Goatland
Goatland Feb/March 1997 © John Welding
| Goatland John Welding |
Further ZUM! reading: Goathland Philosophical Dead |
Goathland was John's mighty year (plus) diary comic. I'm sure may mis spelled it - I'm sure I personally did on more than one occasion. It would be wonderful to see it all collected & published in it's entirety, but I wonder how John might feel about such a project.
As a reprise, we have this missive Goatland. It's spiritual home is the same remote North Yorkshire location. John stomps over the moors using the landscape allegorically to chime with his musings in the text. Sometimes these allegories are a little too heavy handed & the poetry that he is trying to invoke just tends to smack of cliche - a noble sentiment gets all sentimental. On the whole the tone is bemused at life & optimistic (perhaps defiantly so) of the future.
What I love & cannot resist about John's work is his line. His brush & penwork dance merrily across the page. He is willing to push at his ability & sometimes it even seems that he does not have full control & makes errors. This adds to the overall effect as you can see a tussle between rational & artistic sensibilities, and after all - if you are not willing to make mistakes, how are you to learn & progress? The artwork really does gladden my little heart.
Interestingly it also looks to be scanned, & there seems to be a digital manipulation here & there. On the whole this adds to the overall effect - giving a little more richness & depth. Overuse might dilute the whole effect. This could be a potentially interesting balancing act if this is something that he has the desire to explore further.
mooncat
| Goatland: 8 A6 pages, not stapled. | Recieved at ZUM! HQ: not noted |
£? | John Welding, 36 Grosvenor Street, Wakefield, WF1 5BG.
Note: update 22ix04 : stock may be limited to non existant, but contact John regarding his new Awakenfield project. |