Charles Vess Images for Spring

Ladies of Light,
by Charles Vess

I stumbled across this lovely original illustration by Charles Vess for Blueberry Girl, by Neil Gaiman.  It was too stunning not to share.  Thanks to Books of Wonder, NY.

Little Women

Sorry I missed Tuesday's post.  I wanted to follow up Monday's quote with a book feature by the same author.  Better late than never, and so . . .

Little Women
1898 edition

Little Women
manga 2007

 

Little Women
1915
art by  Jessie Willcox Smith

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott  is, undeniably, a classic.  The strong heroine who chooses her own destiny despite the opinions of society, was ahead of its time.  There are literally hundreds of editions of this novel, not taking into account the sequels or editions which contain multiple novels in one volume.

I have three copies and am looking for a fourth.  Oddly enough, this is not because it is my favorite story, but because so many fabulous illustrators have tried their hands at capturing the March girls: Shirley Hughes, Jessie Wilcox Smith, and Trina Schart Hyman to name a few.  I highly recommend the Viking edition by James Prunier, 1997.  This edition from The Whole Story series includes, not only Little Women and Good Wives combined, but also annotations and illustrations in the margins to make the cultural references understandable.

Willa By Heart

I just finished Willa by Heart, by Coleen Murtagh Paratore.

Willa By Heart
by Coleen Murtagh Paratore
Cover art by Barbara McGregor

Willa By Heart is the third book in the Wedding Planner's Daughter series.  I highly recommend Coleen's books.  This one is no exception.  I would suggest there is probably little for boys in these books.  The title character is an independent, artistic pre-teen trying to sort out her emotions and her family life.  It is full of frills and girly stuff, though Willa herself is much more grounded.  I particularly enjoy Paratore's character quirks and place descriptions of the Cape.

It is interesting to note the author lists Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott as her favorite childhood book.
Check out Coleen's newest book which premiered Feb 17, 2012.  And check out tomorrow's blog about Little Women.

Sketching Siblings

As I have mentioned before, sketching from life is essential for any illustrator.  If you plan to illustrate for children's books, then it follows you must train yourself to draw children well.

I have found it helpful to draw the same child from different views to get a sense of what makes each child unique.  Another valuable technique is to find subjects with a brother or sister available.  Noting the similarities and differences has given me insight into creating my own characters, and making them believable.

Curling Up With Books

". . .Jo hurried to this quiet place, and, curling herself up in the big chair, devoured poetry, romance, history, travels, and pictures like a regular book worm."


-Louisa May Alcott

Ex Libris Grace Salinger

April Fool or Just Foolish?

The Quaker Make-Over
2012

 Haddon Sundblom was a Chicago artist who mainly produced advertising art from the late 1920's through early the 1970's.  He painted the Quaker Oats man logo in 1957 to color and update the look of the product.  But has Pepsi Co, owner of the Quaker Oat Company,  gone too far?  The corporate mascot was not redesigned, but photo-shopped to look thinner, lose his double chin, enhance his neck and shoulders, and cut his hair.

I am so glad Quaker is owned by Pepsi and not Coke.  Can you imagine the consequences?  Sundblom also designed The Coca-Cola Santa.

Haddon Sundblom
Santa 1947

Haddon Sundblom
Aunt Jemima ad 1955

         

The Old Woman and the Red Pumpkin

by Betsy and Molly Bang
Macmillan, 1975

The Old Woman and the Red Pumpkin by Molly Bang is a Bengali folktale translated and adapted by Betsy Bang.  This is the third book she illustrated, but is one of my favorites.  Bang's style for this book was based on art depicting Jainism.  However, the emergence of her style and the influences this religious art had on her future illustrations is obvious.

The story follows a widow who travels to her grand-
daughter's house.  Along the way she meets some hungry animals.  The old woman will have to use all her cleverness to arrive safely at her family's house and return home again unharmed.

I didn't discover this charming book until I had a family of my own, but it reminds me of The Lambikin by Helen S. Hansen, illustrated by Jack and Louise Meyers for Whitman in 1962. I used to ask my mother to read The Lambikin over and over.   The Lambikin was originally taken from Tales of the Punjab, so the comparison makes perfect sense.

The old woman meets the bear,
Molly Bang

Lambikin by Helen Hansen