Stephen Embleton's Blog, page 9

2021 Nommo Award Finalist

My debut novel, Soul Searching, was shortlisted (finalist) for the 2021 Nommo Awards by the African Speculative Fiction Society (The Ilube Nommo Award for Best Speculative Fiction Novel by an African), in May 2021.



2021 NOVEL SHORT LIST:The Ilube Nommo Award for Best Speculative Fiction Novel by an African
THE DEATH OF VIVEK OJI by Akwaeke Emezi
CLUB DED by Nikhil Singh
SOUL SEARCHING by Stephen Embleton
#nommoawards #nommoshortlist #nommos2021 #2021nommos #2021nommoawards
Find the full list for all categories here.

Lunar Ascension – ink & brush

 I began this ink illustration on 28 April 2021 and worked on it off an on until adding the final touches on 28 May 2021. 

“Lunar Ascension” Ink and brush on 200gsm A2 paper 👼🏼🖌

For Sale. For more information or pricing requests: art [at] embleton [dot] co [dot] za

#illustration #penandink #penandinkillustration

Completed piece
Detail wing
Detail right hand and wing

Detail left hand and wing

The Work In Progress:

Pencil work.

Originally meant to be a solid black sky, I had put down the ink in swooping brushstrokes – but keeping in the direction of the moon and the figure's movement upward – and realised what the streaks added to the upward movement I wanted to have. This led me to simplify the strokes but without losing the "light streaks" altogether.

Knowing ink has varying degrees of translucency I decided to use its idiosyncrasies to my advantage and have areas of solid black while others (particularly around the moon) using the lighter ink application to give some life to what could have been dead black. And when viewed in person, this evident more than when viewing the artwork on a screen – which I like.

Beginning the brushwork detail.

The first brush work

The first brush work (detail)

Near completion. Just need to add shape to the wings.

...This Is Not A Review

 

THE MYRIAD DRUMBEATS OF AFROFUTURISM - SEARCHING FOR AN AFRICAN SOULby Mame Bougouma DieneAppearing in Strange Horizons 24 May 2021

"…Soul Searching is a hell of a ride. Except there is no Hell, and your ride might come crashing down on you."

 

"...this is not a review".

Using "Soul Searching" and my writing as the backdrop, Mame Bougouma Diene takes an incisive look at what and who is an African (speculative) writer today?

#africanfuturism #africansf #nommoawards #nommonominated 

"Soul Searching is also a uniquely South African book. A Durbanite book, written by a local who understands its soul."

“Jump roping between science and philosophy, Soul Searching applies spirituality to mechanics and crime solving, to healing and recovering our humanity, in the timeless universal that cuts across cultures worldwide, but also in the immediate reality of the multicultural local, where time is running out, and people will die.”

Read the full article here: Strange Horizons 24 May 2021

Soul Searching Makes the 2021 Nommo Awards Novel Longlist

 

This is an amazing list to have Soul Searching longlisted in. African speculative fiction at its finest!

2021 NOVEL LONG LIST

The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi DaréThe Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke EmeziFreedom Artist by Ben OkriKing of the Hollow Dark by Cat HellisenClaiming T-Mo by Eugen BaconThe Down Days by Ilze HugoThe First Woman by Jennifer Nansubuga MakumbiAfterland by Lauren BeukesThe Perfect Nine by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’oWater Must Fall by Nick WoodClub Ded by Nikhil SinghSoul Searching by Stephen EmbletonThe Rosewater Redemption by Tade ThompsonRebel Sisters by Tochi OnyebuchiA Trial of Sparks and Kindling by Yolande Horak

Spot Series

Being exposed to a lot of wildlife imagery, I've seen a few marine animals whose distinct patterns struck me as being ideal for simple graphic illustrations. One in particular was the eagle ray with its ionic shape and the stark spots. Imagining them cruising through the dark depths, light touching their sky-facing patterns, they were the perfect starting pint for this series.

There are many striped or spotted animals in the animal kingdom, but most have dark markings on a light body (think of a leopard or a cheetah) and so the effect would be lost on a light animal on a dark background because their shape would be clear without the markings. With the exception of something like a zebra which is either black or white.

And that is what sets these apart.

From the original idea of the simple black on white, I was then quickly able to makes some wild colour variations as well as go beyond the markings only and include their body shapes for a different stylised effect with fun results!

You can check out the available range on my Society6 page to order a variety of prints (shout if there's a colour combination you don't see and want):

https://society6.com/spembleton/collection/spot-marine-animals

Eagle ray artwork#oceans #marinelife #eagleray

T-shirt and other prints available

Whale shark artwork

#oceans #marinelife #whaleshark

T-shirt and other prints available



White Spotted Octopus artwork

#oceans #marinelife #octopus

T-shirt and other prints available

SOUL SEARCHING REVIEW #2

Soul Searching Review by Damien LawardornAppearing in Aurealis #138, March 2020 
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 unregulated technology, ethical concerns about predictive algorithms and surveillance, a sprinkling of mythology drawn from many religions and an Egyptian goddess doing podcasts. The melange of ideas makes for a rich and intricate tale. 
The story’s structure is challenging. Although mostly linear, the perspective jumps in a manner that seems intentionally confusing. Some characters take the limelight only briefly to move events on. The sense of disorientation fades in the second half as disparate threads coalesce and the story becomes straightforward. 
The futuristic South African setting of Durban feels vivid, thanks to a smattering of Afrikaans throughout the text that helps to sell a convincing sense of place. 
In its unconventional style, Soul Searching may be a complex read, but it ultimately offers a thought-provoking story. 

Get Issue #138

The Gallery Exhibition Feb-March 2021

 

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

Thrashing 1.5m x 0.5m

  

“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 1.2m x 0.9m

 

“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

Stephen Embleton

Detail
Detail
Detail
Detail
Detail

The Process:
Textured Gesso Base
Acrylic Wash (Sun masked out)

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" Shadow detail on the animals
Guide shadows done

Detail
Hooves fading into dust
Darker shadows
Dark earthy tones
Mid tones and highlights
Animals ad water done. Final piece has riverbank detail.

For more information or pricing requests: art [at] embleton [dot] co [dot] za

Wild Play – 1.2m x 1m

“Wild Play” (FOR SALE) Wild Play (1.2 x 1m) Acrylic on Canvas

A vibrant, bold and playful acrylic on canvas piece (1.2m x 1m) depicting African wild dogs (painted dogs) at play