster and miracle lovers early on! :)

Theresa MacNaughton said...

What a fun post! I learned a little bit more about you in the process and got to view your wonderful work and a little video from Neil. How cool is that? Happy Halloween! :)

FairiesNest said...

It's the enchantment, I think it's addictive. I love Gaiman too...wish I could have gone to the House on the Rock party this weekend. Happy Hauntings!

Carolee said...

LOVE Neil Gaiman, and especially love the Ogden Nash quote.

Wonderful post, and thanks for sharing the interview!

~ Carolee

Heather said...

Oh, these paintings are just gorgeous! What enchanting faces, and love the costumes...

Alli said...

Absolutely have enjoyed some of you recent post, I am quite the fan now! Love it!!