This specific quest is as old as anyone can remember, yet it is a monumental story that has never been told before - a tale of which childhood dreams are made, one of several that have been with Paul since his own younger days. Although the first meeting between Webstrand and Fizz was a little tetchy, a close bond is eventually forged between them, one that can never be broken.
Webstrand, the Tooth Gatherer, recounts Elphen folklore about one particular event, an event in life with which we are all familiar. Told through the experience of an adventurous child, whose life is forever changed – a child whose inquisitive nature leads to the discovery of something beautiful.
Share in Paul’s delight at being able to reveal this epic tale of Webstrand, the Tooth Gatherer, who ‘accidentally’ (or not) takes a human-child on the expedition of a lifetime, after losing her tooth. Paul invites you to join them on that journey through the Starway, with twists and turns, frights and laughter, happiness and sadness, totally new experiences and unexpected happenings and a uniquely Elphen ending.
Select & Treasure
Watch and listen along, to the nine-chapter Video-Storybook, in which Paul narrates this illustrated Elphen folklore. Featuring his scene-setting Masterworks oil paintings, oil portraits of noteworthy Elphen and miniatures of significant subjects, the story further unfolds through his one-hundred and twelve storytelling vignette paintings. Jewelled page borders, ever-changing page backgrounds that chart the mood of the story, as well as animation and additional visuals, portray this Elphen folktale - accompanied by original music composed uniquely by Liza Mulholland, for ‘Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles’ soundscape and the upcoming Concept Music Album.
Welcome to Shimmistra and the world of Elphen, for which Paul is privileged to be the sole chronicler, through his artworks and writings. This nine-chapter volume records the happening of one particular earth-time night, from when Fizz lays her head down to sleep, to when she awakes in the morning, wondering – was it all but a dream?
This Video-Storybook is based on Sunita Gahir’s beautiful book design, featuring pages that are, in themselves, a work of art.
THE DESIGN JOURNEY of ‘Webstrand, the Tooth Gatherer’ from ‘Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles’
“Over the years I have been witness to Paul’s vision for Webstrand, the Tooth Gatherer, as he tirelessly worked away at the principal Masterworks oil paintings for this illustrated book. Ideas for the ultimate design of his epic chronicle developed in my mind as the collection grew – because ultimately, I knew this book had to reflect the richness of Paul’s paintings and the ‘tone of voice’ of
his writing.
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As Paul worked, so too did I. One treatment after another came and went, until such time as I was happy to reveal the design with Paul and Eileen, for whom I wanted to spring a surprise.
For the pages a background that resembles, distressed parchment, varying throughout the book, to complement the visual content and narrative that appears on each. Where the story gets darker in specific chapters, so too does the background of the pages – brightening as the narrative gets lighter. Many pages also included additional features incorporated into these backgrounds, such as a feint tracery of Elphen wings.
Paul and I then went through his sketchbooks and thoughts for the content of the accompanying storytelling vignettes, which flow throughout the story. The method of painting for these was something that Paul had uniquely developed, to reflect the ‘tone of voice’ of his writings.
I had designated a colour motif for each chapter, to reflect the mood of the story as it unfolds, which can be seen in the holding frame around each page of text. Paul took this colour motif and incorporated it into one of the layers of the vignettes that appeared in the same chapter, so that every stage of Fizz and Webstrand’s journey would be reflected in the character of each chapter.
Elphen-jewelled Borders, hand-painted by Paul, added to the individual character of the nine chapters; with sprinklings of stardust, gold-frames surrounding each full-plate Masterworks, Forgettle-dust and Rememble-dust motifs, plus visual extracts and more, dotted throughout Webstrand, the Tooth Gatherer.”
Sunita Gahir
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2024 – Paul Taggart has asserted his Rights as the Sole Artist & Author of Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles. ALL RIGHTS (including Music) owned by Paul W. Taggart, Eileen M. Tunnell, Sunita J. Gahir [The Three Quills]
The Three Quills studio, symbolising the trio of creative strands that are art & design, writings and music.
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Paul Taggart – Artist : Author : Presenter : Producer [Sole Author & Illustrator of ‘Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles©’]
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Eileen Tunnell – Project Director, Producer, Video Auteur ‘Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles’
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Sunita Gahir – Design Director/Producer ‘Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles’
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Liza Mulholland – Music Director/Producer ‘Paul Taggart’s Elphen Chronicles’