Superbly drawn and full of dynamic movement, this is just fantastic! Kimono shaped comforter, Edo period, 19th century, indigo dyeing, cotton created with stencils in the traditional Japanese manner Serizawa achieved fame as a textile designer and was designated as a Living National treasure by the the Japanese government for his outstanding work using the Katazome stencil technique for dying fabric. He was a major exponent of the mingei — people's craft movement. He was al

I wrote this some months ago and just found it languishing in the drafts folder! So without more ado I give you Alice and Martin Provensen who illustrated more than 40 children's books together. Alice worked for Walter Lantz Studio, the creators of Woody Woodpecker, and Martin took worked with the rival Walt Disney Studio, where he collaborated on Dumbo, Fantasia, and Pinocchio. Also like Gustaf Tenggren - who worked for and animation studio, Disney - they illustrated several

It's that time of year when my thoughts turn to Christmas cards and in particular designing my own. I've done this for many, many years and thought that many other artists have done this too. This sent me on a hunt for some of those artists and their festive offerings, either for friends and family or as a commercial venture. Here are a select few of my favourites: At the top of this blog you can see a splendid design by Edward Bawden for wrapping paper. I love the hint of

The Little Golden Books are a very popular American series of children's books – first published in 1942, and The Poky little Puppy is one of the best selling children's books of all time! If you click on the puppy he will take you to the world of Gustaf Tenggren where you can find out everything about the man and his lifetimes work. Gustaf Tenggren Illustrated The Poky little Puppy and I like to think that the sales of this book were largely due to the incredibly cute puppy

Olle Eksell Swedish graphic designer, poster artist and children's book illustrator. His illustrations are the epitome of late 40's, early 50's, graphic art, one look at you can date his work with accuracy. I found this image the other day, while looking at James Thurber books, and followed it to a Chinese book site! Den Store Quillow by James Thurber Isn't it just fabulous?! This is the cover – click on it and go to blog by a fellow enthusiast – and see more fabulous images!

Oh dear! Apart from a few enticing images on Pinterest I can find very little about Hanna Czajkowska, these images will just have to be enough for now. If any one knows more please tell me! #Inspiringartistoftheday #artist #illustrator

Another Illustrator of children's books that I can find very little about ...but just look at her work! The image above links to a very short article about her. I just love that hippo! Click on the cow to see some more of her gorgeous work! #Inspiringartistoftheday #artist #illustrator

Illustrator of over three hundred books including such well known ones as Willi Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG and James and the Giant Peach written by Roald Dahl, and writer and illustrator of Mister Magnolia and Fantastic Daisy Artichoke among others. Blake's work is so free, open and frank... he draws life as it is or could be in his or someone else's imaginary world. His work shows great consistency, his early books are obviously illustrated by exactly the same

Cliff Roberts was an animator for Sesame Street, The Smurfs, and The Pink Panther! He also published comics in The New Yorker and in Playboy and had two syndicated newspaper comic strips ...he also illustrated books Thomas written by Mary Harris Click on Thomas to see this out of print book in its entirety. ...including his own The Dot. To find out as much as you possibly can about Cliff Roberts click on the images above to go to a splendid blog page – We too were childre

I have to admit I know exceeding little about Werner Klemke which is a shame - and the internet tells me very little more but here are some excellent examples of his gorgeous line and colour work on the theme of Little Red riding hood! Loving that cat on the magazine cover – now that's character! I also love these – so very stylish and typically mid century. #art #artist #moiracarter #moiracarter #moirarae #moiraraecarter #illustrator #wernerklemke #Inspiringartistoftheday

I came across her work on the internet and adored at first sight... Stunning characters, texture and pattern ...definitely one for the library. Click on the photos for more information about this book - although sadly not it's author and illustrator. #art #artist #moiracarter #moiracarter #moirarae #moiraraecarter #illustrator #michewynants #Inspiringartistoftheday

'The Day the Cow sneezed'... I wish I'd had a copy of this when I was a child! Enough said... off to amazon to see if it's still available! #art #artist #moiracarter #moiracarter #moirarae #moiraraecarter #illustrator #jimflora #Inspiringartistoftheday

Another illustrator whose work I have come across on the internet but know very little about. Czech Artist and Illustrator Мирко Hanák (Mirko Hanák) whose illustration technique has a lot in common with Chinese brush painting. His free pen and ink line work is simply beautiful and the wet-on-wet watercolour looks soft as the fur or feathers he depicts in his animal illustrations. ...but I particularly love his illustrations of fairy tales. #art #artist #moiracarter #moiracart

My favourite book as a child was - Han's Anderson's fairy tales illustrated by Jiří Trnka. It was bought brand new for me in 1967 - please don't do the maths! This was the book that made me long to illustrate children's books... an unfulfilled ambition which – as I mentioned in my previous blog – I'm taking steps to rectify by taking a Children's book illustration course with Lilla Rogers and Zoe Tucker, at MATS.com But... I digress ...Jiří Trnka was a puppet maker, illustra

Whilst taking the Make Art That Sells courses I have become reacquainted with the work of the Johnstone twins, as they illustrated The White Cat – set as an assignment in week three of MATS A. I say reacquainted as one of my favourite books as a child was 'Jason and the Golden Fleece', also illustrated by the Johnstone twins. If you want to find out more about the twins click on the image above. I adored the illustrations, probably more than the stories which were pretty gre

As you may or may not know I've been involved a in a slice of Continuing Professional Development with Make Art That Sells, a series of online courses for illustrators, and have just completed a presentation for Home Decor products. Maybe you've seen my Facebook page and have seen the artwork, or been following on Instagram and seen some of the hand drawn images ...and may have noticed some cupcakes. Cupcakes by Wayne Thiebaud N.B. look a those shadows! Which brings me to Way

On the 13th of June I wrote about Andy Warhol's illustrations. Click the image if you want to go there. Yesterday I went to what was our city library – it has moved up the road to the Storeyhouse – to an exhibition of Pop Art. And, I saw a "recipe book" open on... ... not any old "recipe book" but a recipe book called "Wild Raspberries", full of wonderful ludicrous recipes created by Andy Warhol and Suzie Frankfurt in 1959. For those who are interested – and why wouldn't you

I saw his 'Seagulls' and 'Angels on washing lines' at Ruthin Craft Centre and thought ...Wow! There's clever! Made mostly from disparate pieces of wood, and painted with blocks of colour and pattern, these birds somehow just work. Something to do with the shapes and the shadows they cast?! If you want to find out more about David visit his work shop in Beaumaris or click on his photo to go to his website where you'll see more of his work including his linocuts and sketchbooks

Moira Shearer and Marius Goring in The Red Shoes 1948 I am my father's daughter - he loved movies and the movies he loved I grew up loving too. Movies such as 'The Red shoes', one of his all time favourites, and 'A matter of life and death' which is one of mine. What do these two films have in common? They were beautifully shot by Jack Cardiff. Kathleen Byron as Sister Ruth in Black Narcissus 1947 Click on the above image for 'Painting With Light - Jack Cardiff On Black Narci

Illustrator of fabulous fun stuff, I adore her characters, the bright colours and the happy, happy vibe evident in all her work ...she makes me smile! Click on the image below to transport yourself to her wonderful world! #art #artist #moirarae #moiraraecarter #moiracarter #moiracarter #inspiration #illustrator #helendardik #makeartthatsells #Inspiringartistoftheday