The Ossuary: Ducks, Arthole, and Capitalism

An ossuary is a place or vessel used to store human bones. This one is for my ideas, thoughts, and to collect things that I enjoy. Mostly for my own records, but if you manage to get some inspiration from this then all the better.

Ducks, by Kate Beaton

For once I’m not reading some unhinged romance novel, and instead I’m catching up on some comics I’ve had on my shelf since Thought Bubble a couple of years ago.

This comic is beautiful and sad and all the things I enjoy. For a long time now I’ve been unable to watch new TV shows or films that are at all stressful, or cover difficult topics. But reading this has reminded me how comics can be much more accessible.

The combination of detailed illustrations of machines, and more simplified human characters, is both reassuring and jarring and I am in love with the cool toned limited palette. I’m about half way through and I’m looking forward to finishing it this week during my annual leave.

Arthole x Hwb Clwb Market

I really wasn’t feeling like going out on Saturday. It was raining. I was knackered. But I’m really glad I did. The new space is huge, so cute, and stocked with so many goodies. Plus, it’s right across the road from Hard Lines.

Everyone’s stuff was SO COOL and I stocked up on some stickers to add to my collection (You can see pictures of my mini art haul over on Instagram.) I was particularly inspired by the riso prints, which is a technique I’ve been interested in for a while. Inky Fruit Co are opening their print queue soon so maybe I’ll have to invest in getting one made… (It’s one of my dreams to eventually have things stocked at Arthole so focusing on some products seems sensible.)

Speaking of making products… I’ve been thinking a lot about artistic practice, mental health, and capitalism as of late. (Probably not that surprising). I’ve tried my hands at craft markets and conventions before and I really struggled to find where I fit. My work is too weird for craft markets and not fanbase-y enough for anime and comic cons. I still have dead stock from that time and it just makes me sad when I look at it.

I’d like to get some of my Ratto Stickers printed without spending hundreds of pounds (that I can’t afford) and without having millions of them lying around. So obviously I started looking at Cricut machines (which would be more expensive than a run of stickers, haha). I love being able to make things myself. It’s more sustainable and cost effective, provided you don’t buy a £400 machine that you don’t REALLY need up front…

Disregarding how sensible that kind of purchase would be, when I was thinking about it I started to consider all the other things I could make. And I remembered that at the core of it… I just like making things. I need to focus on untangling these feelings of shame and failure and fear from the joy I get in creation. Honestly I think this is one of the main things that’s stalled most of my creative practice over the last… 15 years.

I don’t have an answer to this, but I’ve challenged myself to 20mins of drawing per day, focusing on fun and creation. It feels like a good starting point.