Selim Peabody

Continuing my exploration of Baldwin Library of children's literature I have found; 'Cecil's book of Birds'. If you are interested in birds, it makes interesting, if often horrific reading. It was written and illustrated with these incredible studies by Selim Hobart Peabody in 1871.

Selim Peabody (1829-1903) graduated at the University of Vermont in 1852, the breadth of this mans scholarship and knowledge is phenomenal, he held professorships in mathematics, physics, and engineering at several colleges, and from 1880 to 1891 was president of the University of Illinois. He wrote and illustrated many books on natural history for children.

First Day of Summer

I have been working in the town of Aberdour, Fife for a number of months now.
Aberdour is blessed with a resident population of noisy inquisitive jackdaws, that bark their salutations to each other all day while their wings whirrr and stir the air.
There is a small but growing murmuration of starlings and a few robust rookeries. The jackdaws and ravens have been very busy the last few weeks prising clumps of moss from the ground and going on long forays for suitable twigs and sticks. I have loved catching them, particularly at the end of a hard day as they languidly fly over me bearing their carefully selected building materials.

Edward Lear

As we approached the weekend on the wings of Jacqueline's work, lets continue the avian theme with classic nonsense from Edward Lear, one of my heroes.

Jo Empson

Jo Empson is an MA graduate of Cambridge School of Art. The colour and bird content of her book 'Little Home Bird' though modern also has a vintage quality that appeals greatly and reminded me of Brian Wildsmith.

Ivila Caballero I

Spanish illustrator Isabel Vila (Ivila Caballero)'s beautiful sketches to illustrate 'enjoy the flight' musings on the migration of swallows. Isabel uses alcohol-based markers and pencil to create these effects. 

Yuko Kayumi II

Yuko Kayumi's felt tip birds, full of character and humour.

and yet more play.

The sun has gone and its time to go back to work, that was a great weekend.

Carll Cneut

I love these birds by Carll Cneut, they make me smile, with their mix of accomplished realism and then the primitive child like bodies.
Carll Cneut is a much celebrated illustrator from Belgium with many books and awards.
His advice to children wanting to follow his career path, "Always believe in yourself, work hard, enjoy it and most important of all, always try to be a nice person!" Carll Cneut

James Castle

 

 

 

Scraps of magic made from cardboard and string by James Castle (1899 – 1977). James Castle made art almost exclusively with found materials such as paper,  packaging and mail. James Castle also made ink using soot from the woodstove and saliva, appyling it with tools like sticks and other found objects. A reminder that the materials are not important in making art, it is the imagination and creativity that is the vital ingredient.

Andrew Squire III

A softer pallet today with Andrew Squire's misty studies of birds.

Birds birds birds

 

I have Bluetits nesting by my front door. It is always such an honour when they move into the houses you put up, hoping upon hope that the beautiful ones will move in and have their children.
 I hope that I can catch more action shots tomorrow of the busy parents and maybe soon some of their fledglings.

Jenny Mendes II

While we are on ceramics, I adore Jenny Mendes's tall bird vessels; their wisdom, cheeky attitudes and the patterns on their bases all go to create wonderful beasts fit for fairy tales.  
Now I am wondering what each of them would sing for you, the fourth one down is definitely singing a Sam Cook song, I can hear it.

"I love to draw on anything but especially clay. Discovering the pleasure of drawing on and into a bone dry clay tile was illuminating for me. This soft subtractive way of drawing leads me into my subject in a way that drawing on paper never has." Jenny Mendes quoted at CAD

Heather Crawford

 

Yesterday, my student Heather Crawford did some wonderful drawings of birds while we waited for the paint to dry on our model birds.

Birds

 

I am making brids with my students at the moment and flocks of them are gathering, I am expecting more to arrive today.

Miroco Machiko II

Bird illustrations by Japanese artist/ illustrator Miroco Machiko.