Lelija Bičiūnaite

Lelija Bičiūnaite (1931–2020) was born in the city of Rokiškis. In 1940, she moved to Vilnius with her parents, where in 1948 she graduated from S. Neris Gymnasium, She then entered the State Institute of Art in Vilnius, where she graduated in 1954 from the Department of Graphic Arts, specialising in book illustration and design. 

 After her studies, Lelija Bičiūnaitė actively engaged in creative life, working mainly in the fields of book illustrations and industrial graphics. She worked as an artist at the State Publishing House of Pedagogical Literature, the State Publishing House of Political and Scientific Literature, and the Republican House of Folk Creativity. During her long and productive years of creative work, the artist illustrated many children's books by Lithuanian writers. These include V. Baranauskas' "Lullaby for Little Ones" (1957), K. Kubilinskas' "Grandfather's Tale" (1956), J. Marcinkevičius' "Urgent Help" (1968), J. Laužikas' "Sunshine Bunnies" (1968) and many others. These illustrations are from the 1968 book of poetry called 'Urgent Help' by J. Marcinkevičius'

Atsuko Ishida III

 

This made me smile however, do mountains just sit around? or are they moving like giant limpets  . . .  maybe they are giant limpets! 

Image by the ever wonderful Atsuko Ishida.

Amanda Mijangos

 

I adore translucent layers of illustration and this is a delicious one by Amanda Mijangos.

Mieczysław Piotrowski II

 'Baśnie Z Dalekich Wysp I Lądów', written by Wanda Markowska and Anna Milska, illustrated by Mieczysław Piotrowski published 1966. I know nothing of the story here, images available were hard to find but I loved the soft watercolours and the unusual perspectives.  

Marcin Markowski II

 

Possibly the last horse celebrating the year of the Horse, though I have enjoyed finding the illustrations. This example is a poster design by Marcin Markowski.

Tisha Lee I

 Some wild horses today from the portfolio of Trisha Lee.

Daniel Jacomet

 

More horses for the Chinese New Year, this is a lithograph by Daniel Jacomet (1894-1966), published in Paris in 1955 by Heinz Berggruen.

Mieczysław Piotrowski

 It is the eve of Chinese New Year and the Year of the horse and I so love this book cover by Polish designer and illustrator Mieczysław Piotrowski (1910-1977) that I wanted it included here. It is"Komu do śmiechu" by Marian Załucki from the Book series Biblioteka Stańczyka Published by Wydawnictwo Iskry 1970. This book is a book of poetry with line drawings inside.

Jan Brychta I

 

Jan Brychta (1938-2013) illustration for; 'Máte doma lva?' Do you have a lion at home? This is Czech film poster from 1963, I wish it was a book it looks such fun with it's benign lion. The film follows two little brothers Pepík and Honzík exploring Prague on their own. They meet a strange painter, explore the mysterious corners of the National Museum and even free cursed musicians from the underwater realm and are happy to get home to their lion, the film is directed by Pavel Hobl.

Jan Brychta was born in 1938 in Mladá Boleslav, Czechoslovakia a master Czech artist, film animator and pioneer of television graphics with a daily cartoon. When Russia invaded Czechoslovakia he his wife Lida and their two children Alex and Edita fled to London.

Rowan MacGregor II

 

Happy Valentines with two delicate tiny works from Rowan MacGregor.

André François VIIII

 

In anticipation of tomorrow, a cover designed by André François designed for Nina Epton's gift box.

Vyacheslav Legkobit II

 

As Ukraine continues to suffer under the barrage of Russian attack, and Russian and Ukrainians loose their loved ones. I thought we could celebrate some of the illustration of  Vyacheslav Legkobit for her Ukrainian folklore tongue twisters published in 1976 by Veselka.  Let there be peace!

Elisabeth Ivanovsky III

Jean de la Lune published by Petites Editions des Artistes illustrated by Elisabeth Ivanovsky published in 1944. 

Maria Krüger

 

Maria Krüger's 'Karolcia' first published in 1959. It is a chapter book with fabulous ink drawings scattered through it. Karolcia is an eight-year-old girl who finds a magical blue bead that fulfils her every wish. The girl and her friend Peter use the bead to spread happiness to other people.