The top illustration is by Arthur Rackham. It's an unfinished illustration for Sleeping Beauty. I think it's an interesting example of how he worked and how much of his work is spontaneous. He seems here to have done a loose pencil drawing and slowly be building it up and finishing it with ink. Here's what he said about his working methods: " I dash off an idea which comes to me and often very vaguely. I build on it as I go on, and the idea develops as I work.I always, however , plan before hand and I always use models."
The bottom picture is a birthday card I did for a friend's birthday yesterday.
A little while ago I asked everyone to give me some ideas for books to read and I really appreciate all the responses I got. I thought I'd publish some results for everyone to see.
Frank suggested Yankee Doodle's cousin by Anne Malcolm and Robert McCloskey. The Family Treasury Of Children's Stories edited by Pauline Rush and illustrated by Donald Sibley.
Gretel recommends The Brave little Taylor by the Dugins, Frog Belly Rat Bone by Timothy Ering Basil, The Widow's Broom by Chris VanAllsburg, Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper, Moon Dog and 25 December Street both y Wayne Anderson and Helen Ward. Mary Beth suggested Enid Blyton and Edward Eager. And Mika, can you email that illustrators name, my Japanese is non existent.
