Like a message in a bottle, a “missed connection" classified (usually posted on a website) is an attempt however far-fetched, by one stranger to reach another on the strength of a remembered glance, smile, or blue hat. The anonymous messages are hopeful and hopeless, funny and sad. Ms. Blackall, award-winning illustrator of Ruby’s Wish and Big Red Lollipop, has turned some of the most evocative (or hilarious) of them into exquisite paintings.
Missed Connections is a collection of illustrated love stories. There’s “We Shared a Bear Suit.” “If Not for Your Noisy Tambourine.” “Hairy Bearded Swimmer.” Each is told in the shorthand of a “missed connection,” and then illustrated in Chinese ink and watercolor. The paintings are extraordinary: delicate yet full of feeling, each springing from one little detail of the post into a fully imagined world. Each brings the voyeuristic pleasure of watching love at first sight, and the pleasure of watching an artist discover a fresh new way to tell a story. And not all the connections are missed. Hidden in the book are three pieces that conjure up the magic of love found.
Jackie says:
"The world, or a least a very large chunk of it, is obsessed with the "Missed Connections" personal ads. Sophie Blackall is one of them. Fortunately for us, she's also a very gifted artist (she's the illustrator of the "Ivy and Bean" children's series among many others). She combines these two passions in this book to create a stunningly lovely, impossible to put down book. The longing, the romance, the regret and the humor that is so much part of these ads are visualized, fascinating, and unforgettable here. Go on, take a look!"
Visit Blackall's blog to see more of her work.
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