The Mayflower returns

The editor mailed me with the initial concept for the article while it was being written. The topic was the elimination of certain American literary classics of the new UK syllabus. Despite living in Paris, I am an avid listener to BBC radio four, which provides me, apart from my favorite drama programs, the best current affairs programs. so, I was very well-informed about the topic.

The first idea the popped up in my mind was the Mayflower, being the vehicle which first exported the Anglo-saxon culture to the American shores, is now making the journey again, only this time with returned cultural goods, back to the new world.

The Mayflower -rough

The Mayflower , no -line version

The Mayflower , final version

Kidnapped

Kidnapped AW 1

Kidnapped AW 2

Kidnapped line

Last weeks’ events in Israel, resonated beyond the sketchy borders of this complex and complicated country. The kidnapping of three young men from a settlement in the west bank, touched probably most ex-pats, Jew of every shade and kind.

People all across the world were called to pray for the kidnapped young men well being.

The media, as well as the entire nation psyche, were and still are harnessed and occupied by the cause, and all other aspects of israeli life seem to have been swept aside until the three young men are freed.

Artzi, could not avoid writing about them, and focused on one of the three in particular, the one whose picture appeared in the media while playing a recorder.

he signed his weekly column with a paragraph about woodpeckers. I came up with the idea of showing the woodpeckers, revealing that young man, hidden inside a tree trunk. perhaps in an unconscious reference to the illustration from last week .

Investment advisers

Here’s an old  commission. While randomly going through my files, I’ve stumbled upon these two illustrations which dealt with the trade of Investment advisers.

If I remember correctly, the responsibility taken by advisers for their advice, foreign interest and integrity, where amongst those which were covered in the article.

Investment advisers 1 AW

Investment advisers 2 AW

The American Dream of Income Equality Still Lives

The American Dream is not dead yet-AW

This Month’s Scientific American Skeptic column assess the viability of  the american dream.

Hence, no matter where you’re coming from, your colour, sex or creed, if you’re good at what it is you’re doing; you’ll make it!

To read the full article, click here.

The American Dream is not dead yet-rough

*Just realised, an old American car features in Alice Munro’s post from June 11th

I believe in ghosts!

There’s no other explanation. I have today felt the need to change my portrait on my Facebook page. Found a snap on my iPhone and started playing with it (Believe me, there is a considerable non pixelated mass to play with)

I have eventually ended with the image below:

me

So, why,  you might be asking does the title relates to my belief in the existence of ghosts?  Well, Mr. A. Warhol insist on staying for the night. next thing I know he’d be asking for a ball of tinned soup.

Missing

Little did he know, in view of the weekend’s kidnaping event in Israel, Last week’s Shlomo Artzi’s column dealt with the concept of absence, disappearance, missing things, missing people and all things that are no longer present.

I have dared, on this occasion to stray out of my habitual drawn way, and allowed myself the use of my artistic license to create this photo montage.

Missing

The image relates in particular to one of the themes evoked in the column, relating to a missing young woman.

Alice Munro, An Ounce of Cure

During this week, books will be celebrated throughout Israel in this annual tradition of the’ Book’s week’.

For that occasion, I was asked by Yedioth Ahronoth, to illustrate  An Ounce of Cure, one of Alice Munro’s (the Nobel Prize winner in Literature 2013) short stories.

I really enjoyed the reading, first of all because of the genre; I ‘m a lousy reader, therefore knowing from the word go, that the reading will be concluded shortly, provides me with a great incentive.

A second source of enjoyment was the story itself, and the author’s facility to depict through simple words and a direct, prosaic style, the entire life of her heroine.

The story line is built around one event which turns out to be a pivotal one for the rest of the heroine’s life.

Highly recommended.

The other, most important source of enjoyment for me, was a phone call from my wonderful dad, who saw the illustration in the paper, so he called me to say how much he liked it.

If only for that, it was worth it!

 

Alice Ann Munro – An Ounce of Cure Rough

Alice Ann Munro-An Ounce of Cure AW

The perpetual burden of filing

The nightmare of introducing documents into our sacred household, is an act which I consider to be aggressive and violent on our precious dwindling time resources.

I was asked to illustrate an article dealing with filing management, relating in particular to the French health care bureaucracy.

 

The perpetual burden of filing

And here is the rough:

The perpetual burden of filing-Rough