Stephen Embleton

My latest short story, The Legend of the Echo Well , was published this week in the 10th Anniversary Edition of Omenana . I'm really excited to have a story in here, in good company... and a Sauúti story no less!  A magical story about the coming of age, responsibility and self-expression. Illustration – Stephen Embleton 2023 In the Issue: The Legend of the Echo Well | Stephen Embleton How the End Begins | Gabrielle Emem Harry Prévoyance | tariro Ndoro Alpha’s Gambit | Mazi Nwonwu The Night Market | Chinelo Onwualu Yoyin of the Captivating Form | Art Aliyu The Locket | Nerine Dorman If They Can Learn | Wole Talabi Read the FULL issue online.

I've loved birds since I was a kid, and this cover was an absolute pleasure to indulge in. Mirari Press had a long deadline, which gave me the time (and creative freedom) to experiment and add the detail I wanted to, giving this piece the TLC it so deserved. Buy Nerine Dorman's  "The Company of Birds"  here (coming soon). As always, Mirari Press gave an excellent brief, and with much needed background to the main character of Maga Liese ten Haven (and the variety of key bird species) from Nerine, the creative direction was clear in my mind: use a pencil crayon/chalk on paper (digital) technique with metal foiling for the Moon and Title script. This piece really took me back to my illustrating training in the early 90s, when most of our live figure drawings were using coloured pencils or chalk on coloured (not white) paper. The paper texture is vital to capture, as well as the nuances of the chalk smudges and fine line work. Digital is all well and good, but for me it...