Jan Mankes

 

Starting the month with some examples of animal studies by Dutch painter and printmaker Jan Mankes (1889 -1920) who only lived to 30 years of age succumbing to Tuberculosis.

Eva Eland I

‘Where Happiness Begins’, is a book by Eva Eland who has been working on a series of wonderful picture books about feelings.

"The more I read and thought about it, the more I realised it’s a skill we can cultivate. I came across the importance of gratitude many times during my research, so I finally took the advice to heart (that I heard for the first time as a kid when I watched Oprah on TV), and I started to write down 3 things that I’m thankful for every day. Not only does it make you more aware of the positive things in your life and relive some of the joys, you also train your brain to look out for positive things." Eva Eland

Ninotchka

The view from a polar bear, by Dutch illustrator Ninotchka, which way shall we go?

Wies van der Velde

A tiny Christmas Tree and it's friend a happy candyfluff by Dutch artist Wies van der Velde.

Dick Bruna

Dick Bruna was born in the city of Utrecht in 1927 into a family of publishers, his great-grandfather founded the great Dutch publishing house A.W Bruna & son in 1868 and so throughout his youth, he was exposed to great books, authors, illustrators, and designers. He was expected by his family to go into the publishing business, but Dick despised the marketing and business of the publishing house instead he was naturally inclined towards art and design. After the turbulence of war, Dick could not settle to school and so served internships in London, Paris, and Utrecht enjoying the opportunity to see exhibitions and attend museums and galleries. 

 "I really went from one gallery to another, all day. I was so much impressed by the work of Picasso and Léger, Matisse, Braque and all those people". Dick Bruna 

Dick attends The State Academy in Amsterdam but he did not complete his studies here as he said he had no talent for painting or perspective.  On returning home he fell in love and proposed marriage to Irene de Jongh, but her father insists he gets a proper job and so reticently he accepts a position in the family business A.W.Bruna & son, and it is here that he hones his graphic design skills creating many wonderful book covers. In 1954 the company branched into Pocket/ Black Bears small paperback books similar to their competitors. Dick was allowed to try to make covers for this new format and drawing on his favourite artist Matisse he created distinct bold designs using black and primary colours and often using collage he liked its surprising results. 

"The first year a series of about six books appeared, the second year there were roughly eighteen, but soon afterwards there were more than one hundred a year. I realized that I, at this rate, had to apply all possible techniques: drawing , tearing, cutting, collage. The black bears were my artschool." Dick Bruna

In this way, he developed a new corporate identity for the company designing posters for railway stations to promote new editions over the years. During his time with the company, 20 years from 1952-1972, he produced over 2000 book covers and over 1000 posters. 

But it was on a wet summer holiday that his most popular and iconic design appeared, a small white rabbit called  'Nijntje' or 'Miffy' (Little Rabbit) in English, created to entertain his son. Miffy was to feature in 32 books and has so far sold over 85 million copies worldwide.  

This career in children's books resulted in 124 children's books, the last being 'A Gift for Grandpa Bunny' in 2009. Dick Bruna died on February 16th, 2017 aged 89 in his home city of Utrecht, in our hearts and children's libraries he lives on through his wonderful creativity and the enigmatic Miffy 

“I would love to be able to draw like a child, so spontaneous, so open-minded on those big sheets. As an adult you start to draw and then hope that you make something good, something beautiful. A child is not like that, they start and see what happens... I draw things you will see close to home, things that I also like. Maybe I still think a bit like a child, I have a childish mind, I think. There are a lot of things I don’t understand.”

Dick Bruna

Harriet Van Reek II

More beautiful work by Harriet van Reek, this time, a beautiful poignant portrait of the life of Enid and Egon Schiel. 

Edith and Egon Schiele was the tenth in the series of children's books produced by the Haag Gemeentemuseum in collaboration with publisher Leopold to introduce and celebrate artists in the museum's collection.

Harriet Van Reek I

Letter soup by Harriet van Reek

Lettesoep is a magical book by Harriet Van Reek exploring letters with a love, that is a joy to behold with its whimsy and fun.

Martijn Van Der Linden

'Alle Vissen Vonden Olifant' written by Henk van Straaten and illustrated by Martijn Van Der Linden, a story with a steadfast elephant swimming in the ocean and beguiling its creatures.

This lovely elephant was originally made using a hand print.

"the idea of ​​printing real skin was good! I made a copy of my own finger and saw immediately that this is the way it was. Arose beautiful lines, kind of like an elephant without legs and trunk. But very small. I did not know how big the elephant in the book had to be exact, but I ran quite a risk if I could make it without consulting a dwarf elephant from.It was bigger. I pushed my hand on the ink pad and made a print. There he was! My elephant! And exactly the right size!" Martijn Van Der Linden

Maranke Rinck and Martijn van der Linden

Maranke Rinck and Martijn van der Linden have created a picture book celebrating and inspired by Dutch artist, designer, Constant Nieuwenhuys  (21 July 1920 – 1 August 2005) and his anti-capitalist, utopian city; New Babylon.

"The project of New Babylon only intends to give the minimum conditions for a behaviour that must remain as free as possible. Any restriction of the freedom of movement, any limitation with regard to the creation of mood and atmosphere, has to be avoided. Everything has to remain possible, all is to happen, the environment has to be created by the activity of life, and not inversely." Constant Nieuwenhuys 

 The  New Babylon project consumed Constant from 1956 to 1974, resulting in an incredible portfolio of collages, drawings, plans, paintings, texts and models exploring the development of the city and society..

Maranke Rinck and Martijn van der Linden have collaborated to create and wonderful vision of Constantine's imagined future world, for children to pour over and imagine their own worlds, where anything is possible as long as you can imagine it.
Thank you for the inspiration Stephanie of Kinderboekwinkel Nooitgenoeg.

Mara Piccione I

Mara Piccione is a Dutch illustrator, graphic designer and printmaker who works in mono and screenprinting. I was extremely taken last week with her interpretation of Roald Dahl's The Minpins because it was so different from the original and I loved the boldness of the design.

Elizabeth Jonkers II

I love the colour palette in this contemplative painting by Elizabeth Jonkers. The contrast between the orange and turquoise is just wonderful as is the models wry smile.

Elizabeth Jonkers I

You can see the links and inspiration behind Elizabeth Jonker's works echoes of early Picasso, Klimpt and Berthe Morrisot and Gauguin in the compositions and styles. Elizabeth is a contemporary Dutch artist who paints from life or first hand observation, mainly still life and portraiture.

Dick Ket

Here to compliment the work of my students is a still life by Dick Ket (1902-1940) a Dutch painter who was born with a heart defect that unfortunately meant the he was very frail and died very young. His work due to the limitations of illness, was mainly still life and self portraits.

Lotte van Dijck

Love these little embellished realities from the imagination of Dutch musician, writer and artist Lotte van Dijck.

Bea van Twillert

In case you hadn't noticed I am definitely in a painting mood at the moment and tonight I found the delicate work of Dutch painter Bea van Twillert . These works reminded me of this time of year, when it is the end of summer and you want to prolong the day and the summer by bringing the flowers in as company, colour, light and fragrance. 
Bea has been living and working in the famous Ameland since 2000 her work has that cool palette and space of northern European artists.

Joëlle Wehkamp

Joëlle Wehkamp is an artist based in Amsterdam she is a textiles graduate, as you can see in her work there is a great love of pattern. Joëlle Wehkamp is the owner of Studio Sjoesjoe and its affiliated blog.