It’s time to bid farewell to the old year and look ahead to 2016. I hope it will be filled with creativity and laughter with none of the sorrows of the past twelve months where we bid farewell to my father-in-law in January, Terry in March and our dear old dog in April.
Work continued apace with the covers and interior art for The Shepherd’s Crown by Terry Pratchett and The Diary of a Mad Brownie by Bruce Coville. We also painted The Discworld Knight for The Salisbury Barons Trail which raised £5000 for the Trussell Trust to help families in need combat hunger. My touring exhibition Discworld & Beyond was exhibited in Newcastle under Lyme, Gosport & Luton and other pieces were exhibited by Art of the Imagination at venues around the country and Daniel Maghen in Paris.
I have some exciting projects in the pipeline for 2016 and a new website almost ready. My intentions for the year are to get a little healthier (there is always room for improvement) and to try and work a little faster (!) I hope my work might bring a smile or moment of peaceful reflection to those who come across it, to connect through art is a wonderful way to bring people together and I am pleased to be able to do my small part.
Happy New Year to you all and thank you for your support and ongoing encouragement, it always helps to know a friendly audience is out there as I sit at my work table.
Paul.
It has been a mixed year of sadness and smiles and much creativity.
The passing of Terry in March, although not unexpected, was a great loss, not only to his family and closest friends but to all of us who have enjoyed his creations and shrewd observations over the years. I am proud to have known him and to have been able to collaborate with him and I remain always thankful that he liked my work and allowed me to wander his Discworld with my sketchbook.
When the call came to tell me of his death on the morning of the 12th of March I was working on my first draught for the cover of The Shepherd’s Crown and it is undoubted that my feelings leaked down my pencil into the drawing and Tiffany developed a sorrowful gaze.
When I amended the cover for a second draught I had come to terms with things a little and I think it is again reflected in the face of Tiffany. This time she looks perhaps a little sad but I like to think that her knowledge of the patterns of life and natural order of things shine out with a touch of defiance mingled with an inner peace and happiness. I choose to celebrate Terry’s life and all the joy it brought to many and I hope my final cover of a Discworld novel pays tribute to him as a fitting mark of my great respect.
The Tiffany Aching books are special to me as both Terry and I share a love of the Chalk landscape where he lived and for a time so did I. Capturing aspects of this special place is always a treat for me and working on The Shepherd’s Crown was a moving experience, as I drew I remembered the conversations Terry & I used to have about gardening, folklore and recipes for nettle soup (good fodder for starving artists!) The chalk landscape with its ancient drove roads and wide skies seemed to exert a creative energy for us both. I am comforted by the knowledge that this landscape will endure: the stars will continue to wheel above it and the ancient barrows and secrets buried beneath the turf bear silent witness to mans brief life. Our time is short, we must endeavour to make the most of it and take care of the natural world around us which generates so much inspiration. Terry’s writing helps to remind us of this, which is just one of the reasons I will always be grateful to him.
On that note I wish you all a peaceful Christmas time, may your nearest and dearest be close, in person or in spirit.
Paul
I am delighted to announce the release of a new limited edition Discworld print.
Drawings from The Shepherd’s Crown is an exclusive collectors print featuring 12 iconic images from Sir Terry Pratchett’s final Discworld novel. The vignettes include Tiffany Aching, You the cat, Mephistopheles the goat and Rob Anybody the Nac Mac Feegle.
Each print is hand signed and numbered and the edition is limited to only 2000 copies worldwide. Printed on 350gm silk paper.
The print is available only from my website: http://paulkidby.com/index.php/shop/art-shop
The Barons Charter Auction in Salisbury Cathedral on the 1st of October raised almost £60,000 for The Trussell Trust who help tackle UK poverty.
I am delighted that The Discworld Knight raised the top sale price of the event, finally going under the hammer for £5000. The project was already underway at the sad time of Terry’s passing on 12th March 2015, my thanks go to Terry’s family for giving permission for the Discworld Knight to be included in The Baron’s Charter project in memory of Terry.
I am delighted to be featured in a 10 page article in the US publication Drawing Magazine, Summer 2015 edition. My thanks to Ken Gorton for writing the feature.
Copies can be purchased online here: http://www.northlightshop.com/drawing-summer-2015?utm_source=artistsnetwork.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=arn-brb-hm-150805
June 12th was the launch day for the Barons Trail in Salisbury. 25 individually decorated medieval Barons appeared overnight in a playful celebration of history through art upon the streets to celebrate the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. One of the four surviving manuscripts, dating from 1215, is housed in Salisbury Cathedral. The Barons will be auctioned in October to raise money for The Trussell Trust, the UK’s leading hunger charity.
My Discworld Baron is sited on the Choristers Green inside the Cathedral Close with a fine view of the building. It has seemed a fitting way to reflect and pay tribute to Terry and his writing, especially as he was himself knighted in 2009 and lived locally to Salisbury.
http://www.thebaronscharter.org.uk
The cover art for Terry’s final Discworld novel has now been released by the publishers. I was working on this at the time of his untimely death and so it became a very poignant and personal painting. I am proud and honoured to be a part of such a wonderful series. I think of the cover as my own tribute and thanks to Terry and his wonderful literary creations. The book is being released on the 27th of August.
…and thanks to my friend & framer Ray for making such a splendid frame for the original painting.
This summer I am delighted to be part of the Salisbury Barons’ Charter Project. This is a public art event organised by The Trussell Trust, together with Salisbury Cathedral and Wild in Art.
25 life-sized decorated medieval baron sculptures will be displayed across the city from June 12th – September 6th 2015. They will then be auctioned in October to raise money for the Trussell Trust, the UK’s leading poverty charity that provides emergency food and support for people in crisis.
http://www.thebaronscharter.org.uk
My baron is a tribute to Terry Pratchett and his work.
Today I am reflecting on the sad news of Terry’s passing. His creativity bought so much inspiration and joy to so many of us. It was an honour and privilege to work with him and I owe him a great debt of gratitude. May he rest in peace.
