There was once a village lost in the mountains, a village called Omoiyari...
Inspired by traditional Japanese culture and folklore, Omoiyari is a place where stories and humans live together in harmony, taking care of each other.
The book is a new edition of the original hardback (2016, sold out, that was limited to 60 copies, signed and numbered).
This new format features a copper foiled softcover with flaps, textured cover, precious speckeled endpapers, and a traditional japanese folded pages binding (PUR). It was printed and bound in the UK on responsibly sourced paper.
You can find copies of this self-published edition in my shop.
This story has also been translated and published in France by Cipango.
The Bird People book is a curious artbook, a collection of more than 80 sketches, drawings and paintings, beautifully presented in a hardback quarter bound volume. It is a reflexion on nature and culture, on the blurry line between human and animal. Every page invite the viewer to question and imagine their own stories.
The book has been successfully funded thanks to a Kickstarter campaign in November 2019 : https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/maharelillo/bird-people
Bird People is now available in my shop.
Hortari was first published in 2017 in a softcover edition of less than 100 copies. In 2018, I created the pink hardcover edition (300 copies). Both of these editions are now sold out.
The new 2022 hardback edition pictured here has a luxurious cloth spine and updated design and format. Hortari was also translated and published in France in 2019 by Cipango.
Hortari is a collection of 15 short stories about explorers and seekers you've never heard of. Bascahil Pellin, Isha Nim, Paul Teribec... they travelled the world and changed it, but you won't find their achievements in history books. This is their stories, illustrated in watercolours by the author. These endearing characters remind us that we are all defining our own quests, often taking us to unexpected places, whether it be on the other side of the planet or in a remote corner of our backyard.
To learn more and order a copy of the book.
Staff Review from the Shakespeare and Company bookshop in Paris : “For me, Hortari by MÄ Harel was what we French call a real "coup de coeur". When the author dropped by to show me her book I was immediately struck by the mysterious absence of a title on the beautifully designed cover. The book then opened on to a series of dreamlike watercolour portraits of what the author calls "Explorers and Seekers", accompanied by short texts like, for example, the story of Isha Nim and her mission to keep a volcano quiet by offering it the most beautiful flowers she could find, or Alyse De Quissac, who wanted nothing more than to stay lost in her maze. Reminiscent of Calvino and Borges but with a style all her own, MÄ is on a quest for new grounds of poetic expression. “
Omoiyari is my first self-published book. It contains a series of 14 paintings created for my solo show "Omoiyari" at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh, 6th-27th July 2016, as well as a little tale about the village of Omoiyari and its people.
This is a personal exploration of where stories come from, inspired by traditional Japanese culture and folklore.
Limited edition of 60 copies, signed and numbered. This edition is now sold out. I created a brand new binding for an open edition in 2020 (in English), you can find it in my shop.
Hortari is a collection of 15 short stories about explorers and seekers you've never heard of. Bascahil Pellin, Isha Nim, Paul Teribec, ... they travelled the world and changed it, but you won't find their achievements in history books. This is their stories, illustrated in watercolours by the author. These endearing characters remind us that we are all defining our own quests, often taking us to unexpected places, whether it be on the other side of the planet or in a remote corner of our backyard.
To learn more and order a copy of the book.
Text and illustrations, 2017
Watercolor, ink and pencil
Staff Review from the Shakespeare and Company bookshop in Paris : “For me, Hortari by MÄ Harel was what we French call a real "coup de coeur". When the author dropped by to show me her book I was immediately struck by the mysterious absence of a title on the beautifully designed cover. The book then opened on to a series of dreamlike watercolour portraits of what the author calls "Explorers and Seekers", accompanied by short texts like, for example, the story of Isha Nim and her mission to keep a volcano quiet by offering it the most beautiful flowers she could find, or Alyse De Quissac, who wanted nothing more than to stay lost in her maze. Reminiscent of Calvino and Borges but with a style all her own, MÄ is on a quest for new grounds of poetic expression. “
The book was first published in 2017 in a softcover edition of less than 100 copies. In 2018, I created the hardcover edition that you see here (300 copies). The book was translated and published in France in 2019 by Cipango.
----- Summary
A dedicated creative practice is riddled with demons. Let's befriend them.
Your creativity has the potential to change lives for the better, and not just your own. It carries its own rewards but also unique challenges, many of which should be embraced rather than avoided. Yet widespread narratives about the creative practice undermine creativity, reinforcing unhealthy habits and mindsets: real artists must create obsessively and suffer to be true to their art, but they’re doing something wrong if their practice isn’t easy and joyful.
Which challenges are useful and which are not? And how do you keep going when confronted with uncertainty, blocks, and exhaustion? Grounded in compassion and self-discovery, this book will help you identify, understand, and befriend your creative challenges. It’s a guide to discover a deeper and healthier connection to your creativity.
Friendly Demons is an insightful, empowering, and practical resource that shows how transforming fear and obstacles into positive forces can help artists of all kinds carve out a meaningful and sustainable creative life, on their own terms.
------ Reviews
“An honest and intelligent insight into the creative process which perfectly deconstructs how best to navigate a career in illustration and the arts. A book for anyone at any point in their career.” -- NEIL PACKER, illustrator, designer, and author
“Whether you’re just starting out or already established in your creative career, Friendly Demons is the perfect companion to help you find clarity, soothe your mind, and gain perspective on your artistic journey.” -- GENEVIEVE GODBOUT, illustrator and author
“By combining honesty with objectivity, Marie-Alice has achieved something remarkable in these pages: to narrow that terrifying space between the idea and its realisation, to shrink the gap between the mind and the page.” -- RICHARD JONES, illustrator and author
“Friendly Demons is a refreshingly honest, uplifting, and very much needed guide to accepting that to be a creative is very often to walk with the fear of how your work will be received by the world. Marie-Alice writes with compassion as she offers practical tips on how to identify, accept and make peace with your inner creative demons, and protect and nurture your joy while creating.” -- DAPO ADEOLA, illustrator, author, and visual development artist
------ Specifications
- Paperback with French flaps and debossing on the cover
- 148 pages, printed in colour throughout
- Spot illustrations (decorative)
- Durable sewn binding
- Size 13 x 19.2 x 1.6 cm
- Printed in China on high quality, responsibly sourced paper (Munken)
The paperback book is available in my shop with worldwide delivery. You can also find it in selected independent bookshops in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and London.
The audiobook and ebook formats are available here:
