When I read the passage, "Hence when the clouds roll by, Jamey, a proudseye view is enjoyable of our mounding's mass, now Wallinstone national museum, with, in some greenish distance, the charmful waterloose country and the two quitewhite villagettes who hear show of themselves so gigglesomes minxt the follyages, the prettilees! Penetrators are permitted into the museomound free," it immediately transports me back to my childhood. I can vividly recall those Sundays when Dad would take us to Phoenix Park, and we'd excitedly climb the sloping "steps" of the Wellington Monument.
As a child, I used to believe that the massive obelisk held a secret door, and if I could just reach the next level, I would uncover its mystery. When I finally came across this part of the Wake, it was like finding a familiar memory in an unexpected place, and it filled me with delight.
When it comes to creating my illustrations, I have a rather unique process. Reading a passage often triggers images in my mind, though they may not necessarily relate to the entire text. Instead, they are connected to a particular sentence or phrase that sparks my imagination. To capture the essence of these images, I resist the urge to paint them as they are initially and challenge myself to dig deeper into the text.
The absurdity of the pictures that come to mind sometimes leaves me chuckling, but I see this humor as an integral part of the creative process. I try to incorporate this playful wit into my illustrations, staying true to the spirit of James Joyce's text.
The part of the book mentioned in the passage can be interpreted as symbolizing the nine months of gestation, as indicated by the nine "tips." The phallic symbolism of the Wellington memorial aligns with this theme, adding another layer of meaning to the passage. The admonition to mind our hats going in and our boots going out seems to reference the idea of coming into the world and leaving it, completing the cycle of life.
In summary, my artistic journey with "The Art of the Wake" is deeply connected to my childhood experiences and my passion for preserving cultural heritage. Through my illustrations, I aim to breathe life into the intricate web of references in Finnegans Wake while incorporating humor and celebrating Dublin's rich cultural essence.
