Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at 01:12PM Andy Smith sent me his new hand screen printed book Blue Inks. Again, his use of single colour in varying hues creates a fantastically bold, graphic look. I also like the clever little use of over-printed red to create an indigo/purple.
Monday, November 2, 2009 at 11:06AM I first discovered Andy Smith's work a few years ago when I came across one of his hand screen printed books Lightning Strikes at Fattys House. I instantly loved his hand lettered typography and the bold restricted colour use.
The follow pics are from a sketchbook that he took on a trip to New York. Smith explains 'It was a while ago and like a lot of illustrators I don't really get time to do this type of drawing anymore. Its drawing for drawings sake and its great to do and keeps you sharp but it doesn't feed directly into my work which these days is usually based more around an idea or phrase than going somewhere and recording it. The thing that was really useful about going out and drawing is that I used to often see or hear something that would later turn into an idea. Nowadays although I don't get out and draw so much I just note all this stuff down. So I have books with things written in them or little doodles that are based on stuff I've seen. These notebooks don't look as nice as the sketchbooks but are really useful for when I'm searching for an idea. I return to them again and again when I need inspiration.'
Friday, October 30, 2009 at 04:02PM I'm a big fan of Nick Sharrat's wonderful bright illustration style. This book was originally recomended to me buy a fat middle-aged biker during the summer as I worked to get my motorcycle license. As we were sat in a greesy spoon caff in south London he asked me what I did for a living and when I explained he became very animated and started telling me what a work of genius this book is. It was a rather surreal scene to be discussing picture books with a tattooed leather clad biker so I dedicate this post to him.
He was right though, this book IS a work of genius in that it sparks up a dialogue between adult and child which other books with a convensional storyline just wouldn't. The concept of the book is showing you a huge array of things on a spread and just simply saying what would YOU choose? Clean, simple and very effective.
Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 05:22PM Paul Rand and his wife Ann collaborated on a total of four children's book, including Sparkle and Spin, Little 1, Listen! Listen and this one, I Know a lot of Things (with Ann as author, Paul as illustrator).
Originally published by Harcourt, Brace & World in 1956, this edition is a 2009 re-issue by Chronicle Books. Illustrated in Rand's now iconic graphic cut paper style, this was their first children's book project. The rhythm and rhyme of the book reflect the Rands' short and direct writing for their future books, as well as Paul's future design volumes.
Rand's books have been widely talked about this year due to the brilliant foresight of Chronicle Books who've re-printed them, and quite rightly so.
Rand's style of design and illustration is along the lines of the Dick Bruna school of stripped down minimalism and everything perfectly placed.
I remember hearing someone say once that children's books used to be the medium in which children were first introduced to art. With books like this you can see that this would have been true and it's a shame that today the publishing industry is run strictly as a business to make money, which in turn means each book published needs to conform to tried and tested formats (killing spontaneity).
Thankfully with the advent of digital media and electronic files the publishing industry may once again be a place of artistic creation which children can benefit from.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 01:51PM Published in 1959 by Pantheon Books, The Snow Party is a beautifully illustrated book by Polish illustrator Reiner Zimnik who is probably best known for his classic The Crane. Zimnik's line drawings contain all the beautiful subtleties of everyday life. I bet he was a big fan of observational drawing and I also bet that he must have possessed some pretty amazing sketcbooks.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009 at 11:00AM This is the new cover for Hetty Feather by Jacqueline Wilson and illustrated by Nick Sharrat.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 10:54AM Bob Shea is a very talented author/illustrator who has created this brilliant book. Published by Hyperion Books in 2008, Dinosaur VS Bedtime is the story of a plucky little dinosaur VS the rest of the world. Everytime he wins but when it comes to bedtime dinosaur faces his taughest challenge yet.
Shea's illustrative style and story telling remind me very much of Mo Willems who wrote and illustrated the brilliant Don't Let the Pidgeon Drive the Bus. Willems works in kids cartoon animation as well as illustrating books and this really comes across in his books so I wonder if Shea also works in animation or whether he's just heavily influened by that genre.
Monday, October 26, 2009 at 12:14PM This week it's the turn of French illustrator Lili Scratchy. Scratchy is also a creator of some fantastic ceramic characters but her colouring book is my favourite of her work. She has a fantastically chaotic approach to drawing, her sketchbook pages are a joy to look at with all their life and vigor.
