On the Cover of a Magazine – Who’s that Girl?

Posted on November 21, 2017 by Jane Lee McCracken

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Featured on the cover of this November’s Longshot Island literary magazine, is one of Jane’s most personal artworks, The Sideboard I. An exciting new press, Longshot Island publishes contemporary fiction and non-fiction by talented writers from across the globe. When editor-in-chief D.S.White approached Jane to feature her artwork, she was delighted he wanted to include several Biro drawings from her series ‘Tales from the East’.

‘The Sideboard II’ 2008 red Biro drawing

The Sideboard triptych portrays the anonymous memories of a small child at play within the safety of home, before the onset of war. The drawings were inspired by the little girl in the red coat from the film Schindler’s List 1993 Steven Spielberg, as she wanders through the Kraków Ghetto while it is being liquidated by the German Army during WWII. The triptych features Jane’s niece Jemma, and contemplates victims of conflict as individuals rather than statistics.

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Since creating The Sideboard triptych in 2008 both Jemma (above) and her brother Jamie continue to feature in Jane’s work, alluding to the close family bond she shares with them. Jane was also delighted to receive photographs from Taiwan of the editor’s friends, including the next generation, enjoying the magazine.

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Copies of this magical publication are available to order from Longshot Island Press

Huge thanks to the Longshot Island team, friends of the team and Jemma!

‘Red Wolf’ Limited Edition Prints for Critically Endangered Wolves

Posted on December 12, 2016 by Jane Lee McCracken

‘Red Wolf’ 2016 original red Biro drawing by Jane Lee McCracken for the Wolf Conservation Center

Beautiful, adaptable and rare, the elusive Red wolf was once common to the eastern United States where it roamed for thousands of years. Now, critically endangered the wild population of just 45 individuals inhabits northeastern North Carolina, while a captive breeding program includes 200 wolves. Jane’s red Biro (ballpoint pen) drawing entitled ‘Red Wolf’ made for the Wolf Conservation Center, New York captures the beauty and fragility of this enigmatic creature whose wide-ranging habitat once included swampland.

Member of the Wolf Conservation Center’s Red Wolf Pack. Photo Credit: Maggie Howell WCC 2016

With kind permission of WCC Jane used images of their Red wolf pack as inspiration for her drawing. She asked Executive Director Maggie Howell and Curator Rebecca Bose what their own personal favourite qualities of the Red wolf were, and they both agreed “a strong sense of family”. Therefore ‘Red Wolf’ celebrates the three stages of a wolf’s life from pup to juvenile through to adulthood. While an adult Red Wolf treads quietly across a page of history, through a forest of Cypress trees covered in Spanish moss like lacework through its fur, its young pup waits in the den. A Whitetail fawn drinking from a forest pool suggests the tranquillity of nature. Sibling juvenile Red wolves tentatively emerge from the forest, inquisitively exploring the world around them while the adult watches over them.

A limited edition of 50 signed and numbered ‘Red Wolf’ prints is now available from Jane’s SHOP. Each print sold benefits WCC’s vital work ensuring the survival of Red wolves.

For further information about the Wolf Conservation Center visit www.nywolf.org

Detail of ‘Red Wolf’ red Biro drawing, Jane Lee McCracken

‘Angel Girl’ Prints Released

Posted on December 23, 2015 by Jane Lee McCracken

‘Angel Girl’ 2015 black Biro drawing by Jane Lee McCracken

This year’s original Biro drawing for the Wolf Conservation Center ‘Angel Girl’, is a portrait of Alawa one of WCC’s Ambassador Wolves. It focuses on Alawa’s haunting eyes which speak of the innocence of animals and implore consideration of the wolf’s integral role as a keystone species. There are hints of blades of grass where Alawa is lying to remind us of the wilderness, the domain of wild wolves.

‘Angel Girl’ will be sold by WCC to raise vital funds for wolf conservation.

An A3 limited edition series of 50 signed and numbered archival pigment prints of ‘Angel Girl’ is now available with profits going directly to the Wolf Conservation Center.

To purchase a print please visit my shop

Howls from Alawa and the Wolves of WCC!

Alawa – Photo Credit: WCC

Seasons Greetings

Posted on December 11, 2015 by Jane Lee McCracken

This year’s Christmas card focuses on the plight of refugees and animals caught in the crossfire of war through a little sculpture tattoo drawing in Biro on a found china hand.

Season greetings and a happy and peaceful 2016 to all.

Best wishes,

Jane

Biro drawing by Jane Lee McCracken, on a china hand purchased in a local charity shop.

Reflection of dove drawing on the back of china hand.

Reflection of back of china hand with drawing of Lily and dove.

Sculpture tattoo on glass shelf.

‘War + Peace’ Book Update

Posted on December 2, 2015 by Jane Lee McCracken

‘War + Peace’, Selected Biro Drawings 2008 – 2014 by Jane Lee McCracken, Front Cover

This October book No.1/50 of ‘War + Peace’ was auctioned at the Savoy, London and raised £400 for Save Wild Tigers, an organisation dedicated to saving the last 3,200 wild tigers.

There is still time to order a copy before Christmas! ‘War + Peace’ is a limited edition publication of 50 books worldwide, signed and numbered with an original gold tiger drawing made on the back page of each copy.

Here are some page images of ‘War + Peace’:

‘War + Peace’, ‘Kaboom! Where did all the Animals Go?’, 2010 ”TV Screen III – Where East Meets West, Forests’ Memories’, 2010

'TV Screen II - Where Wolves and Bears Dare', 'War + Peace', 2014

‘War + Peace’, ‘TV Screen II – Where Wolves and Bears Dare’, 2011

‘War + Peace’, ‘Butterfly Lover’ 2014

'War + Peace', Selected Biro Drawings 2008 - 2014, by Jane Lee McCracken, 'American Dream' 2014

‘War + Peace’, ‘American Dream’ 2014

About:

“War + Peace’, brings together a selection of my Biro drawings from several bodies of work produced between 2008 – 2014 including ‘Tales from the East’, ‘The Woodcutter’s Cottage’, ‘In Homage to the Last Great Carnivores of Eurasia’ and recent artwork for conservation projects. Inspired by my passion for childhood memoirs, fairy tales, travel, forests and animals and continuing exploration of the themes of ‘war’ and ‘loss’, these multiplex, layered drawings in colour or black Biro are often used as inspiration to create objects and installations. Taking photographs of films and documentaries, my muse Lily, people, animals and found objects as the foundation for my work and building layers of drawn images in Biro, my aim is to make art that represents the beauty and brutal reality of life thus creating ‘memorials of lives lived, both human and animal and ways of life lost’.”

To order a copy or for more information please visit my shop.

Original Gold Tiger drawing on back page of each copy.

Biro Colour Palette and New Work in Progress…

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Jane Lee McCracken

Detail of colour Biro drawing by Jane Lee McCracken

Detail photograph of colour Biro drawing by Jane Lee McCracken

The following photographic images detail small fragments of a new colour Biro drawing in progress. The drawing is part of a new body of work exploring the meaning of the word ‘War’. This particular piece has been months in the making.

Detail of white horse, new colour Biro drawing

The colours in my drawings are mixed one on top of the other using 8 – 10 different colour Biro’s from a pack of 20 pens, in order to create the exact colours required. When painting in the past I would create a spectrum of colours using Red, Yellow, Cobalt, White, Paynes Grey and Yellow Ochre but with the pack of colour Biros I use this is impossible as the colours are geared towards children and include fluorescent hues. You have to be inventive when mixing the colours within the drawing! However Biro ink is a beautiful gelatinous ink which when applied to a surface achieves a vibrancy and volume rather like print pigments – one of the reasons I love Biro!

Detail of Roxy, colour Biro drawing

When painting, colours can be ready mixed on the palette so they can be reused within the canvas. When using colour Biro each colour has to be created or recreated within the drawing by layering different colour pens on top of one another. It takes a day to achieve 1/2 – 1 inch of a colour composition because you are often quadrupling the amount of pen layers as opposed to the fewer layers required to create the shades of a one colour drawing.

‘Pilgrim’, small detail of colour Biro drawing

Within my work I like to use images of people, animals and objects that play a part in my life and this particular drawing memorialises a yearling and a mare who belonged to friends and sadly are no longer with us.

Still some way to go…

New A0 Prints at Whosit & Whatsit

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Jane Lee McCracken

A0 Limited Edition Archival Pigment Prints

November sees the launch of my new A0 image limited edition print series at prestigious home to independent cutting edge design Whosit & Whatsit, Newcastle upon Tyne. These unique large format archival pigment prints are of the finest quality, expertly crafted on 380g Hahnemuhle German Etching. Each Biro drawing takes weeks and months to create and incorporates a multi-layered drawing technique. Extremely high resolution scans of the original Biro drawings capture every pen stroke, enhanced through these statement prints that allow the viewer to virtually step into the drawings. There are only 10 prints of each of the following drawings available, priced at £895 per print:

Fine English China Art Plates and Limited Edition 50 x 50cm Archival Pigment Prints

Also available to order from Whosit & Whatsit is my fine English china art plate series ‘In Homage to the Last Great Carnivores of Eurasia’, made in Stoke on Trent by celebrated ceramic manufacturer The New English. Limited edition 50 x 50cm signed and numbered archival pigment prints of original Biro drawings for each plate design priced £140 per print are also displayed and stocked at W&W.

Top Row Left to Right: Sweet, Revenge, Our Forefathers, Our Loss. Bottom Row Left to Right: Shh, it’s a Tiger!, Bang!, Mummy Bear and Baby Bear, The Orphans.

Plates measure 28cm diameter. Limited editions: 200 per design. Order price: £150 per plate.

An A0 Artist’s proof of ‘Butterfly Lover’ is now on display in Whosit & Whatsit’s beautiful second floor Brew Bar. Pop in for a brew and a browse through the magnificent design items in this unique store housed in a stunning Grade II listed building on Newcastle’s historic quayside.

All afore mentioned products are available to buy or order in store or online at:

www.whositandwhatsit.com

46 Sandhill

Newcastle upon Tyne

NE1 3JF

T: 0191 5800 242

E: hello@whositandwhatsit.com

Opening Hours

Monday 10am – 8pm

Tuesday Closed

Wednesday 10am – 8pm

Thursday 10am – 8pm

Friday 10am – 6pm

Saturday 10am – 6pm

Sunday 10am – 4pm

December Opening Hours:

Monday – Thursday 10am – 8pm, Friday – Sunday 10am – 6pm

www.janeleemccracken.co.uk

E: jane@janeleemcracken.co.uk

Lakshmi … Work in Progress on Tiger Sculpture Tattoo

Posted on September 22, 2015 by Jane Lee McCracken

‘Lakshmi’ blue Biro drawing on Tiger Sculpture, Jane Lee McCracken

Lakshmi, Goddess of wealth and prosperity, Vishnu’s wife, embodiment of beauty… this week’s work in progress on ‘Blue Tiger’ Sculpture Tattoo.

Side view of Lakshmi drawing depicting how her shoulder and arm follow the curves of the tiger sculpture’s right shoulder

This blue Biro drawing is inspired by a vintage painting of Lakshmi and an image of a beautiful Italian film star!

Detail Lakshmi’s face

Lakshmi’s curves are enhanced by drawing her body over the muscular shoulder of the tiger.Her head is positioned at 90 degrees to Vishnu’s head drawn on the tiger’s back.

Vishnu and Lakshmi blue Biro tattoos on Tiger Sculpture

Symbolism plays a large part in the work I make forming an intricate web of analogies. Using objects as I find them for making art is also an important part of the process; imperfections tell their own story and if you look closely there are scratches on the surface of the sculpture that have been deliberately retained.

‘King of India’ blue Biro drawing part of Tiger Sculpture Tattoo

Last weeks tattoo drawing ‘King of India’ was drawn over the tiger sculpture’s back leg. Vishnu’s hand is layered through the Bengal tiger’s face.

This work in progress highlights the familiarity of tigers iconic beauty and their symbolic importance to humanity.

‘Weeping Durga’, Tiger Inspired Art

Posted on September 15, 2015 by Jane Lee McCracken

‘Weeping Durga’, 2015 colour Biro Drawing, Jane Lee McCracken

‘Weeping Durga’ Icon, inspired by Hindu iconography celebrates the beauty and majesty of the Bengal Tiger and represents Durga the Tiger Goddess weeping for her tigers threatened with extinction. It is the companion icon for ‘Blue Tiger’ Tattooed Sculpture (work in progress). ‘Blue Tiger’ sculpture stylised and painted white to reflect ancient art and drawn over in blue Biro, looks towards ‘Weeping Durga’ for hope she will protect him. But Durga now looks for the compassion of humans to save tigers from extinction.

‘Blue Tiger’ Tattooed Sculpture, work in progress

‘Weeping Durga’ encapsulates the vibrant colours of Indian culture and Hinduism. It layers drawn images of Bengal Tigers over a drawing of a traditional Hindu icon painting set around a jewel like representation of Durga, which incorporates layered drawn images of two iconic Bollywood Actors, Rekha and Shabana Azami. As with most of my pieces symbolising threat of extinction to a particular species, there are unfinished areas of the drawing representing ‘disappearance’.

Detail of Bengal Tiger and Durga, colour Biro drawing

The drawing took 3 months to make with around half a square inch completed per day. Only 8 colour Biro pens were used with the colours mixed on top of one another within the drawing to achieve the finished palette.

Detail of Bengal Tiger, colour Biro drawing

‘Weeping Durga’ has been donated to Save Wild Tigers for their upcoming event ‘Be Inspired’ at the Savoy, London 9th October 2015. Splendid tiger inspired artwork courtesy of 18 artists to be auctioned in benefit for Save Wild Tigers is now being previewed on Paddle8 with bidding opening on 22nd September – 8th October.

For further information about Save Wild Tigers Savoy Gala Event on 9th October please contact:

Indy@savewildtigers.org

Tiger Sculpture Tattoo coming on!

Posted on September 5, 2015 by Jane Lee McCracken

Tiger Sculpture Tattoo drawing in blue Biro

Rarrrrrr! Voila, le tigre!

Blue Biro tattoo drawing on my tiger sculpture is coming on. As mentioned in my previous post Tiger Sculpture Tattoo…Work in Progress, this is the hardest surface I have drawn on to date as the clay sculpture has been painted to replicate ancient sculptures and icons. Therefore the surface is not smooth and more difficult to achieve fine detail.

Detail of sculpture tattoo blue Biro drawing on curved back of tiger figurine

The layers of images are starting to appear within the blue Biro drawing. Over the body of the Hindu god a roaring tiger’s face is emerging like a graphic t-shirt!

Back of tiger sculpture with blue Biro tattoo drawing.

This piece celebrates the beauty of tigers, one of the most iconic animals on earth, their survival for over 1.8 million years longer than humans who’s existence is relatively short in comparison and our cultural heritage of representing tigers through art.

Much to do!

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