Home

I have been home for my grandmother Kathleen's funeral. She had a full and long life, living from 1920-2018. Here she is in approximately 1942 with my grandfather Cyril (1913-1984).
This has been a full month and I find myself musing on both the passage of time and what it is to know someone, when often even knowing oneself is difficult. I cannot say I 'knew' my grandmother. I knew my side of her, but that was a minute portion of who she was.
Life steals us away from loves, relatives, children, friends as well as jobs, roles, duties, hobbies, and passions, each element is a part of the enigmatic puzzle of who we are. At the end of a long life, so much is lost, especially when we lose who we were because our decline erases our most treasured memories.

Jun Tada III

An illustration started from a print from a severed tree trunk "Nakagawa Crocodile Jazz Book" illustrated by Jun Tada, published by Thumb Book Press (a fictional publisher). Jun Tada makes beguiling surreal illustrations that seem to grow in a conversation with themselves from the initial mark, creating magic worlds for us to step into.

Noemi Vola I

Humorous and charming illustrations by Italian illustrator Noemi Vola about the trials of having a bear who comes to stay and will not leave your side. Exploring the theme of working to accommodate, adjust and compromise in order to find balance.

Jerzy Srokowski II

Jerzy Srokowski's illustrations of J. M. Barrie's Peter Pan published in 1958. I love seeing different interpretations of illustrators to classic texts of children's literature across time and culture and how these different interpretations change our perceptions of the story. This book is a mix of soft, full colour, watercolour illustrations and detailed, expressive pen and ink drawings.

Joanna Neborsky IV

Surreal collaged illustrations by Joanna Neborsky for Danil Kharms poetry 'Tumbing Old Women' published in 2011. Danil Kharms (1905-1942) was a Surrealist poet and pioneer of absurd literature is perfectly his words are perfectly married in this book with the quirky, lucid graphic illustrations of Joanna. Whose work seems to effortly stretch across time from modern illustration to avantgarde masters of mid twentieth century illustration.

Jiří Šindler II

Jiří Šindler (1922- 2015) was born in Polička, He studied at the School of Applied Arts of Antonín Strnadela and spent his holidays at the print studios of the Vokolka Brothers in Pardubic. Jiří worked most of his life as a teacher and had a passion for typography and calligraphy. Much of his artwork is in the form of woodcuts and prints. In this 1963 book was called 'Když Zvìràtka Ještê Mluvila' written by Ivan Franko Jiří's illustrations are painted to look like prints.

Jiří Šindler I

This print by Jiří Šindler (1922-2015) is like a summer moon.

Ilija Bosilj Bašičević IV

Celestial imaginings from Ilija Bosilj Bašičević (1895-1972) this image is 'Interplanetary Travelers' of 1962

Kaye Blegvad

Kaye Blegvad is a designer and illustrator whose works are translated into many mediums. Brought up in London she studied illustration at Brighton before making her home in New York.

Elke Trittel III

Continuing a theme of bright, space related illustrations this is Elke Trittel's 'Dancing with the stars' Elke's illustrations are layered multi media works using collage.

Barbara Dziadosz

Barbara Dziadosz is an illustrator from Germany creating digital prints and collage. 

Inanc Kutal

Inanc Kutal is a Turkish illustrator based in Istanbul, this illustration called 'you deserve it' made me chuckle.

Katja Rondel II

Today we start a few days in space starting with Katja Rondel's work, and her new project "Cosmos for Kids" for children's TV is no exception, with wonderful digital collages of planets, aliens and wonders of the universe.

Holly Hatam

A last day of celebrating yellow lions as a theme, todays (Dandy)lions are by Holly Hatam.