Going home for Christmas...

The Master and Margarita - New Commission

Recently, I was commissioned to create a sculpture from the classic Russian novel by Mikhail Bulgakov, 'The Master and Margarita'.
A fluid and magical read, this novel is a satire about the Soviet Union at the peak of its oppression in the 1930’s.

It was commissioned by a young man from Holland for his fiancée, as a token of his love. 
The Master and Margarita is her favourite novel.

   'The Master and Margarita' in wooden display box, with lights. 410mm W x 280mm H x 255mm D

 

The Master and Margarita

The Book Cover

Feature in this week's Country Life Magazine.

Special Offer on Books

'The Fairytale Princess' and 'Su Blackwell Monograph' both signed by the artist, 
including a signed postcard.
£30.00
Available from http://www.sublackwell.co.uk/online-store/#!/Set-of-2-Books/p/45034343/category=6828002

Illustration for Intelligent Life Magazine

Game of Thrones - The Wall

In "Game of Thrones", a wall is a moral presence - and the writer Robert Macfarlane's favourite character.

(Illustration to accompany Robert Macfarlane's feature in Intelligent Life Magazine, Jan/Feb 2015 Edition)

Inspiration...

Tarn Hows, The Lake District

Matilda

Matilda is a recent commission, cut from the pages of Roald Dahl's book, illustrated by Quentin Blake.

I'd like to thank Quentin Blake for being so gracious as to let me incorporate his illustration of 'Matilda' in this work.   

 

27cm h x 36cm w x 25cm d

http://www.sublackwell.co.uk/portfolio-book-cut-sculpture/

 

Work-in-progress shot of the books for 'Matilda'.

Worldbuilders Charity

Su Blackwell Supports Worldbuilders
Set up by American Writer 'Patrick Ruthfuss'.
 http://blog.patrickrothfuss.com/
Worldbuilders is a Charity Organisation that raises money through the sale of donated books, and all things literary.

I think it's a brilliant idea, and I have donated copies of 'The Fairytale Princess' book. To visit the auction site, and make a bid go to
http://www.ebay.com/sch/worldbuilders/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25&_trksid=p3686 
For more information, go to http://www.worldbuilders.org   

New Products

                       www.sublackwell.co.uk/online-store/

In Rememberance of...

my great, great Uncle
Lance Corporal Arthur Cumberbirch, Lincolnshire Regiment, Service. 14411, Died in France, 5th August 1915, Aged 19

Lest we Forget

Interview in Corner Magazine

for the full interview, go to 

http://web.cornermag.com/?wv=s%2FCorner%2520Magazine%2F632e90aa-00a9-55aa-81e6-35b5893b5aca%2FIssue6%2F0_cover.html

The Ice Maiden

 

  Detail shots of me working on 'The Ice Maiden'.

 

 

The Shell-Seekers

Commissioned by Hodder & Stoughton Publisher.  

The Shell Seekers is a novel by Rosamunde Pilcher. It was first published by Hodder & Stoughton in 1988. 

It was 'Hodder and Stoughton' who commissioned me to create this sculpture from the novel, as a surprise 90th birthday gift to their author, the brilliant 'Rosamunde Pilcher'.

 Day

 Twilight

Night

'Winter is on it's Way' - Limited-Edition Seasonal Greeting Cards

 http://www.sublackwell.co.uk/online-store/#!/Out-of-Narnia-Seasonal-Greeting-Cards/p/29043267/category=6828002

A set of 5 quality smooth-matte finish greeting cards with gold foil, incorporating 'From Out of Narnia' design.

Blank Inside for your Personal Message. Sold in a pack of 5.
Available until Stock lasts.

For every pack sold, Su Blackwell Studio will donate £1.00 to the RNIB Library Services Campaign. http://www.rnib.org.uk/services-we-offer-reading-services/rnib-national-library-service 

Gift Boxes

These Gift boxes are now available on my Online store

http://www.sublackwell.co.uk/online-store/#!/Stationery/c/4222007/offset=0&sort=normal

Celebrating the Publication of 'The Fairytale Princess'

Celebrating the 2nd Anniversary of 'The Fairytale Princess: Seven Classic Stories from the Enchanted Forest'. 

Thames and Hudson approached me back in 2010 with the idea of 'illustrating a compilation book of favourite fairy-tales'. It turned out to be a labour of love for me. Seven stories, with over 60 illustrations, the whole project taking around 18 months to produce.

  

opening pages

 

Sleeping Beauty

 

Thames and Hudson are now working behind the scenes on a special commerative pop-up edition of 'The Fairytale Princess'. In the meantime, I share with you some of the praise that the book has received since it's publication in November 2012.  

 

‘Original and exceptional … remarkable for its photographic illustrations of Su Blackwell’s extraordinary paper sculptures’ – The Sunday Times

‘While the tales are faithfully retold, the illustrations invite the reader to step into a paper kingdom where princesses inhabit an enchanting world made from the very books that created them’ – The Telegraph Magazine

‘This book made me gasp aloud. This is the first time that I’ve learned of Su Blackwell’s book art and I am absolutely riveted.

What makes this a fascinating read is Blackwell’s detailed artistry. I spent hours just poring over the design, marveling at the craftsmanship, and even reading some of the markings found in the artwork. Nothing is accidental. I read through some of the discernible phrases and snippets of sentences found in the artwork, and they are connected to the stories or some other fairy tale found in the collection.

See how amazingly detailed it is.

I would have loved an Artist’s Note at the end of the book that would give the reader an idea of how these book sculptures were created and how long it took Blackwell to complete them. This book is simply exquisite, and shows Blackwell’s exacting eye, deft fingers and creative vision. Truly a marvel’. –

http://gatheringbooks.org/2014/02/03/monday-reading-of-rackhams-fairy-tales-and-blackwells-book-art/

‘A perfect gift! A compendium of seven classic fairytales, illustrated by dramatically lit photographs of intricate paper-cut sculptures’. – Thames & Hudson

It's a lovely accolade to see all of the art-work in one special edition, and I am very excited about the prospect of there being an interactive pop-up edition. ~ Su

The Fairytale Princess:

Seven Classic Stories from the Enchanted Forest

Artwork by: Su Blackwell Retellings By: Wendy Jones Photographs by: Tim Clinch Published by: Thames & Hudson, 2012. 
The Fairytale Princess Copyright 2012 Thames and Hudson http://www.thamesandhudson.com/contactaddresses.html

£14.95

Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Frog Prince, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, The Princess and the Pea, Snow White, Rapunzel

 

• 28.70 x 23.50 cm
• Quarter bound/PLC (no jacket)
• 96pp
• llustrated in colour throughout

Signed Copies Available on my Online Store. http://www.sublackwell.co.uk/online-store/

Orders are posted same day. 

For anyone with an interest in fairy tales...

Once Upon a Time; A Short History of Fairy Tale by Marina Warner. Cover Artwork by Su Blackwell

Available from http://www.amazon.co.uk/Once-Upon-Time-Short-History/dp/0198718659

New Illustration for 'Intelligent Life' Magazine Nov/Dec Issue

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea 

Currently Reading

 
The Child that Books Built by Francis Spufford
What would you find if you went back and reread your favourite books from childhood? Francis Spufford discovers both delight and sadness in a beautifully written memoir of a boy who, faced with tragedy in his family, retreats into books.

Dwelling in Possibilty by Howard Mansfield
What qualities are missung in our homes? How can we regain them? We know within seconds upon entering a house if we feel at home. We know when a place makes us feel more alive. This is the mystery that interests Howard Mansfield - some houses have life, are home, are dwellings, and others don't. Dwelling, he says, is an old-fashioned word that we have misplaced.