So long, farewell
Today I finished off my last illustration for the Big Issue magazine. I think it’s been about a year since the lovely Gina Morris and I began collaborating on a fortnightly basis and I am a little sad to see it go.
In truth, when we first began I didn’t want to really hear about her stories of breast feeding, lack of sleep, mother’s groups or any other baby antics. It was all something that was still so tender to the touch for me. I was in total denial and didn’t ever (ever!) want to go back so fortnight after fortnight I tried to be professional and illustrate a scene of early motherhood without actually thinking about it too much. Occasionally this wasn’t possible as I would find myself having to draw something like Gina using a breast pump and had to sit at my computer recalling the way it was held by searching my memory and physically posing it. But time went on and life has (most definitely) become better, and both Amelia and Lillah Rae have grown older and the smell of a new born doesn’t send me running, screaming with some kind of primal terror any more. Instead, I realise that I have been really enjoying these illustrations over the last six months. I am really enjoying being a mum. I am going to miss both Gina and Lillah.
I have uploaded a gallery of images from the past year over on flickr. Here you can see my pictures but if you want to read Gina’s stories that go with them, you will have to find a Big Issue (Australia) vendor and beg them to get you the last 25 issues. Of course, I highly recommend this!
Responses
13th October 2005 at 5:11 pm
I think they choosed just the right illustrator for that job. Really great done!!!
13th October 2005 at 5:24 pm
They are beautiful Claire. I was wondering what the fauxpas was though. Is she wearing a girdle?
13th October 2005 at 6:37 pm
thank you for those wonderful images. you really captured it so beautifully.
13th October 2005 at 7:06 pm
oh, why did it finish so soon? I always read my Big Issue back to front! Now I’ll have to go the right way round..
13th October 2005 at 10:20 pm
Your illustrations are so beautiful and touching, and they work well without the text too. 
14th October 2005 at 2:35 am
how sweet and true! i love those illustrations. thanks for sharing…
14th October 2005 at 2:36 am
Thanks for sharing all those wonderful illustrations—brought early motherhood back to me with all it’s ups and downs!
Ameila will love looking at them when she’s older, I’ll bet.
14th October 2005 at 4:43 am
i love the pics
especially the one you posted for today’s entry. It is soooo my daughter, she pinches me all the time, she even has to pinch me to fall asleep! who could get mad at such a cutie!!!!
14th October 2005 at 7:16 am
lovely and funny illustrations, i can relate to each one without reading the stories. great job
14th October 2005 at 9:33 am
Great illustrations. I would love to read the stories ehind each one but alas I don’t work in the city and have never seen the big issue out here in the boonies 
14th October 2005 at 12:58 pm
You captured each moment so perfectly Claire. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to have Lillah’s first year so beautifully illustrated. I am a very lucky lady, and she is a very lucky little girl. Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
15th October 2005 at 5:48 am
Hello there
I’ll like to participate month of softies :)…
15th October 2005 at 2:16 pm
You are soooo talented!!! I LOVE your depictions of motherhood . . . the green bugger babies, the bags under the mother’s eyes, the stroller dual offs!! You are awesome!
17th October 2005 at 6:46 am
A wonderful collection of memories, instantly identifiable to any mum. Even without the articles they make perfect (somewhat painful) sense!
18th October 2005 at 3:13 am
those were all quite endearing and funny (and too close to my own experiences!). thanks for sharing such a great flickr set.
13th October 2005 at 3:29 pm
Claire, they are so beautiful and touching. I laughed and almost cried looking at them. You captured each scene so perfectly, it is really amazing. I tend to avoid reading stories about mother’s groups and breastfeeding etc too, I think we get information overload and I often feel stressed reading them. But, after saying that I wish I did buy those Big Issues! I am always loaded up with my twin pram and 5 year old hanging on that I rush past anyone selling anything.