I've been reading science fiction books for years, and at some point I think it all got hard-wired in my brain so that it's hard to tell what's real and what's fiction. I don't think I'm the only one this happens to. For instance, if you spent years watching Star Trek on TV, there's probably a place in your mind that believes that Vulcans DO exist. But I'm digressing. What I really want to talk about is how many of my monotypes are inspired by science fiction.

Although I don't start out creating "science fiction" monotypes, at some point during the process the image I'm working on often begins to look other-worldly; I may see a landscape, or feel some kind of energy in the piece - something that reminds me of a terrain I'm familiar with in some way, but not here on Earth. OK, stay with me - I'm not getting New Age-y on you. What I'm trying to say is that because of the tremendous exposure I've had to science fiction over the years, there are places and experiences hard-wired into my brain that come from books; stories I've read over the years about Mars, about Charlie Stross' Festival, etc., are SO REAL that it's like reading history books. When I read Singularity Sky, I really got sucked into the story, and by the time I finished, The Festival was very real to me.

Could be I belong in a loony bin, but humor me. Take another  look at some of the pieces I've uploaded and see for yourself - I can't be the ONLY one who recognizes a Mars landscapes or The Festival.