05 Sep 2009 1 Comment
in Illustration Tags: children's illustration
I’ve been enjoying looking at Maria Majewska’s illustrations of Markus Muis se Nuwe Huis ( Marcus Mouse’s New House). I like the way she uses pattern and treats all surfaces with equal attention. And I like how she draws everything with such respect for what it is.
The story is about Marcus Mouse’s search for a comfortable home. He starts off in his overcrowded family home: More
22 Aug 2009 6 Comments
in books, Illustration Tags: children's illustration, dussan kallay
I wonder what I would have thought of December’s Travels if I’d read it as a child. Many of the children’s books I love now I found too intense when I was little. December’s Travels is illustrated by the Slovakian illustrator Dussan Kallay:
The story, by Yugoslavian Mischa Damjan tells what happens when the month of December decides to visit the other months in the year. Here is December preparing toys for Christmas: More
10 Jul 2009 2 Comments
in Colour, Illustration Tags: children's books, children's illustration
I found this lovely bright little book by writer / illustrator Ellen Raskin. It was published in 1972:
I’m fascinated by the illustration style which seems to be planned for the way the book was printed. I love the way the colours are separated and overprinted to create other shades, and how the black line ties everything together: More
06 Jul 2009 6 Comments
in Colour, Illustration, Inspiration Tags: children's books, children's illustration, Helen Ward
I’ve found another writer / illustrator: Helen Ward. I have quite a few of her books already, but they are all illustrated by Wayne Anderson so I never twigged. I found Wonderful Life at a book sale and promptly bought two copies.
It is the story of a little creature, an Ift called Snutt. Snutt is an explorer and a dreamer who travels through space finding life all over the universe: More
23 May 2008 24 Comments
in books, Colour, Illustration, Inspiration Tags: children's books, children's illustration, cinderella, Errol le cain, Illustration
Here is a magical book for you to have a look at: Cinderella by Errol Le Cain. This process of sharing my favorite illustrators has helped me realise how profoundly they have influenced me . When I am asked what my influences are, I tend to think about serious fine artists. Audrey Beardsley maybe? But in all honesty, it is people like Errol Le Cain who have shaped the way I look at things.
I wish I could draw like Errol Le Cain! Here is Cinderella doing her embroidery under the watchful eye of her stepmother and stepsisters. More
16 May 2008 4 Comments
in Art, books, Colour, Illustration, Inspiration Tags: charles keeping, children's books, children's illustration, Illustration, josef se plant, joseph's yard, writer_artist
Charles Keeping was a powerful force in my childhood. I was scared and fascinated by his books . The drawings burn on the page, and the stories cut into your heart. I was deeply influenced by his drawing style – that muscular scrawl with ink and wash. In this post I want to share one particular book: “Joseph’s Yard” which I grew up knowing as “Josef se plant”, in its Afrikaans version.
Masha du Toit 
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