Laura Carlin X

Your mind is like the sky by Bronwen Ballard, illustrated by the inimitable Laura Carlin, with wonderful delicate layers of media and thoughts.

Laura Carlin IX

After Pigeon Pete and Nathaniel Mann wonderful sound project yesterday it seems perfect to share illustrations from Laura Carlin's King of the Sky, with their gorgeous layers of media and grain gritty textures. These illustrations have such delicate compassion and love, they glow and sing of humanity reflecting the themes of loneliness, belonging and home in Nicola Davies's story about a young Italian boy who having moved to the Welsh hills befriends an old man and his pigeons.

Laura Carlin VIII

To celebrate Guy Fawkes night, here are some more images from Laura Carlin's 650 piece ceramic tile mural, charting the history of London, on display at The House Of Illustration until the 5th February 2017.

Laura Carlin VII

Last weekend saw our second trip to 'The House of Illustration' to see Laura Carlin's ceramics.
This gem of a gallery is so easy to access, being in walking distance of Kings Cross and St Pancreas Stations.
No photography was allowed, so I have gleaned these images from across the internet. It is a lovely exhibition, with tiles like sketchbook pages papering the walls full of funny details and observations to loose yourself in and Laura's glorious ark to marvel at, as well as sketchbooks and plates. The 650 tile mural (above) about the History of London was particularly full of wonder for my history loving daughter.

Laura Carlin VI

Geese are terrifying when on the attack, and this image by Laura Carlin, captures the need to escape them beautifully.

Laura Carlin V

Laura Carlin's illustrations, riddled with detail, semi-transparent undertones, and hidden narratives are mini masterpieces that almost remind me of the works of LS Lowry in their observation of people and environments, especially these grey post-industrial observations.

Laura Carlin IV

I am going to share some images gleaned from Laura Carlin's exhibition at the Bologna Children's Book Fair  in the next few posts including this swirl of cats from 'A World of Your Own'.

Laura Carlin III

'A World of Your Own' by Laura Carlin a perfect Sunday world, a world of wistful thoughts and daydreams, a day of contemplation . . . enjoy.

"If you were creating a world of your own, what would it look like? Would you build your house out of brick – or out of jelly? Would it be on the ground or in a tree? Would your shops sell envelopes and sweets – or shoes for superheroes? Would you ride a train to town, or a dinosaur?" Laura Carlin

Dark is Rising

Nothing seems more appropriate for today than Laura Carlin's illustrations for Susan Cooper's 'Dark is Rising' series by the Folio Society. 
The clocks have changed and the dark is rising, sometimes it will rising like a cloud over whole days as the journey to work is in the dark as is the journey home and no day light is seen. 

"The room was at once a cosy cave of yellow light, and he lay back in shame, feeling stupid." Then: "He switched off the light again, and instantly everything was even worse than before. The fear jumped at him for the third time like a great animal that had been waiting to spring. Will lay terrified, shaking, feeling himself shake, yet unable to move." Susan Cooper

I look forward to spring X 

Laura Carlin's Ceramics

Laura Carlin's epic, illustrated ceramics.

Laura Carlin

I found the wonderful illustrations of Laura Carlin yesterday they remind me of Gerald Rose's work especially his book Nessie the Mannerless Monster.