Illustration Friday - Layers

The subject LAYERS intrigues me. This is my contribution to Illustration Friday. I like the idea that things are not what they may seem. You need to dig through the layers to fully understand something. And, when you think you have hit the core another layer will surprise you.

Found: Brian Wildsmith books on my shelf

Detail of Brian Wildsmith illustration from Professor Noah's Spaceship

Every once and a while I remind myself to move away from my computer screen, and the world of beautiful, inspirational blogs, and go look at the books on my shelves.

Last week I found our (my husband's and my) copies of Brian Wildsmith books. We have each had these illustrated gems since we were children. The earliest one was published in 1970. According to his website he has illustrated over 80 books. Please visit the following links for wonderful interviews and more information about him. I could not do this prolific, British illustrator justice by giving small biographical details in this post.

Interview by Madelyn Travis here.

Interview by Susie Mesure here.

Turning the pages of these books I was awestruck with the intense and seemingly theatrical illustrations. The colours, the lines, the shapes, the textures. Wow! Below are a few detailed samples of his illustrations.

Detail of Brian Wildsmith illustration from The Circus

Detail of Brian Wildsmith illustration from The Circus

Detail of Brian Wildsmith illustration from Professor Noah's Spaceship

Detail of Brian Wildsmith illustration from The Rich Man and the Shoe-maker

Detail of Brian Wildsmith illustration from The Rich Man and the Shoe-maker

An Esty first for me...

It was a quiet Saturday morning.

A little newspaper reading with my cup of tea.

Some hemming and hawing going on here and there.

Then, "ding". Email.

Oh, what's that, I wonder.

Ahhhhhh, orange and blue items. I love orange with blue. Scroll, scroll.

"Oh, my gosh!! Oh, my gosh!!" My young daughter rushed to the scene thinking something was wrong with me.

"One of my pieces is in an Etsy Finds email!" Wow!

That changed the day.

Thanks for post, Etsy. Thanks for the visits, everyone.