Wednesday 11 July 2012

The Starlight Express

I was reading a very old book, by Algernon Blackwood, first published in 1913.  Called "A Prisoner in Fairyland."

It tells the story of a financier who, having made his money, gives up the city to follow his long held goal of being a philanthropist.

Firstly he takes a short break to the place where he grew up and is surprised that the dreams of childhood come back to him so easily.

From that moment on, he is a prisoner in fairyland - and the way he travels there each night, is on the train that comes down from the sky to pick him up... the Starlight Express.

Its a lovely book, with a flying train, a net of stars and a cave of starlight, which once placed into people lightens their load and makes them happy; children and adults who come alive in their sleep and go about doing good; it exhorts us to send good thoughts into the world, because by doing that we do great things.

The story was so appealing to me, it fired a few paintings in my mind. The first was The Starlight Express.
Here's my vision...

The Starlight Express


15" x 11"
Arches 140lb rough paper
WN aq paint. 

A Prisoner in Fairyland is available as a free e-book. 
It can be downloaded HERE in epub, pdf or kindle format.
There is no hidden benefit telling you this, just sharing a delightful book :)

24 comments:

  1. Oh wow! I LOVE this! Your imagination really has created the most whimsical painting and I really like it! Great stuff Pat :0)

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  2. Pat, love the starry night with the train moving mysteriously through it.

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  3. Pat what a beautiful piece! Full of whimsy and dreams, love it

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  4. Hi, Pat,
    I really, really love that painting!! The sky, the mood and the snow are brilliant. Congrats!
    Hugs and smile, Sadami

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  5. Great painting of the Starlight Express! I love the sky! I don't know the story, I'll check it out. xx Judy

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  6. A fantastic vision of a train through the clouds. Really magnificent! Great work, Pat!

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  7. Qué precioso relato¡¡ La acuarela es preciosa y nos transporta a bellos sueños. Un abrazo.

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  8. The fantastic train of fantasy! Arianna

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  9. Wow! Pat, this painting is brilliant. Even if you hadn't explained the story, the painting is great. Now if I read the story (and I hope to) this will be the train in my minds eye.

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  10. A great painting Pat - thank you for sharing the story behind it

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  11. Pat,
    To paint after being inspired so deeply is always great and it results in magical outcomes. This is one such thing. Thank you for this.

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  12. This is absolute magic, Pat! Wonderful!

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  13. Pat, your painting is fabulous!!! Love it, and I think I will love the book, too. Thank you.

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  14. Wonderful painting Pat ... love the limited palette! ~X~

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  15. Love the background especially!!

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  16. that sounds like a good book. I love your interpretation of the train.

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  17. What a dreamy painting! I want to board your train and go do good deeds!

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  18. Love it! There's a mysterious mood and the colors are great.

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  19. What a lovely post Pat and I love this painting. You're imagination has brought the story to life. Brilliant!!

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  20. This is a wonderful painting, Pat, it looks like a child's dream! Love it!
    Thanks for sharing the e-book link.xoxo

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  21. I absolutely LOVE this! Stephen is still very very in love with trains. I will show him this and he will love it too. xx

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  22. Hello Pat
    Your painting is wonderful. That is how I imagine the Starlight Express.

    In Cologne, there is a stage musical called The Starlight Express. They show the story on roller skates. Is fantastic.

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  23. I absolutely love your painting Pat. It is the stuff that the BEST children's book illustrations is made of. :)

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