about
What is the SToryteller's Handbook?
The Storyteller's Handbook is a book of 52 richly hand-drawn illustrations, where every page is a new place, with new characters and situations, just waiting for the viewer to imagine the story. To set the scene there is an introduction by creator Elise Hurst to delve into the worlds and possibilities in the pictures that follow.
Sophisticated, layered imagery will appeal to children and adults alike. And the intricate details and storytelling possibilities will reward the returning reader, year after year. No set stories, just thousands of possibilities.
Hardback, 128 pages
How it began
Over the many years that Elise Hurst has been creating illustrated moments of story, she has discovered a passionate community of people who delight in adding their own ideas, making each picture capable of endless possiblity. In this video, Elise shows the little sketch-books where it all began and describes how she developed the world of The Storyteller's Handbook.
FROM THE CREATOR - ELISE HURST
But still, drawing the world around me was not part of this job. I was mostly telling other people's stories, trying to make places and characters look like the other illustrators did. Over time though, I let myself give more time to my secret drawing, using the things and places around me to tell stories. And I created the kinds of characters I loved best, the ones that felt like they came striding out of the books I adored as a child. I began to notice how patterns and behaviours repeated in different contexts: the glowing creatures of the deep sea look like stars, birds and fish flock and wheel, a truck coming out of a dark tunnel is like a en eel coming out of a cave, some animals stand like humans, some humans evoke animals, and mountains wreathed in clouds seem to float. More and more I explored these things - often with my inner child getting to be the adventurer in these diverse narrative moments. A small girl would stand in the middle of a scene without context, without a beginning or an end, but with a tremendous amount of possible story. When I started to share these works by making prints to sell at markets, or having them made into cards, I found that people really connected with this open style of story-making, surprising me again and again with their spontaneous tales. These worlds grew, becoming story books of my own and exhibitions of paintings.
And so here we are. In my next favourite place. Where I get to invent whole worlds and share them, watching people turn them into magical stories and reigniting their extraordinary passion to create.
Images from Elise's Moleskine sketchbook collection
ELISE HURST
Elise Hurst is an Australian fine artist, illustrator and author, specialising in books for children. Her most recent books were the award-winning Trying by Kobi Yamada, the illustrated edition of The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman, and Girl on Wire by Lucy Estela.
Her vintage narrative artworks can be found in collections across the world.
She lives in a house full of books and paintings. From her studio, where black pens and oil paints spill across the desk, magical worlds leap into being. Like something out of Beatrix Potter or Narnia, her friends are rabbits and bears, lions and tigers--and they all have a story to share.
Q & A WITH ELISE HURST
WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS BOOK?
I have been creating narrative illustrations like these for myself for a long time, both in little sketchbooks and as large paintings. Every time I have shown them to people, I have been inspired by the flood of spontaneous storytelling people would give me – and how often they said that they wish there was more time for creativity in their lives. During the Covid lockdowns, I thought of all of these people with their lives turned upside-down and decided that now is the time to reach out and give them a doorway to step through. Something that would allow them to drift out of their normal lives for a while, help them to connect with their imaginations and maybe give them the confidence to share their own stories with the people around them.
WHO IS THIS BOOK FOR?
Absolutely everyone! This is a completely ageless book. It is filled with details from all over the world woven into moments of strange narrative. No matter who you are, there will be something you recognise, a character you can relate to, or an idea sparked. It is for people who have never written a story in their lives, and also perfect for creative spirits. And of course for road-trips, holidays, gifts and for people who want to snuggle on a couch with the screens off and just spend time laughing and imagining together...
HOW WAS THE ART CREATED?
I wanted the work to be quite realistic, very detailed, but with a definite illustrative quality that reminds us we are storytelling. The timeless quality of pen drawing was a perfect fit, with a small amount of colour to act as a focus or an emotional lift for each scene. My personal preference for hand drawn art is that I like the slightly unfinished and loose quality you can achieve. I feel it subtly encourages storytelling simply because our minds have to supply the details that are missing. The more gaps we find, the more we have to do ourselves - becoming co-creators.
The artwork was created in a very intuitive way, beginning with an initial idea (a character, place or concept). As I began to draw that idea I would ask myself questions about what could be around it or interacting with it. I would collect photographic reference to help me construct a believable world. All the time,
I continually questioned my choices, sifting ideas and possibilities until the story emerged and the scene felt right. Even I do not know what is happening in every picture. I find that I change my mind all of the time and can be surprised over and over again by possibilities that others tell me. This is narrative openness is vital and the more details I can hide in the scenes, the more options we have to give agency to anyone, or anything, there. This means that people could return to the scenes many times and completely change their ideas.
WHY IS STORY IMPORTANT?
Story is not a rigid thing. It is not simply a book, or a film or a poem. It does not have to have edges, or endings. It does not even have to have words. It is everything. It is the bend of a tree that was scarred and blown by storms. It is the lines on a face and a dog that flinches from a hand. Story is how we make sense of our lives, our fears, our memories, our hopes, our knowledge, our questions – and how we share that with others. Very importantly, story allows us to experiment with ideas and see where they might lead. We learn empathy through stories. In the lives of most people there are conversations we desperately wish we could have, and ideas we wish we could explore – story allows us the space for that. They let the shy be bold, and the silent find a voice, they let us tread the path we did not take. Stories connect to the real world and also our dream world, reaching with tendrils and roots to our earliest experiences, and stretching out into the sky with our hopes and dreams.They are both a doorway into, and out of, our minds.
HOW CAN PEOPLE USE THIS BOOK?
Everyone will have their own ideas, but for me - I love asking questions. It is the same way I create the work - simply focus on a single detail and begin to wonder about it. Ask yourself things like what is happening, what are they feeling, who are they connecting with or are they alone... Most of your answers will be instinctive. This is where the storytelling begins. Your instinct comes from your experiences, memories, ideas, influences, and interests - it comes from deep within you. This means the answers you give to these questions will be as distinct and original as you are. Perhaps jot down your thoughts as ingredients for later. Maybe you can share ideas with someone else. Maybe you are inspired to pick up a brush, or a pen, or a guitar and rekindle an old passion. It's exciting to imagine the possibilities!