Monsters are sometimes nice ( the storybook) is inspired by the Dada Art Movement. This movement championed the use of everyday objects and absurdity in the making of art.

 

The artwork in the book is made through the technique of collage. Some elements are scanned from old magazines and books, and some are created digitally.

I love the authenticity of the paper grain and how it mixes in with the digital elements. Further pushing the cross over between the origin of the movement and current day technological explorations.

 

The storybook has been created with the intention of exploring imagination and challenging perceptions of reality, through exploring the subconscious mind.

​

The inception of Monsters are sometimes nice began when I was teaching Fine Arts.

 

One of the Dada exercises we explored is a “game” called 'cadavre exquis'/'the exquisite corpse'.

A surrealist game of chance and creativity.

​

I wanted to use these beautiful and strange characters as a basis for a story and inspiration for others.

​

The book is narrated by Butch, the bulldog puppy. Butch takes us on a magical journey where we meet and engage with his surreal monster friends.

 

The book's message is that the  monsters exist in the reader's imagination alongside all of his/her creativity. The question then becomes “what else is in your imagination?”. Thus encouraging the reader to create their own collage monsters.

​

This book promotes the 'letting go' of preconceived ideas of how things should look and be. It encourages the reader to be free and think big. As well as to create from within and tell their own stories.