Keith Pointing- The Inkspot Monologues

Bromley writer Keith Pointing’s latest book, The Inkspot Monologues, tackles the trite subject of relationships in a manner which is far from old hat.

He merges words and images to exhibit the true dysfunctionality of modern post-millennium courting.

Keith’s drawings are called ink blots as they bear a loose resemblance to the blots used in tests by therapists.

The Rorschach technique was originally employed to catch out reluctant psychos too wily to be fooled into admitting their dark desires.

A patient is shown an inkblot and asked what it immediately makes them think of. Their response is supposed to tell the therapist something enlightening about their state of mind.

The technique has been the victim of much mimicry and skepticism. Keith’s aim is not to question its credibility but to use it as an innovative medium to poke fun at human behaviour.

Keith said: “My intention was to use mainly the Rorschach idea to parody relationships rather than the technique.


“We all have relationships, both romantically and in, of course, everyday social interactions, so the subject is universal and something that we can all relate to.”

Whilst Keith is not expecting to change anyone’s perspective on the course of true lurve, he is keen to promote graphic fiction beyond the under-five market. Yes, believe it or not, adults too can enjoy pictures with their prose.

He approaches his aim with self-deprecating affability calling his work “Mr Men for grown-ups”.

He said: “Publishers have largely been late in waking up to the potential of the book as a creative medium using words and images for adult fiction, unlike the USA, the Japanese and the French who all have their own unique genres. However, things are changing as, for example, the graphic novel sections of British bookshops are growing each year.”

Don’t jump to conclusions and think Keith was inspired to use the ink blots whilst on the therapist’s couch himself. His reasons are far more logical.

“We are hard-wired from birth to read a human face into minimal random shapes and marks, which is why we think we see a man in the moon, and knowing this gave me an idea,” Keith said.


“After playing around with some black and white drawings, I saw the potential of using Rorschach to entertainingly explore funny visual and verbal ideas around personalities.”

The Inkspot Monologues are voiced by Alice and Jack: two individuals who have kissed more than their fair share of frogs and now find themselves in couples counseling.

It is a dual narrative where they take in turns to disclose the dirt on their past beaus, each time explaining the main flaw which effectively drew the dalliance to a close.

Their confidences are complemented with an inkspot which visually conveys exactly what was so unbearable about their exes.

As they reveal their relationship histories, including Dominic with his knicker fetish and nymphomaniac Natalie, it is wonder Jack and Alice have not given up altogether.

Bearing these scathing caricatures in mind, Keith is keen to point out his book is not a personal exorcism.

He does admit, however, creating his text did involve analysing people’s quirks and foibles and what we seem to search for in a romantic relationship.

“Some say all artists' works are self-portraits, suggesting there could be something of me in all the drawings,” said Keith.

Taking his honesty into account, it is possible everyone who reads the text will confront some images, which remind them, albeit in a diluted manner, of uncomfortable situations they had hoped to forget.