Stephen Embleton

 DANCE OF THE DRUNKARD by Stephen Embleton Pas seul they step out into the night, A solo dance for a lone urbanite. Eyes glazed and dazed with disorient. Behind them fades sounds of merriment. The dark path ahead holds a chilly bite. A wallet made light. But a mobile holds weight. Its cold bright screen holds texts gone bad. No friends to hail, no ride-share to wait, Tentative forefinger held over keypad. A pang of sorrow, a flutter of guilt Reminders of the burning bridges they built. They click closed their screen and pocket the brick. A tug at their coat a reassuring trick. But little will quell the well of seasick. Their world is askew, blearily eyed askance. They’re onto the pavement, and ready to dance. Wallowed and willowed in unending lament. Dripped and drunk down to the cent. No partners remain for the promenade stance. A chassé to sidestep invisible foes, Opposing forces jab at their will. Imagined adversaries the cause of their woes, Now the horizon has tilted as if up...

I took the style from two previous pieces,  "Freedom of Flight"  and  "Light Flight Freedom" . and did a simple vector-based illustration. Changes in the colours, quick and easy to play with, alter the mood in lovely ways.

Soul Searching Review by Damien Lawardorn Appearing in Aurealis #138, March 2021 Highlights: “[Soul Searching] is a philosophical thriller that engages readers through a combination of complexity, action and imagination.” “The melange of ideas makes for a rich and intricate tale.” “In its unconventional style, Soul Searching may be a complex read, but it ultimately offers a thought-provoking story.” If you replace Minority Report’s precognitive mutants with mysticism, you get an idea of Stephen Embleton’s Soul Searching. The book is a philosophical thriller that engages readers through a combination of complexity, action and imagination.  In Embleton’s world, a nascent branch of the South African Police Service has developed technology to track people via their souls. Their latest target is a serial killer whose unpredictability confounds the officers’ methods.  Soul Searching is about more than the murder investigation. There are background questions about the dangers of unre...

  In February 2021 4 of my pieces (" Wild Play ", " River Crossing ", " Thrashing " and " White Moonlight. Black Night ") were selected for display in the CONTAGIOUS CREATIVITY exhibition at The Gallery from 5 February until 9 March 2021 in Balitto. For more information or pricing requests:  art [at] embleton [dot] co [dot] za Featured: During the Exhibition at The Gallery in Balitto, "River Crossing" was featured in the  March edition of Explore Ilembe  mag's article on The Gallery. "River Crossing" at The Gallery March 2021

Original ink on paper. Traced digitally for various derivatives. The work in progress on the original (2020) brush and ink:

   “Thrashing” (FOR SALE) A visceral moment captured with acrylic on canvas (1.5m x 0.5m) depicting a Nile crocodile thrashing – whether in defence or in attack – in the river water. I wanted to capture the speed and chaos of a croc reacting to the viewer's intrusion on their domain. For more information or pricing requests:  art [at] embleton [dot] co [dot] za Thrashing (1.5 x 0.5m) Acrylic on Canvas Stephen Embleton Reptilian eye Back and tail detail Scale Signature The Process: Plain canvas – no gesso this time First pass at the green acrylic wash Adding yellow ochre Dried background Masked the tail (bottom middle) and added pencil guides White pencil highlight guides Highlights Shadows Mid tones More detail Additional water Signature and croc face detail For more information or pricing requests:  art [at] embleton [dot] co [dot] za

  “River Crossing” (FOR SALE) River Crossing (1.2 x 0.9m) Acrylic on Canvas A dramatic scene with acrylic on canvas (1.2m x 1m) depicting a wildebeest leaping into the treacherous waters of the Mara River while two other animals look on apprehensively. These waters are usually inhabited by hungry Nile crocodiles waiting for food as the migrating wildebeest and zebra make their way to the lush plains of the Serengeti. For more information or pricing requests:  art [at] embleton [dot] co [dot] za Featured: During the Exhibition at The Gallery in Balitto, "River Crossing" was featured in the March edition of Explore Ilembe mag's article on The Gallery. "River Crossing" at The Gallery March 2021 Stephen Embleton Detail Detail Detail Detail Detail The Process: Textured Gesso Base First pass at the acrylic colour wash Acrylic colour wash drying Weapons of choice (R10 spray bottles) Beginning the pencil work River colour wash and highlights on the animals "Guide...