In this issue Ronald Searle treats us to his views on how to cope with the tyranny of the blank page of a sketchbook with the same brand of wild imagination and humour that have made his books bestsellers for over half a century. You may or may not recognise the sentiments, but we guarantee that you’ll never regard a sheet of plain white paper the same way again. 

Wild imagination is also a key ingredient in the collection of Italian science-fiction illustrations currently on show in Milan. If you can’t get to Italy before the end of October, we recommend you take time to browse the images we have exported from it to learn how Italian Sci-Fi art has found expression in everything from Utopian philosophy to Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Futurism. After all, where else can you see a picture of a house covered with anti-gravitational paint soaring towards the skies? 

Our article on images of the American Wild West reminds us of the most enduring images of the US for most British children before the space race and Friends. The images are no less imaginative than the science fiction ones, but many of the artists also strove for authenticity and historical accuracy. 

Further back in time, chapbook artists generally made little attempt at realism, so we ask why they are now keenly collected as art by, and for, the people. Last, but not least, we find out about the work of Denys Watkins-Pitchford, otherwise known as BB, visit the Old School Press to find out about its history, its publications and its plans, talk to our usual round-up of recent graduates and learn about wood-engravers' struggles to find tools and blocks. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.