Moulins Merveilleuse

Congratulations to the Musée d'Illustration Jeunesse in Moulins! 

I was fortunate enough to have an opportunity to visit this inspirational museum in France last week and met the charming curator Emmanuelle Martinat-Dupre. A most enjoyable afternoon was spent touring this wonderful chateau, surveying the current exhibit entitled Même Pas Peur featuring artwork by Tomi Ungerer, as well as the pride of the French collection of illustrated books and original artwork. In hushed reverence I was ushered in to the back room of treasures and was privileged to been shown a broad selection of the collection this museum now holds.

Along with the Eric Carle Museum in the US and Seven Stories in the UK this institution must rank as one of the leading repositories of illustration artwork. Their feast of forthcoming events is exciting and I look forward with relish to a return visit later this year. Housed in the beauty of central France  a pleasant train ride from Paris well rewards for the visitor, which I highly recommend.

HOORAY FOR BREAD! Illustrations by Bruce Ingman Exhibition launch

On Wednesday the 6th of February 2013 we celebrated the launch of Hooray for Bread illustrated by Bruce Ingman and written by Allan Ahlberg. Hooray for Bread is the fifth book from this remarkable duo, following the success of Everybody was a Baby Once, Previously, The Pencil and The Runaway Dinner.

Bruce Ingman and Zoe Toft

Allan Ahlberg

The evening was a fantastic success with Gail's Bakery sponsoring the evening with delicious artisan breads.
Baker's hats and even a Bread Headdress were donned!

Bruce and Allan signed stacks of books. 

Bruce took the time to draw an individual bread illustration in each one too! 

Axel Scheffler and Bruce Ingman

For more photos visit our Flickr page. 

Bruce Ingman's first book, When Martha's Away, was published in 1995 to great critical acclaim, winning The V&A Illustration Award. Bruce also won the prestigious Mother Goose Award as the most exciting British newcomer to children's books.

Since then Bruce has produced a number of highly distinctive and individual books including Lost Property (Methuen, 1997) and A Night on the Tiles (Methuen, 1998), Bad News I'm in Charge! (Walker Books, 2003) and Boing! (Walker Books, 2004) written by Sean Taylor. More recently he has worked in tandem with the author Allan Ahlberg and produced a number of picture books.

Hooray for Bread is a deliciously playful story which tells the tale of a loaf of bread. Bruce Ingman experiments with a softer style of illustration and his gentle, charming pictures complement the text perfectly. The original artwork from the book will be exhibited and available for purchase, alongside a selection of Bruce's other book illustrations. The exhibition will continue from the 7th to the 23rd of February 2013. Signed books are also be available to purchase.

For more artwork and information on Bruce Ingman visit his artist's page on our website:
http://www.illustrationcupboard.com/artist.aspx?aId=97&page=0

Lisbeth Zwerger's beautiful editions and signed books

Illustrationcupboard was privileged to host an evening with Lisbeth Zwerger in October 2012, and as the signed books are getting very quickly snapped up we thought it appropriate to share the sheer delight of Lisbeth's stunning artwork and books.

Lisbeth is one of the great names in modern book illustration. The following for her highly imaginative and superbly crafted artwork has a world-wide audience, reflected by the major retrospective held at The Eric Carle Museum in 2010.

Lisbeth was acknowledged as one of the leading artists in her field over twenty years ago when she was awarded the Hans Christian Andersen Medal (1990) for illustration – this award is offered for a lifetime of achievement, and Lisbeth was only in her mid-thirties, which in itself highlights the respect and admiration in which she is held.

Working in the tradition of the famous nineteenth century artist like Arthur Rackham, Lisbeth Zwerger shows a skill and technical ability with brush and watercolour that is without parallel. Best known for her renditions of fables and tales, her latest publication Tales from the Brothers Grimm (minedition, 2012, £19.99) is a classic and includes many favourite stories such as Little Red Cap (Little Red Riding Hood) as well as some lesser known fables.

The books we have in the gallery are published by minedition. minedition publish picture books of the highest quality that 'opens the door to the world' for children. (www.minedition.com)

The Pied Piper of Hamelin (£12.99), The Hans Christian Andersen Fales (£19.99), Tales from the Brothers Grimm (£19.99), The Little Mermaid (£9.99), The World of Imagination (£35.00)

Lisbeth signed all of the books, and also some book plates.

The World of Imagination is an incredible book, with an introduction by Eric Carle, Lisbeth writes about her influences, her personal experiences and her love of drawing. It is such an inspiring and facinating read. The book itself is beautifully bound (see below). 

For the exhibition, Lisbeth created 10 limited giclee editions. They are £375 each and are signed and numbered by Lisbeth Zwerger. For the full range of editions, visit Lisbeth's page on our website: 

 http://www.illustrationcupboard.com/artist.aspx?aId=381&page=0

The detail is just incredible.

'The Little Mermaid Loved to hear Tales'

Detail from 'The Little Mermaid Loved to hear Tales'

'Dwarf Nose Served the Pie'

Detail from 'Dwarf Nose Served the Pie'

Article in The Independent newspaper

On Saturday, the 8th of December 2012, the article 'Illustration: The old favourites that are now a big draw' about the Illustrationcupboard gallery by Nick Duerden featured in the Observations section with Arts in the Independent newspaper.

It reads:

 'How much would you pay for an original Mr Benn, a Mr Men or even a Charlie and Lola? For the next two months, visitors to the Illustration Cupboard in London will have the opportunity to relive some of their favourite children's illustrations, but also, if their pockets are deep enough, to purchase them.

"Nostalgia is definitely part of the appeal", says the exhibition's curator, John Huddy. "A lot of our clients come back year after year because they see things they remember from their own childhood and recall it with such affection they want to pass it onto the next generation."

Children's illustration is an area that has been long under-appreciated in the art-world, but no more. Much like vinyl is enjoying a comeback in a world of downloads, so the drawn line is looking even more appealing in the digital age.

"About time too," Huddy says. "Britain has been a world-leader in picture books for decades now. I'm glad it's finally been acknowledged."

As a consequence, such works are becoming recession-proof investments. But it's not an entirely exclusive exhibition: while a Maurice Sendak lithograph of Where the Wild Things Are (the originals are in a museum) could set you back £5,000, there are works here that start from a mere £75.'

The 17th Annual Winter Exhibition, Illustrationcupboard, London SW1, (www.illustrationcupboard.com)

New illustrator George Butler

We are delighted to welcome the incredibly talented George Butler in this year's Winter show.

George Butler is an artist and illustrator specialising in travel and current affairs. His drawings, done in situ are in pen, ink and watercolour. In August 2012 George walked from Turkey across the border into Syria, where as an unofficial guest of the rebel Free Syrian Army he spent 4 days drawing the civil war damaged, small and empty town of Azaz. These drawings were reproduced by the Times, the Guardian, and reported on the BBC and CNN.

However, his sense of adventure does not stop there - since leaving Kingston university, drawing has taken George around the world, depicting the oil fields in Azerbaijan, soldiers in Afghanistan, reconstructive plastic surgery, G20 riots, the New York Fire Department and Asian Elephants. Amongst several London based solo exhibitions, his work has been exhibited in the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours exhibition at the Mall Galleries, 2008, 2009 & 2011 where he won the June Stokes Roberts Bursury twice and the Winsor and Newton Young Artist's Award.

Below is the artwork 'Market' which is on display at the gallery. This beautifully detailed piece was chosen for the front cover of the G2, August 2012.

Visit George's artist's page for more artwork and information: http://www.illustrationcupboard.com/artist.aspx?aId=384&page=0

Olivia Lomenech Gill - Where My Wellies Take Me - New Etchings

Olivia Lomenech Gill visited the gallery and brought two more of her beautiful etchings for our 17th Annual Winter Illustration Exhibition. Olivia illustrated Where My Wellies Take Me by Clare and Michael Morpurgo which has been flying off the bookshelves at Illustrationcupboard since the launch in September.

Below are some of her stunning paintings, etchings and drypoints framed by Vincent Lomenech. (www.lomenech.eu)

For prices and further information have a look at Olivia's artist page on our website.

Special edition books are £45 and artwork is available from £350 upwards.

Winter Illustration Festival 2012 with Simon Bartram

We had a wonderful cosy Winter Festival this year with Simon Bartram's Bob, Man on the Moon celebrating his 10th birthday. Simon read from his newest book Bob and the Moontree Mystery. George Tarlton joined us again to fill the gallery with the lovely sounds of his guitar. Rocket cake was shared, alien balloons were blown up and Simon signed a mountain of Bob books (get your signed copies quick!)