tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post1064056575251116129..comments2024-03-27T11:18:59.924+00:00Comments on Sun Dried Sparrows: Only an illustratorChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02423624920558505937noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post-7215364356554490222012-09-14T17:35:09.209+01:002012-09-14T17:35:09.209+01:00SB - thank you! We do all remember those pictures...SB - thank you! We do all remember those pictures from our childhood books, don't we, and I love to think that some of mine might have an effect like that on one or two children too. I'm no great illustrator by any means but fortunately I have occasionally witnessed the effect of some of my contributions on those eager young faces and it is incredibly rewarding. It can also work as art in its own right (see the wonderful illustrations by Catherine Rayner for example) and I shall continue to try and promote the idea that it IS worthy of being hung on someone's wall too. Sod the snobs! Thanks.Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02423624920558505937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post-2560100961501145222012-09-14T12:59:18.095+01:002012-09-14T12:59:18.095+01:00It has always been a particular pleasure to find r...It has always been a particular pleasure to find really good art work in children's books. Of course, it is something that has a grand tradition - the illustrations for 'The Water Babies' still shine strongly in mind today all these years after I last saw my dog-eared childhood copy. I remember also loving the drawings in 'Swallows and Amazons' and the Winnie-the-Pooh books. When buying books for my own children, when they were very small, I used to look as much for the standard of art work as anything else. I don't know your work, C, but I'm betting it is of a very fine quality. These art snobs are not only idiots but missing out on something very important. Arthur Rackham or some piece of pretentious 'modern' but ever so hip crap? I know where I go.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post-9591064464605411772012-09-14T10:46:07.583+01:002012-09-14T10:46:07.583+01:00Thanks very much, Furtheron - it's really good...Thanks very much, Furtheron - it's really good to read these comments from you and others appreciating the value of children's book illustration! I've hit such a horrible low on the confidence front at the moment; it's amazing how much of a boost it is to read these thoughts.Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02423624920558505937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post-8268332309159426762012-09-14T10:27:40.619+01:002012-09-14T10:27:40.619+01:00I struggle to draw a stick man in Visio! So anyon...I struggle to draw a stick man in Visio! So anyone who can make a drawing I'm impressed by - someone who makes a living from being an artist frankly I'm in total awe of.<br /><br />I think for many illustrations are a key part to growing up, my kids it was the Usbourne books farm family, the Rohald Dahl books, Dr Seuess etc. Those illustrations change more lives in a positive way than I'd wager any of Tracey Emin's work... <br /><br />Furtheronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11903753972242964410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post-32580479011861295022012-09-13T17:34:46.255+01:002012-09-13T17:34:46.255+01:00Ah, thanks The Swede. I reckon that Bob Dylan gee...Ah, thanks The Swede. I reckon that Bob Dylan geezer has actually got quite a knack with words ;-)<br /><br /><br />Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02423624920558505937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post-54059228282460410022012-09-13T16:48:33.379+01:002012-09-13T16:48:33.379+01:00The comments already left say everything I could a...The comments already left say everything I could and more, so I'll reach for a Dylan quote (as I am wont to do!). <br /><br />'The highest purpose of art is to inspire. What else can you do? What else can you do for anyone but inspire them?' - Bob Dylan, 1978.<br /><br />Don't ever let any petty negativity stop you being creative and inspiring C.The Swedehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13237251779370596904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post-82109354077792345842012-09-13T10:30:11.630+01:002012-09-13T10:30:11.630+01:00Cheers OPC, yes, my mantra from now on: "I...Cheers OPC, yes, my mantra from now on: "I'm an artist and I don't look back" :-)Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02423624920558505937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post-81547058763575226992012-09-13T10:28:54.381+01:002012-09-13T10:28:54.381+01:00Thank you... that's very touching about art ma...Thank you... that's very touching about art making people *feel* (no pun intended!) I loved Sendak's attitude - we need more people like that! Don't think I'll ever make it into the movies, but I'll keep my (freshly sharpened) HB ready for next time someone looks down their nose at me anyway. <br />I really appreciate the encouragement.Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02423624920558505937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post-8219558467818421772012-09-13T10:23:07.457+01:002012-09-13T10:23:07.457+01:00I've just looked up Dudley D Watkins too! I th...I've just looked up Dudley D Watkins too! I think comic strip artists suffer from being looked down on too... it's so wrong!...what they do is so difficult to do well, and has so much impact!<br />Yes that's true about any child being inspired to draw - I certainly was by all the books I loved - it's a lasting legacy. Thank you.Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02423624920558505937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post-24705297939304547162012-09-13T10:13:04.365+01:002012-09-13T10:13:04.365+01:00Bless you, e.f.! Like that about the "cheap ...Bless you, e.f.! Like that about the "cheap credibility to any clever poseur"...nicely put. It's all so subjective and I have no problem with that, it's the assumptions that I object to... But I suppose that's the case for many things in life.Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02423624920558505937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post-55162651584912183052012-09-13T10:10:27.596+01:002012-09-13T10:10:27.596+01:00Thanks, and yes I loved - still love - the Moomins...Thanks, and yes I loved - still love - the Moomins too! You're right about the snobs...sod them... but the attitude just makes me want to kick against it!Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02423624920558505937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post-26817584099616377622012-09-13T09:49:02.155+01:002012-09-13T09:49:02.155+01:00I like the illustration it captures the surprise/p...I like the illustration it captures the surprise/panick of the furry little creature....thank god its for kids as it will probably make friends with the bad ass wolf....she's an artist and she don't look back Old Pa's Cornerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14367815328789444775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post-15401687397963027202012-09-12T23:11:38.792+01:002012-09-12T23:11:38.792+01:00Never ever let anyone look down their nose at you ...Never ever let anyone look down their nose at you - and if they do just shove a HB up it. Art is what makes people feel and children's art must make more people feel than pretty much any other form. Mr Sendak has it right. I look forward to Ms C getting the same level of acclaim (and having one of your books sung by Karen O too !)Bel Mondohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06614801876100974056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post-56803485978947629442012-09-12T19:57:16.918+01:002012-09-12T19:57:16.918+01:00I love children's book illustrations and my fa...I love children's book illustrations and my favourite has always been Oor Wullie and The Broons. I was an avid reader of those books as a kid.<br /><br />During the late 60s and 70s when I was reading those comic strips an illustrator by the name of Dudley D. Watkins would always sign his name, usually in the final cartoon box.<br /><br />As a young lad I used to draw my own cartoons and birds and animals....I was inspired by Dudley D Watkins from those Oor Wullie books. Pre internet days it was hard to find out any information about people but his name was one of the first I ever googled.<br /><br />I since found out that he died in 1969. So he was probably dead by the time I discovered those books. How sad.<br /><br />If any child is inspired by your own illustrations to draw that's a wonderful thing don't you think? EXPO67https://www.blogger.com/profile/06865251287252410089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post-844846398814693222012-09-12T19:15:04.471+01:002012-09-12T19:15:04.471+01:00There is more than a little talk about abstraction...There is more than a little talk about abstraction on my slab for two reasons...one because it gets right at the issue beauty, which I find fascinating...and because two of our loyal readers hate it. I happen to take great pleasure from irritating those two. <br /><br />I hate the idea of a hierarchy of art forms because it offers cheap credibility to any clever poseur and can be personally discouraging to artist who don't work in the approved fields. <br /><br />Of course what you do is Art. You take mundane objects, embue those objects with your peculiar vision, your personality....and do so in a way that's immediately and universally appreciated. If that's not Art what is. <br /><br />If somebody doesn't like what you're doing you can't just sniff and tell them they don't get it. Hold your head high. e.f. bartlamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05940814285264472785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6075393268513251879.post-16353354879451283072012-09-12T18:13:21.460+01:002012-09-12T18:13:21.460+01:00I'm in awe of anyone who can interpret the wri...I'm in awe of anyone who can interpret the written word through a fresh visual medium and bring it to life on the page. When I was a kid my favourite books always contained some illustration, from Tove Jannson's Moomin books to the simple evocative line drawings in some of my Puffin Nina Bawdens. As in every area of life, the snobs are best ignored (trickier to do if they're signing your pay cheque, granted, but you know what I mean.). Kolley Kibberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07055145770836351738noreply@blogger.com