What was initially to be a short volunteer research project into a Vancouver cold case to support a theory championed by a retired homicide detective, became, for me [and continues to be], a 17+ year personal journey “to restore to now dead people the fullness and degree of complication of their lives. To restore their humanness…
Tag: 1940’s
The objects are the context from which I draw clues.
What happens when a case is very old, when much of its physical evidence is deteriorated or destroyed, and its main players long deceased? How do we investigate? For me it is all about the historical context. When I work on Molly, I step into the 1940’s through books, research, primary sources. And I do it…
Daisy’s dilemma. 1947 and dark Disney imagery.
My current book project, Molly, is a creative non-fiction tragedy that centres around a suicide in 1947. Suicides were well publicized back then, often featured on the front pages of newspapers. Searching online images “suicide, 1947,” the image that inevitably comes up is the photo titled “the most beautiful suicide“- a haunting and iconic image. But as…
Molly’s confession. #graphicnovel study #openingsequence
I am going to tell the story of my life in an alphabet of ashes. – Blas de Otero — GRABLINE: He brushed the leaves aside and uncovered the most baffling double murder Vancouver has ever had. – The Vancouver Province April 15, 1953 MOLLY- the graphic novel —
It doesn’t stop him. My death stops him. #graphicnovel study
Recall March 7, 2013, photoshoot at Salmagundi West for my graphic novel. I am struck by the ability of my model, Jocelyn Louise, to convey, in a simple glance, the pain of my main character as she tries to escape the memories of childhood trauma. Asexual. Living in church, reading about God all the time, getting callouses…
With a faery, hand in hand… photo shoot for the #graphicnovel at Salmagundi West!
On March 7, 2013, I was humbled at the generosity of Salmagundi West owner Anna Banner who allowed us to use her store as a back drop for our latest photoshoot! I was joined by Jocelyn Louise (who portrays Molly) and stylist Jay Fisher… … and my daughter Anna Thorsen who took the main shots…
“Where white is black and black is white, I won.” #graphicnovel study #crowskull
When Crow was white he decided the sun was too white. He decided it glared much too whitely. He decided to attack it and defeat it. He got his strength up flush and in full glitter. He clawed and fluffed his rage up. He aimed his beak direct at the sun’s centre. He laughed himself…
Maybe you mistook me for an angel… #graphicnovel studies and research
Sometimes, the truths that we hold to be fixed in our culture develop a fissure, which widens into a crack, and as we watch, the mirror shatters shard by shard, until nothing is left but fragments of the prejudice lying in disarray at our feet. – Patricia Pearson, Perceptions of Female Violence and the Vocabulary…
… the depths of that leaf-encumbered forest, the soul… #graphicnovel study
It rasped her, though, to have stirring about in her this brutal monster! To hear twigs cracking and feel hooves planted down in the depths of that leaf-encumbered forest, the soul; never to be content quite, or quite secure. – Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway MOLLY- the graphic novel —
Regarding Molly- importance of working titles and “acting as if…”
As I experiment with marrying text to illustration in my graphic novel, I am working from the end backwards, creating a working title and promotional mockup. Acting as if the book is completed, the project feels organized and allows me to create a skeletal framework on which to flesh out ideas. This framework can then…
The dissonance of text and illustration. Study for #graphicnovel #Molly #BabesintheWoods
MOLLY- the graphic novel —
Shame. Study for #graphicnovel
Recommended reading: — MOLLY- the graphic novel —
I, in fleshy tomb, am buried above ground. Study for #graphicnovel
— Encompass’d with a thousand dangers, Weary, faint, trembling with a thousand terrors….I…in fleshy tomb, am Buried above ground. – William Cowper MOLLY- the graphic novel —
The Babes in the Wood study #graphicnovel
The Babes in the Wood [1] My dear do you know, How a long time ago, Two poor little children, Whose names I don’t know, Were stolen away On a fine summer’s day, And left in a wood, As I’ve heard people say, Poor Babes in the Wood! Poor Babes in the Wood! Oh! don’t…
Take Off the Amber, Put Out the Lamp #graphicnovel #research
Take the day. Immerse. Forget everything else. Read. Sketch. Cocoon. Trust the calling. Today’s resources: Jamison, K.R. (1999) Night Falls Fast- understanding suicide, Vintage Books: New York, NY, USA Malooof, J., ed. (2012) Vivian Maier- Street Photographer, powerHouse Books: New York NY, USA Appignanesi, L. (2007) Sad, Mad and Bad- women and the mind-doctors from…
These three hours that we have spent.. two shadows went along with us… #graphicnovel photoshoot w. @RickLegalPhotos
Recall Photoshoot Dec 3, 2012: A Lecture Upon the Shadow Here are some MEGA TASTY treats from Rick Legal. As an artist/researcher/behavior evidence analyst, these photos fill every cell of my being with joy! It is wonderful to allow a fellow artist the freedom to do his work within the context/limits of a vision. Extraordinary….
A Lecture Upon the Shadow: an evening of collaboration on the #graphicnovel with @RickLegalPhotos and co.
A LECTURE UPON THE SHADOW. by John Donne December 3, 2012 was an evening of collaboration as Jocelyn Louise and Jay Fisher recreated 1947 and main characters from my graphic novel as they were photographed by the extraordinary photographer, Rick Legal, and as the entire process was documented by photographer and colleague, Nancy Kirkpatrick. The book will include…
Muse reawakened. #Vancouver #coldcase #graphicnovel
MOLLY- the graphic novel Read updates at KICKSTARTER Follow links at GRAPHIC NOVEL • Prepping the mindmap • Gathering inspiration • Collecting quotes • Reviewing current work- written and drawn • Creating new pieces • Planning new photoshoot • Documenting process *Rethinking approach • Full immersion imminent — She waved as she made her…
#Graphicnovel update! Checklists, mindmaps, plotting out chapters, inciting incident… #startattheend
I love that all I am doing in my art and career feeds the graphic novel, even if I’m not working on pages in the book per se. When I do my street art, I am utilizing the style and perfecting the technique and medium I am using in Molly. When I am working with…
Her Catholic childhood. #Vancouver #coldcase #graphicnovel
“When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I survived at all. It was, of course, a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while. Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood.” ― Frank McCourt, Angela’s Ashes — — MOLLY-…
Where it starts and where it ends- two unidentified males. #Vancouver #coldcase #graphicnovel
MOLLY- the graphic novel — Many have been asking if they can still contribute to the graphic novel project. YES PLEASE! You can donate via PAYPAL here: DONATE —
Creative process = flow = trust. #graphicnovel #crimescene #Vancouver #coldcase
I am letting the creative process flow through me as I work on the story. Letting whatever comes out, come out as it needs to. Editing will happen later. TRUST. — MOLLY- the graphic novel — Many have been asking if they can still contribute to the graphic novel project. YES PLEASE! You can donate…
Forest floor. #graphicnovel #crimescene #Vancouver #coldcase
Currently working on a page focusing on a child’s hand on the forest floor on OCTOBER 5, 1947. — MOLLY- the graphic novel — Many have been asking if they can still contribute to the graphic novel project. YES PLEASE! You can donate via PAYPAL here: DONATE —
On Becoming a Woman- vintage treasure. #graphicnovel research #Vancouver #coldcase
I found a glorious and heartbreaking book on ETSY at LOST BEAR STUDIO as I was searching for 1940s/50s items for my graphic novel research. On Becoming A Woman by Harold Shryock, MD. The information teenage women were receiving at the time regarding their physical, personal and sexual development was truly horrifying from my perspective…
Molly’s birthday: April 25, 1924. Evolution of the #familytree. #graphicnovel #Vancouver #coldcase
MOLLY- the graphic novel I know that my heart will be forever in this suspended animation, as I live entwined in their circumstance. — Many have been asking if they can still contribute to the graphic novel project. YES PLEASE! You can donate via PAYPAL here: DONATE —
10:15 AM Nov 6, 1947 #Molly #coldcase #graphicnovel #Vancouver
— Jocelyn Louise as Molly November 6, 1947 — To contribute to the graphic novel project: donate via PAYPAL by clicking DONATE
Obsessed with Jocelyn as #Molly. #coldcase #graphicnovel #Vancouver
— Jocelyn Louise as Molly — Many have been asking if they can still contribute to the graphic novel project. That’s wonderful and very helpful!!! The rewards will stay the same as on Kickstarter. Take a look at the rewards on the Kickstarter site. You can donate via PAYPAL by clicking DONATE —
PHOTOSHOOT recreating October 5, 1947 #graphicnovel #Vancouver
— — On the anniversary of Molly’s suicide [November 6, 1947], I spent the afternoon with Jocelyn Louise and Jay Fisher recreating the mood of October 5, 1947– the alleged date of the double homicide. I am so honored to work with these two- Jay is a master at styling the era, and Jocelyn channels…
Wartime rationing and the 1940s house #graphicnovel research
— Source ‘Because of the pail, the scraps were saved, Because of the scraps, the pigs were saved, Because of the pigs, the rations were saved, Because of the rations, the ships were saved, Because of the ships, the island was saved, Because of the island, the Empire was saved, And all because of the…