books

Books are more important than ever now in the digital age. The implications of technology on the format of viewing illustration and books is important, it allows for widespread audiences to see the work quickly and easily, but I don't think we will ever see a time where books are completely lost.

Books have a sensory quality that a screen can never match, the smell of the pages, the feel of stock, the sound when you turn the page. The ability to make it feel like yours. Signing the front, underlining, folding over the corner of where youre up to. I don't think technology will ever match the feel of owning and reading a book, a tangible object, something you can read but also display. There is a joy in building up a book collection, your own personal library of things you're interested in. Especially with illustration, there's something special about having that drawing exist on a piece of paper rather than a screen, the richness of the colour and the texture of the paper.

It feels more special to have your work exist physically, something people can hold, carry around with them, display in their homes.

FICTION - David McKee - "Not Now Bernard"

Context:  Children's book about a boy who's parents keep ignoring him until he gets eaten by a monster and its too late. A sad topic but dealt with in such an innocent, low fi and humorous way that it resonates with the reader.

Audience: Childrens book. Although I doubt this book would be allowed to be published now, its pretty dark! Also probably aimed at the adults reading the book, maybe David McKee was trying to teach them a lesson or just make them giggle a dark humour giggle at storytime. poor bernard.

Images & text :  The illustrations in this book are so charming in a very 90s kids book way. Analogue, handmade, you can see the material used, the bleeding of paint and the texture of the pencil crayon, its really charming in its low fi style.  Quite a lot of negative space is used in many of the pages, referring to Bernards situation possibly? Block colours and flat imagery, full of charm. The text in this book doesn't interract with the imagery in the way most modern childrens books do, it exists below the image, each page reading like panels in a comic book.

Me;  this book was one of my favourite books when I was little, I used to read it ALL the time. Its so strange looking back at pictures of it on google images, its making me feel v odd. Strange how a drawing can bring back so many memories. Nostalgia is a funny thing! When I was little I remember really liking the monster, he looked like a grape with a face. In relation to my own practice I think this book reminds me of the joy of dark humour, kids are resilient, they don't just want stories of puppies and rainbows. I think the charm in the handmade untouched illustrations is really special too.

NON-FICTION:  Nina Cosford and Zena Alkayat - "Kahlo"

Context: Educational. Biography of Frida Kahlo accompanied by illustrations. Part of a wider set of illustrated biographies by the same duo of various women throughout history - Jane Austen, Coco Chanel, Virginia Woolf.

Audience: Anybody. For children as an education tool, for women as an empowering female icon biography.

Images / text:  The images and text in this book go hand in hand, they work with each other. Design wise the text is woven within the illustrations, makes the book appear like a mindmap, an exploration, engages the reader visually, lots to look at, your eye can follow the words to the corresponding pictures and so on.

Me: Really inspired by the scrapbook type style of Nina Cosford, a collection of different elements to make up a story. Using illustration to accompany storytelling, not just simply drawing what it describes but going beyond that, how can I make a drawing that enriches the story, gives the reader visual stimulus.

PICTURE BOOK: Mouni Feddag - "Illustration: What's the point?"

Context: A witty and clever exploration of what illustration means in a contemporary context. Visual exploration of questions, mix of comic style panels and full pages of illustration. 

Audience: illustrators, artists, creatives, people in search of existential crises. 

Images & Text: This book has a really good balance of text and imagery, some double page full bleed illustration with no text, other pages of drawings supporting handwritten text. i think the handwritten type really adds to the book, it wouldn't have the same charm and impact without it. Mouni Feddag showcases the joy in dry media and I love the textures and mark making she creates by allowing her coloured pencil to retain its scratchy texture.

Me: My Mum bought me this for Christmas and its been so valuable to me this year. Despite making me question my existence a few times, the questions and discussions this book brings up have really influenced me as a creative. What does illustration mean to me? Whats the point in it all? 

*update* I used this book for my sequential task, it was the first time I'd really tried doing sequential panel based illustration and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

SELF PUBLISHED:  Faye Moorhouse - "Pooing Dogs"

Context: More of a zine than a book. Exists to make people smile.

Audience: Anyone, kids would love this because its about poo. Dogs would love it for self positivity. 

Images & Text: No words. Literally just crude and wonky illustrations of dogs pooing. No words necessary. You get exactly what it says on the tin. I love Faye Moorhouse's work, she makes scruffy drawing look easy. Her use of materials is unapologetic and ugly, but in the most charming, smile inducing way. The paper quality is lovely and tactile. 

Me: I bought this zine on Faye Moorhouse's Etsy when I was having a bad day (along with a discounted Valentines Day card in November) to cheer me up. It definitely did the job and makes me smile every time I pick it up. Reminds me to follow through on wacky ideas. A book of dogs doing their business? Genius. Stay playful, quirky and wonky, what would make kids laugh, what would make me laugh to draw? now draw it. Illustration has the ability to turn your mood around, make good use of that.