Task 1: Four Picture Book Illustrators

Jan Pienkowski

 

Jan Pienkowski is a children's illustrator whose work for Meg and Mog, authored by Helen Nicoll, featured heavily in my childhood. I was surprised to discover his work for other books, which are far more detailed and different in appearance. Silhouettes feature heavily in these illustrations, lending a wonderful delicate, dramatic look. In the Guardian's interview it explains that Pienkowski, "cuts them (silhouettes) out in card, before scanning them in and manipulating them on a computer."

Nut Cracker

The Kingdom Under the Sea

Baba Yaga

Meg and Mog 
Jan Pienkowski is, however, most well known for his vibrant, bold and simplistic illustrations for the series Meg and Mog. Bright primary colours create a backdrop for the monochrome characters and the use of shape is crucial to their personalities. 

Work in progress:

Meg and Mog have even been converted into a television series for CBeebies:

Nick Sharratt

Nick Sharrott was one of my idols growing up. I mainly knew his work from one of my favourite authors at the time - Jacqueline Wilson, who he still illustrates for now. He has also produced work for a younger audience, as well as writing and illustrating picture books. His work is bold, bright and has a pleasing cartoon-like appearance, which appeals to the young target audience. His illustrations are fun, with faces made up of simplistic lines and the vivid colouring drawing attention. His illustrations also feature in the TV adaption of Jacqueline Wilson's The Story of Tracey Beaker.

Dick Bruna

Dick Bruna is a Dutch illustrator, artist and graphic designer. Though he is most known for being a picture book illustrator, Bruna also designed a series of posters for his father's publishing company, which highlighted his graphic design influence.

 

He is best known for Miffy the bunny, which he drew with heavy graphic lines and simplistic shapes. Indeed, the soft, non-threatening shape of Miffy, the circular head, the stout body and the cross of her nose has become iconic. Bold, primary colours have again been put into use to attract the attention of the young target audience.

Dr Seuss
Dr Seuss is amongst the most famous picture book illustrators and authors in the world. He wrote and illustrated a series of picture books that were fun, bizarre, lovable and rhyming! Such books were The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, Fox in Socks and many more. His illustration style is not as typical. His drawings are made up of loose lines, more illustrative in appearance than bold and graphical. He uses these lines to convey the emotions of his characters, as well as their sound and movement. He worked with ink and his characters would usually be highlighted with only one or two (often primary) colours. He was said to be a perfectionist and would sometimes spend a year on one book.

References:
http://vulpeslibris.wordpress.com/2009/12/18/the-nut-cracker-by-jan-pienkowski-and-david-walser/
http://vulpeslibris.wordpress.com/2012/02/09/the-kingdom-under-the-sea-by-joan-aiken-and-jan-pienkowski/
http://www.janpienkowski.com/home.htm
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2008/dec/22/pienkowski-nutcracker-illustrations-meg-mog
http://nicksharratt.com/
http://www.nijntje.nl/
http://nandawilson.wordpress.com/2012/11/17/picture-book-3-dick-bruna/