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Gravity is a mystery - Don Madden

Nikalas Catlow — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:54:19 +0000

Here's another brilliantly illustrated science book published in 1970 by Thomas Y. Crowell Company and again illustrated by Don Madden. Loving the pink and orange together. There's no way in hell you'd be able to make a unisex book in pink these days.

A Drop of Blood - Don Madden

Nikalas Catlow — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:12:19 +0000

A Drop of Blood is a Let's-Read-And-Find-Out Science Book. It was published by Harper Collins in 1967 and illustrated by Don Madden. Madden illustrates with a lovely squiggly black line and the two colour printing makes for that gorgeous retro look.

Motivation Monday # 30 Teresa Murfin

Nikalas Catlow — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:39:33 +0000

Teresa Murfin is an illustrator who trained at Falmouth and has created some fantastic books including Pumpkin Soup and I'm not afraid of this Haunted House.

Her style is a wonderful mix of acrylic paint and digital collage. It's great the see the spontaneity of her pencil sketches in this series of pictures and also the process of character design.

The Opposite - Elena Odriozola

Nikalas Catlow — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:21:05 +0000

This is a beautiful picture book illustrated by Elena Odriozola and published by Andersen Press in 2007. I haven't come across Odriozola's illustration before and I'm struck by her simple and charming drawings. Her work has that classic fairy tale look about it with a modern unique twist.

Water All Around - Bernice Myers

Nikalas Catlow — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:07:40 +0000

Another fantasticly retro book published by Scholastic in the early sixties and illustrated again by Bernice Myers.

There's a trend these days to make modern non-fiction much more reality based and straight. What I like about Myers' illustrations in these non-fiction books is they still manage to inject some childish naivety and spontaneous playfulness into the books.

Motivation Monday # 29 Bjorn Rune Lie

Nikalas Catlow — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 10:58:24 +0000

Bjorn Rune Lie is a Norwegian illustrator who graduated from Falmouth in 2001.

The Best of Monsieur Racine - Tomi Ungerer

Nikalas Catlow — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:57:14 +0000

Another book by Tomi Ungerer... This guy can do no wrong in my opinion. I first became aware of Ungerer when I was writing an essay about Axel Scheffler for my illustration MA and I went to interview him, on asking about his influences the only children's book illustrator he mentioned was Tomi Ungerer and at the time I had no idea who that was. Now, as a fan of Ungerer's work, I can see the similarity of his and Scheffler's illustrations.

The Listening Walk - Aliki

Nikalas Catlow — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:41:43 +0000

I'd never hear of the illustrator Aliki when I found this book but on further research I see he did a huge amount of books that span the decades. This book is illustrated in gorgeous retro style with some beautifully simple shapes. Retro is all about simplicity and the two colour scheme pushes this approach home perfectly.

Bella and Monty - Alex T. Smith

Nikalas Catlow — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:51:32 +0000

Bella and Monty is a new series of picture books published by Hodder Children's Books in 2009 and illustrated by Alex T. Smith.

I'm a big fan of Alex T. Smith's illustrations, he's got just the right amount of graphic aesthetic without being being something that children wouldn't pick up. Smith takes a 'scratchy' approach to his drawings, using some textures and digital collage bits.

motivation Monday # 28 - Camilla Engman

Nikalas Catlow — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:58:57 +0000

Camilla Engman is a Swedish illustrator/designer based in Gottenburg. Her Studio Violet partnership with Elisabeth Dunker has many fans. Engman has just recently released a book of her work through the Uppercase Gallery. Her beautiful and whimsical illustrations are soon to be seen in a children's book for italian publisher Topipittori.