After two and a half episodes of Wild Atlantic Ink, I am DEEPLY IN LOVE with comic creation. The creative and artistic possibilities each month are infinite. The Muse is working overtime to give me a constant stream of inspiration. My draughtsmanship is at its peak. I have suddenly discovered I can make up stories. And to get all these factors to come together, I have partnered with a skilled, reliable printer based in my own country.
But there’s a but. You know the way I was a bit worried about the volume of material I had committed to producing each month? That maybe it wasn’t leaving me time for “life”? I was right – that is, my friend Lorraine was right. I can’t do 16 beautiful, hand-drawn, hand-painted, carefully-thought-out pages every month AND do anything other than sit in my studio or make research-focused day trips. However, I have a solution, which I hope you’ll like.
I am going to reduce my publishing rate to once every two months. That will change everything! I have been in touch with Ronan my webmaster, and he has sorted out the subscription plan. You will be charged €10.99 every TWO months going forward, from next month, so you will have paid for three monthly issues if you first subscribed before 13th May, and you’ll pay every other month after that, skipping the 14th July – 13th August payment. (If you have already paid your annual fee of €120, then I can refund you the balance owing, or I can set your renewal to renew in two years’ time from the date you paid, as you prefer.)
Meanwhile, Issue 3 is well underway and I have completed my seventh page. Seven pages in 18 days – for a monthly production of 16 pages, the maths don’t math. And that’s BEFORE my summer travel plans are taken into account. There were a lot of them planned long before I decided to be a comicsmith! By the time I leave for France to teach at the Urban Sketching Syposium in mid-July, Issue 3 will have been sent to the printer, and sent out to all of you. The schedule remains intense until mid-August. Then things quieten down. But for the moment my plan is to stick to a bimonthly schedule.
Reactions So Far…
They’ve been positive, on the whole. Two people asked me to stop sending it to them. I didn’t like that very much, but I got used to it after a few hours. This is why I would love an assistant to field all negativity that comes through my door – positive stuff is always welcome, but negative stuff is not. I remember being a little surprised to read that Elizabeth Gilbert (Eat, Pray, Love) never reads any negative reviews, but she explained that it has no benefit to her whatsoever. It only damages her confidence and therefore her ability to write. Makes sense! I used to write bad reviews for books I didn’t enjoy, but one day it occurred to me that the authors might read them, and I have never done it since. But I think I am fortunate in that the only people who read my output are people who get my sense of humour.
In Issue 2
…which you can buy, and although it’s the current issue it counts as a back issue for ordering purposes, since it’s already been sent to the subscribers who got in before 13th June.
It contains:
- a section on animals I rescued this month and who weren’t grateful, or most of them anyway
- recipes for nettle soup, nettle pesto and nettle gnudi, and also the incredible brown soda bread we enjoy in Ireland
- a visit to the Aillwee Bird of Prey Centre in the Burren, seen through the eyes of its latest addition, Willow the baby barn owl
- the second chapter of Brine the Oyster Catcher Snatcher
- a weird illustration activity in watercolour of a cuckoo and its surrogate parents
- a very non-weird painting activity in watercolour of some crabs I picked up on the beach
- the first instalment of Beachboy in which you get to explore the shore with Reuben
- Gort River Walk – a David and Goliath story
You still have plenty of time to subscribe to Issue 3, which will arrive after 14th July. After that there’s a two-month break so you’ll get the next issue in mid-September.
The fact that I have been writing this piece for well over a week tells you everything you need to know about my decision!
Residential Courses
Places left for my sketching workshops in:
- Atelier Clos Mirabel, Pau, France, 25th July to 1st August 2026 (and also July 2027). Very small group. Parteners welcome. Extremely convivial and very special.
- Hotel Leone, Montelparo, Italy, 2nd – 9th October 2026. I have had ONE cancellation but you can bring your partner.
- Hotel Lagou Raxi, Lafkos, Greece, 3rd – 10th May 2027 – only two bookings so far so plenty of space.
- Atelier Clos Mirabel (see above)
- Madeline Island School of the Arts, WI, USA, 23rd – 27th August 2027 – has filled up rapidly so don’t delay
And what sort of topics do I teach? At the heart of my sketching courses is helping you to release your innate skill as an artist. I am very technical and I give you really accessible how-to techniques to make your work look how you want it to look. Each of these courses is taking place in very special locations, so we’ll concentrate on capturing the beauty around us, making lasting memories – and of course spending time relaxing with each other and developing friendships. It’s all ink and watercolour based, and do not worry – I can supply everything you need! I was brought up to believe that self praise is no praise, but I have been told more times than I can count that I am the best teacher that my particpants have ever had. That’s because my students are extremely precious to me: I know what it means to them to take these ambitious trips, and it’s my honour to make them happy and fulfilled. They are often people who have spent many years in the service of others, and I like to make sure this time is for them and them alone.
I had better leave it at that or I will never get this published!
See you next time!
