Contents

News and reviews

A brief round-up of current news stories, exhibitions and competitions – plus new books, reader offers, catalogues and websites, auction highlights and dates you need to remember.

Illustrator’s Notebook

Kevin Franklin turns his observational sketches of London’s rivers, markets and even political demonstrations into panoramic zigzag “books” that capture the natural features and architecture along with the people who frequent them. During the pandemic, he has been looking to television for inspiration, in particular, recording the musicians and atmosphere of this year’s BBC Proms in the form of TV sketches. He shows us his notebooks.

Russian editions of Edward Lear

Nonsense verse may appear to be a particularly English art form, but throughout the 20th century Russian publishers, readers – and illustrators – have embraced the mad world of Edward Lear’s nonsense verse and made it so much their own that many Russians today are astonished to discover that the author was not from their own country. We find out how artists have interpreted Lear’s visions and humour and how these have been affected by changing social and political developments.

William Wallace Denslow

The success of the book and stage show of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz made illustrator William Wallace Denslow (who shared royalties with author L Frank Baum) a rich man for the first time in his life. He promptly bought an island in Bermuda, built himself a palace on it and declared himself its king. The idyll was to prove short-lived, but the experience provided him with inspiration for the rest of his life.

The King of the Golden River 

John Ruskin’s fairy tale about three brothers living in Treasure Valley and their encounters with the South West Wind Esq and the King of the Golden River has never been out of print and seems to contain messages that resonate with successive generations. We look at how three famous illustrators have tackled this short tale in different eras and what they have found in it.

Joseph William Gleeson White

The word polymath seems to have been created to describe Joseph William Gleeson White – a prolific writer, critic, historian, painter, poet, musician, book-collector, bookseller, bibliographer, champion of photography and advocate of the avant-garde. He is remembered today chiefly for his passion for, and promotion of, the great artists and illustrators of the 1860s, however his own designs, particularly for bookplates, are also worthy of attention today.

Graduate  round-up

Three young artists fresh from their degree courses at Cambridge School of Art and one from Politecnico di Milano discuss their current work, their inspirations and their ambitions for their future 

Resources

 Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser
Few books have inspired more – and more varied forms of – artwork than Lewis Carroll’s  Alice’s  Adventures in Wonderland. An exhibition at the V&A in London invites visitors down the rabbit hole to view illustrations, sketches and designs for films, ballet costumes, fashion, photography and a host of other objects all influenced by Carroll’s story. 

Look and learn
What are the key events, shows and exhibitions coming up in the next few months? Find out what you can’t afford to miss