Hannah McDonald is a British illustrator living in Amsterdam, making hand-drawn artwork and telling stories inspired by slow and seasonal living.
Prior to being an illustrator, she worked for leading animation and VFX studios for over 15 years, as executive producer and marketing director, and she co-directed 5×15 Amsterdam, the Netherlands edition of the acclaimed 5×15.com series of talks.
Hannah’s illustration work has a strong focus on seasonal living, which she believes is a tool we can all use to help us feel more connected with nature and in turn live more sustainably for our planet.
She lives and works by the water with her partner, son and Pepper the cat.
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Hannah’s projects for Liminal 11:
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The patterns underlying life have always fascinated Karen. Why are they there? What do they mean? How can we use them? Originally Karen studied Mathematics and Management Sciences and then spent many years in international marketing, during which time she was published on several occasions.
Over the last 20 years she has explored her passion for archetypal symbolism, especially sacred geometry and devoted her time to extensive research across all the disciplines. As an international author she is well known for her books in The Gateway Series. Current titles include Gateway to the Heavens: How geometric patterns and symbols form our reality and The Hidden Geometry of Life: The science and spirituality of nature (both published by Watkins Publishing Ltd).
Karen enjoys sharing her knowledge about the science and mathematics behind numbers, shapes and colours, their roles in forming reality, and their use as symbols and tools in the Arts and spirituality. For many years she had been a speaker at events ranging from conferences to small groups for a diverse range of people and interest groups.
This merging of science, art and symbolism, is a type of alchemy that Karen also uses in her own abstract artwork. Her paintings are visual expressions of science manifesting reality, combined with the power of intent in Mind to elicit various responses from the viewer, such as healing, guidance and inspiration. These same principles are embedded in the premise and designs of her game designs, ranging from self development to family fun.
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Karen’s projects for Liminal 11:
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978-1-912634-23-1 * £11.99 * Published April 2021
‘There are empty spaces that must be respected, those often long periods when a person can’t see the pictures or find the words and needs to be left alone.’ – Tove Jansson, Fair Play
Through wordless black and white illustrations, John Cei Douglas empathetically shows the struggle to communicate how things feel when we get lost, and the wrenching effort that comes from dealing with anxiety and depression, over the course of an at times surreal and surprising journey.
A quietly beautiful meditation on the seemingly endless paths we try to take simply to get back to the place we think we should be, and all the obstacles we encounter along the way, All the Places in Between offers a comforting reminder that we’re not always alone on this journey…
John Cei Douglas is a freelance illustrator based in London with a particular interest in stories, comics and self publishing, epitomised by his narrative approach to illustration. He has worked with a variety of clients and projects over the years and developed a strong identifiable lyrical style for his work, often closely linked with themes of mental health and relationships, through picture books and comics to editorial pieces.
Festivals, Rituals and Everyday Magic
From the creators of The Garden
written by Sean Michael Wilson
illustrated by Fumio Obata
978-1-912634-30-9 * £11.99 * Published 10 June 2021
Japan is sometimes called a ‘non-religious’ country, but this cliché is simply not true! If we look closer, we find that spirits, demons and magic are woven into the fabric of Japanese folklore and their effigies still populate roadsides and rituals to this day.
Japan is alive with magical festivals, practices and rituals – from marking the liminal new year with the burning of last year’s possessions, to smiling at the return of spring in the cherry blossoms. Greeting new life, making offerings to the old and banishing demons with the hurl of a soybean are all examples of intriguing Japanese traditions.
Many of these cultural practices are seen as mundane or normal, but they each express something sublime and numinous. Japanese rituals perform a powerful role in helping people deal with nature, time, seasons, aging and death – bringing a bit of everyday magic into everyday lives.
The Spirit of Japan is an accessible introduction to Japanese spiritual practice, perfect for those who are curious about spirituality or Japanese culture and would like to know more.
Table of Contents:
Introduction: The Value of Magic in Everyday Lives
New Year Rituals
Out Demons! Setsubun (節分) Bean Throwing
Obon (お盆) Ancestors
Jizo (地蔵) Roadside Shrines
Funeral and Death Rituals
Omikuji (おみくじ) and Other Fortune Charms
Hanami (花見) Spring Ritual
Hanabi (花火) Fireworks
Land Cleansing Ritual
Rituals at Shrines and Temples
Recent Foreign Festivals in Japan
Iro Iro (Various Things)
Sean Michael Wilson is a writer living in Scotland and Japan. His books are often on themes of history, biography and social issues. He has had more than twenty books published with a variety of US, UK, and Japanese publishers. His 2016 book The Faceless Ghost was nominated for an Eisner Award. In 2017, his book Secrets of the Ninja won an International Manga Award. (read more)
Fumio Obata is an illustrator and animator whose style and work are influenced by both Japanese and European aesthetics. He is latest graphic novel Just So Happens (Jonathan Cape, 2014) was critically acclaimed
and been published in eight languages. (read more)
Elizabeth Kim is a London-based writer and the editor of Cunning Folk, an independent magazine about magic, mythology, folklore, and the occult.
She has written for publications including BBC Culture, The Guardian, The Independent, Refinery29, Oh Comely, and the LA Review of Books.
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Elizabeth’s projects for Liminal 11:
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Kaitlynn Copithorne is a freelance illustrator, visual artist, and folklore enthusiast living in Mohkinstsis/Calgary, Canada.
Working in both digital and traditional mediums, her work is inspired by the intersection of the supernatural world and the mundane, with a particular fascination with the witchcraft traditions of Early Modern Europe. Magic and nature have played a major role in her development as an artist, and the conflicts and compatibilities between the natural, man-made, mundane, and magical worlds are common themes in her work.
Stylistically, her illustrations are heavily influenced by the etchings and woodblock prints of the Medieval and Early Modern periods, combined with the graphic shapes and limited color palettes of silkscreen printing.
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Kaitlynn’s projects for Liminal 11:
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