Monday 29 August 2016

House of Illustration - August 2016

I was exceptionally lucky to visit the House of Illustration in London this summer. The main draw being the amazing displayed work of Quentin Blake and also the exhibition of Russian Children's books and illustrations.

The actual building is a five minute walk away from King's Cross station, so very easy if you ever want to visit! The Quentin Blake work is mostly to emphasize the release of a Roald Dahl based film from a book (BFG) Blake had illustrated for back in the early 1980's.
To see these original pieces close up is truly amazing. The fluidity of his ink work shows how the simplistic styles are as always the most effective.

The works proceed through the making and process of the original publications and you can see how the works have changed and developed.

The permanent displays of Blake's other works is also worth a view. The captured imaginations these images have created is incredible.

As any inspiring illustrator, I would fully recommend a trip.

The changing exhibitions will surely mean another trip will be planned in the future for myself.
I found the exhibition of seeing the Russian works a surprising bonus, the history of the soviet and the processes of their changing country can be seen from the early 1900's and how the influences of the west changed their art work and styles. The singular importance of children's books can be seen to expand and enthrall through the pre-war years and the similarities to movements within the world wide development and how Russian illustrators almost seemed to rebel and be forefront leaders in the new designs of the coming new world.


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