Art

Book research – street art

November 12, 2021 by Karen Comer 1 Comment

The teenage protagonist in my young adult verse novel is a street artist. For a few months, I’ve been researching street art from my laptop, unable to go out past my 5k zone into the city. And as much as Ms Google and Mr YouTube shared their vast stores of information with me, it wasn’t quite the same as experiencing street art in person. So last weekend, I ventured out – my first post lockdown excursion – to research Melbourne’s street art scene with a tour from Blender Studios.

Our guide, Kaspar, a street artist, was both knowledgeable and entertaining. We started with Hosier Lane, Melbourne’s only legal place for street art. I really loved Kaspar’s bird – the cocked yellow head against the darker feathers.

We walked around the corner, saw Lushsux’s peeling Yoda, the paint peeling thanks to previous artists’ paste-ups put up with wheat paste. We also admired an ostrich Elvis by John Murray, as well as an installation wall.

The tour finished at Blender Studios, with a chance to look at the artists’ works in progress, admire Kaspar’s skateboard art, see a few more winged creatures on the walls.

I kept my phone out for the entire tour, taking notes, taking photos. Kaspar patiently answered my many questions about grids, techniques, stencils caps, cans, community service and so on.

Full of my research and inspiration, I rewrote another draft of my novel in three days, focusing on the street art thread, before sending it on to my agent.

It was so wonderful to be out and about, talking to experts, seeing the art up close but also stepping back to admire it from a distance. My experience totally energised my writing, adding a lot more detail and nuance.

Talking with Kaspar, meeting a couple of other artists at the studio, all led to a greater understanding and appreciation of this art form which gives so much vibrancy to Melbourne.

Blender Studios run street art tours in the city as well as spray can classes where you can take home your own art. I must confess to doing a bit of Christmas shopping in the studio…

While I’m a writer, I love learning from other art forms and other types of artists. The other participant on the tour with me was an engineer who took a week off work to focus on his acting. Creativity in all forms, all mediums – sprayed with the tshhh from a can, lines delivered with presence, sculpture shaped from clay, a quilt designed with an intuitive sense of colour and pattern, a meal presented with care and attention to detail, a violin solo with a grace note – it all inspires me.

Equal parts creativity and logic

September 17, 2021 by Karen Comer 4 Comments

Dear blog readers, it’s been a little while. My family has faced a couple of obstacles in the last month which have taken up my time, attention and energy. And then there’s lockdown #6…

However, I am pleased to report that I am almost ready to send off my second book to my agent for her thoughts in a few days. Working on this third draft has been a mix of strategies – equal parts creativity and logic. One of my characters is a violinist, the other is a street artist – both creative teenagers.

I have used the talented writer Asphyxia’s art book methods for brainstorming and planning this book. It has been so incredibly helpful to have a visual place to keep all my ideas and nut out all my questions. I have deliberately kept it messy – sometimes the neatness of a journal can be intimidating – and there is nothing neat about writing a book!

I have also used a table as a different way to visualise my story. This helps me with the practical side of things – dates, tension, character arc. I can see instantly whether my stakes are a little light in a particular scene. When you can’t see the wood for the trees, it helps to have a way to separate out the different elements. It might not be as pretty as an art journal but it’s just as useful!

And part logic, part creative, the third thing which has really helped me write this book is the walks and talks I’ve had with my husband and one of my brothers. When they ask me about my book, and I tell them I’m stuck with one particular thread, their questions have helped me pinpoint where the problem is as well as possible solutions. Walking along the Darebin Creek has been a huge source of creativity for me during lockdown!

I hope that this month has been kind to you. Let me know in the comments whether you’re a creative or practical person for solving problems, or a combination of both.

Dear readers, it’s been a while

February 26, 2021 by Karen Comer 11 Comments

Dear readers, it’s been a while since I last posted. My website updated itself in December and there were problems that seemed insurmountable because it was December and there were work deadlines and Christmas deadlines and general December busyness.

Thank you to the lovely Nic from Planning with Kids who helped me with the technical side of my blog as well as giving me a big pep talk for continuing on!

There is news to catch up on!

Reading

I’ve been reading a lovely pile of books – my usual mix of fiction, non-fiction, children, young adult and poetry. Standout books include Seth Godin’s The practice (non-fiction), Cate Kennedy’s The taste of river water (poetry), The forty rules of love by Elif Shafak (novel) and The girl who became a tree by Joseph Coelho (young adult). Reviews for some of these books coming!

Editing

I have a mix of projects at the moment which makes my editing life varied and exciting. I’ve almost finished editing a fabulously detailed family history of six generations dating back to Scotland in the 1850s, I’ve proofread a book about wills which has prompted me to have conversations with family members, I’m about to start reading an exciting crime novel for a general reader’s report and I edited a wonderfully lyrical essay on nature.

Writing

My first middle-grade verse novel is under submission so I’ve been researching for my young adult verse novel. I’ve almost finished this now, so I’m ready to look at the structure of the first draft. Are my key scenes in the right places? Do they match up with my research? Do my two main characters meet up at the right moment?

Facilitating

I’m now the facilitator for the online Springfield writers’ group. This is a talented, oh so talented group of women who are writing poems, essays, novels, short stories, memoirs, non-fiction. We meet once a week to discuss two writers’ work and the creative collaboration in this group is a tangible thing.

Creating

Apart from creating a weekly menu of lunches and dinners and snacks which lately have NOT been as creative as my other pursuits, I’ve been teaching myself to weave. Last year during the lockdowns, I found quilting and sewing to be an antidote to the news cycle. I have a beautiful weaving kit and I am making a random, unplanned small weaving in soft dusky pinks, creams and burgundies.

Tutoring

I am constantly telling my children how lucky they are to have me as a mother but it’s only when I cook their favourite meal or help them with an English essay that they truly appreciate me! Mr 17 is in year 12 this year and we have already spent some time together talking through his first SAC. I also read through a few of his mates’ pieces – one of them named a character Karen. I am not sure whether to take it as a compliment or an insult – the character was rather annoying!

Your news …

Please tell me what you have been reading, writing or creating – I’d love to know.

Paris books – part 1

May 20, 2016 by Karen Comer 6 Comments

This post is for my friend, M, who is travelling to Paris and other European cities with her family soon. I stayed in Paris for three weeks a couple of years ago – to celebrate my 40th birthday, do a writing course, take some art classes and shop, of course – alone! It was magical.

I wrote my heart out around Paris with Darla Worden’s Left Bank Writers’ Retreat – six days of tracing Ernest Hemingway’s footsteps, writing in gardens, lunching at literary restaurants, looking at art. I am so glad I am still connected with the other fabulously creative American writers I met there.

I took a few art classes with Pauline Fraisse, who helped me to improve my sketching in Monet’s garden, Jardin des Plantes and cafes.

M, here are a few books you might find useful – a gorgeously photographed book, a chic style and shopping book and a thoughtful, well-researched non-fiction book on fascinating French women. I’ll be dropping them on your doorstep later today!

Paris, a guide to the city’s creative heart by Janelle McCulloch – this book is so beautiful that you could frame every one of its pages. It’s divided into two sections – the first is divided down further by arrondissement so it’s easy to know what to look out for if you’re in the 11th or 18th arrondissement. The second half has different sections for design, style and flavour. I found this book so helpful for directing me to paper stores, tea salons, perfume shops, etc. Miss 9 still has the tricolour (red, white and blue) hair ribbons I bought for her in an old, rambling store where apparently Jean-Paul Gaultier buys his ribbons. C’est bon!

Parisian chic, a style guide by Ines de la Fressange with Sophie Gachet – you just know you are going to receive wonderful fashion advice from someone called Ines de la Fressange! This book has more amateur-style photos and lots of bullet points. There are four sections – Dress like a Parisian with photos of Ines’ gorgeous-looking daughter, places to shop and tips to look like a Parisian fashionista. The second section is Belle of the ball with beauty and make-up tips. Third section is called Chez moi – lists of places to shop for homewares and the fourth section is Ines’ Paris with her favourite places for families, accommodation and restaurants. So if you would like to dress, shop and look nonchalantly Parisian, this book is for you. Ooh la la!

True pleasures, a memoir of women in Paris by Lucinda Holdforth – this book weaves Lucinda’s own story in with her visit to Paris and her research on many interesting women, such as Hortense Mancini, Colette and Josephine, Napoleon’s wife. It’s an interesting read, and brings past and present together seamlessly, along with highlighting all of Paris’ charms. C’est magnifique!

Any other Paris tips or books for my friend? Places to shop? Cafes and restaurants? Museums and gardens?

How to make blank books for kids

April 5, 2016 by Karen Comer 4 Comments

As well as reading books, the kids and I have been making some books as well. Perfect holiday activity. Here’s instructions for two different types of books to make – one with a sewn binding and the other with a stick and rubber band.

Excuse my photos – I don’t usually post my own photos as I can’t claim any skill with a camera!

Sewn binding blank book

Place five pieces of white A4 paper on top of a coloured piece of A4 paper.
Make sure they are stacked neatly, and then fold in the middle to make an A5 size book.
Use a sewing machine to sew down the crease, doubling over your stitching at the top and bottom.
You can use white cotton and snip off your threads to make it look neat or you can use a contrasting cotton like red and leave the thread ends dangling for an artistic look.
It will take you longer to thread your sewing machine than sew these books – so it’s worth making a pile of them at once!

Rubber band and stick book

Place three pieces of white A4 paper on top of a coloured piece of A4 paper.
Make sure they are stacked neatly, and then fold in the middle to make an A5 size book.
Use a guillotine or scissors to cut your books. Our books measured 10.5cm long and 7cm wide but you can make them smaller than this. You can make two books from the A4 size paper, with some scraps left over.
Choose a sturdy twig from your garden or the park and snap it if necessary so it is just a little shorter than the length of your book.
Use a single hole punch to punch a hole about 1.5cm in from both ends of your book, along the folded side.
Put the stick on top of your book, with an end over each hole.
Thread the doubled loop of a rubber band through one hole from the back and put it over the stick.
Thread the other doubled loop of the rubber band through the other hole from the back and put it over the stick.

Of course, you can use your blank books for any type of writing or drawing project. Mr 6 started to write a story about Jack and his soccer boots. Miss 9 began a story about a girl who wanted a tiger for a pet. With each story, we used these writing worksheets as prompts for the story. I find it’s easier to start with the character, then ask what the character wants. Often kids are great at coming up with a character, but then don’t know what to do with their character. The writing worksheets guide kids to

create their character
work out what their character wants
think of some obstacles or an antagonist that might stop their character getting what they want.

And there, you have your story started!

Let me know if you find these worksheets or blank books useful.

Giveaway – BIG kids art magazine

March 11, 2016 by Karen Comer 12 Comments

I have a giveaway – a children’s art magazine – to thank you for following my blog! BIG kids magazine is an original and creative magazine for kids. It values the art of kids and professional artists equally. It inspires kids to create, consider, wonder, imagine, read, write, play, dream …

BIG stands for bravery, imagination and generosity, and each issue asks different artists of different ages how they define these terms.

I have to admit I am extremely biased – I have been the copy editor for BIG ever since it launched in 2010. When the first pages fly in to me from Jo Pollitt in Perth and Lilly Blue in Sydney, I love seeing the different styles of art from adults and kids, the free-flowing words from Jo, the wide-ranging ideas from all parts of the world and Lilly’s evocative, meaningful art. Editing this magazine is a treat for the senses, even through my computer screen.

Issue 9’s theme is Collections. My favourite sections in this issue are Jo and Lilly’s collection of Big ideas, the storybook photographs by Eva Fernandez and the botanical portraits by fifteen year-old artist Zali Bartholomew. Looking at these pages makes me want to go on a nature walk, have a tea party and start collecting!

The tenth issue, a keepsake edition, will be available in December. You can follow BIG kids art magazine here.

I have three copies of issue 9 to give away. If you would like to win a copy of:

‘an art gallery you can hold in your hands, a printed publication of multidisciplinary creative portals to curiosity and imagination’

please leave a comment below by midnight, Sunday 13 March. I will draw three winners at random and then post the editions out. Good luck!