This linocut print illustrates a solitary figure fishing from a sailboat. The clouds above, waves on the surface, and fish below all move around him, but he is still and patient. "Tutto Passa," the Italian phrase meaning “Everything Passes,” is woven into the water below him. It reminds us to enjoy the moment, be persistent, and embrace the transient nature of our experiences.
The 13th edition of the Ras Al Khaimah Art Festival will be at Al Hamra Heritage Village from 31 January to 28 February 2025. If you visit, you can hand-print my linocuts onto your own postcard.
I began by visiting the emirate and photographing the museums, mountains, and historical village by the water. The focal point of my design is the fort, a recognizable landmark and where the festival will open next Friday. To the left is the vintage Land Rover displayed by the souk and visitor center. On the right, there are three figures following the path by the fort walls. The elderly figure represents the past, adult is the present, and the child is the future: a nod to the history of the site while maintaining an active role in the community today and beyond, with events like the art festival.
My carved blocks will be available around the village during the festival, with ink pads and postcards. Printing all five in order will complete the design to create your own linocut print.
Children’s illustrations are great because they don’t have to make sense. You can just draw some random fun things and let the stories come from how they fit together.
I recently had a fun and wide-ranging conversation with Daniel Glenn from Fascinating Nouns about the end of the world. We talk about doomsday cults, Mouse Utopia, Chicken Little, and how we are just nine missed meals from total anarchy.
My newest publication is NICE TRY: A Brief History of Failure for the annual comic book anthology Corniche by Sharjah Art Foundation, where I have work featured alongside other UAE-based comic illustrators. It’s short, and there are lots more tales to explore, so I may be expanding it into a bigger project.
The HBO series Succession has the most creative insults I’ve ever heard, they always make me laugh. In celebration of the final season, here are some of my favorites.
The official Dubai book launch for The End is at Hand was a fun event with a conversation about creative process, writing, illustration, printmaking, and of course how the world may end. There was an art show where I displayed work that relates to the book, we had a Q&A, book signing, and screen printed poster giveaway. Finally, once it was all done, we were able to enjoy the rest of the very lively Quoz Arts Fest at Alserkal Avenue.
