Olga Ptashnik II

 

Olga Ptashnik loves owls and you can see it in her brilliant watercolour drawings.

Kristina Kemenikova II

 

The florist by Kristina Kemenikova.

Sibylle von Olfers I

 

Illustrations by Sibylle von Olfers (1881–1916) for Etwas von den Wurzelkindern  "When the root children wake up" (1906). 

Sibylle lived a short but very productive life dying at just 34 years old from a lung infection. Sibylle was born Maria Regina Angela Hedwig Sibylla von Olfers in the Castle of Metgethen near Königsberg, Prussia, one of five children to an aristocratic family. Her childhood was quite idilic she was encouraged in her creativity, tutored and closely supported by her loving family. Sibylle read extensively, the turn of the century across Europe was one of industrialisation and turbulence, but it was met with contemporary artistic movements that emphasised and celebrated organic form, decorative motifs, and harmony between art and nature. At age 25, she joined an order of nuns called the Sisters of Saint Elizabeth, and took the name Sister Maria Aloysia. She taught art in a Catholic primary school, and wrote, blending fine art with a love of the natural world to create the illustration in her children's books. 

Gosia Herba II

 

What a joy this is a three year in the making; 'Danse Macabre', by Gosia Herba, you can see this vibrant and eclectic parade of characters dancing past here.

Helen Wilson

 

Helen Wilson's painted watercolour tin portraits furnished with tiny objects and treasure are so magical. Helen originally from Paisley has an exhibition until the 28th March at the Open Eye Gallery in Edinburgh.

Es Devlin

 

“The work invites us to see, hear and feel our home, our city as an interconnected web of species and cultures, to learn and remember the names and sing those under threat into continued existence.” Es Devlin

These images are from Es Devlin's 2022 installation at the The Modern called, 'Come Home Again'.  I love the way that Es in yellow, looks like part of the monumental drawing scape she created of the 243 endangered species on London's priority conservation list.

Charley Harper I

 

Some spring from the geometric wonder and order of Charley Harper (1922-2007)  

Gareth Lucas III

 Brilliant, bright illustration by Gareth Lucas, to warm and cheer your Sunday. 

Mikhail Solomonovich Maiofis I

Brothers Grimm "The Bremen Town Musicians" retold by B. Zakhoder, illustrated by Mikhail Maiofis,(1939- ) Published Moscow, "Malysh". 1982.

I am currently back in the habit of piling stacks of books around me, as my shelves are full. 

This version of 'The Bremen Town Musicians', is one of my new acquisitions that has alerted me to the work of Russian artist Mikhail Maiofis. Mikhail studied illustration at the Repin institute in Leningrad under M. Taranov and graduated in 1963. He designed children's books for several publishing houses such as Malysh and Detskaia Literatura, he now lives in LA.

Michael Hague II

 

Michael Hague (1948-2026) an incredibly talented illustrator sadly died last week. Michael illustrated over 100 books and created editions of many classic children’s books, including: The Wind in the Willows (previously featured here), The Reluctant Dragon, The Secret Garden, The Hobbit, Peter Pan, The Wizard of Oz, The Night Before Christmas, and The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. His very accomplished classical style was influenced by admiration for Arthur Rackham and N. C. Wyeth. 

Jemima Blackburn

Caw! Caw! or The Chronicle of Crows (ca. 1848) - A story of a group of crows, beautifully illustrated by the Scottish artist Jemima Blackburn (1823 – 1909). Jemima (JB) illustrated 27 books, most of her illustrations were watercolours, with some ink work and collage.