Whether you are a seasoned book collector or are just getting started, you are going to love My Book Collection.
Hello everyone! Today I'm sharing with you guys my favorite books from my Illustrated Art Book collection. I'm not only sharing children's books. In my collection you will find mainly the works of artists who work in realism style with the old-fashioned, hand-drawing manner, even illustrating children's fairy tales or philosophical parables.
I will go through each of my most favorite art books. I'm always curious about buying art books and get to see the art printed on paper, mostly when I admire the illustrator so much. And knowing all the work and details that go behind.
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” Pablo Picasso
Part 1. Illustrators
Anton LOMAEV / Антон Ломаев
Lomaev Anton Yakovlevich. He was born in Vitebsk in 1971, studied at the Russian Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg, and has been illustrating children's books and designing book cover art since the 1990s.. He is a member of the prestigious union of Russian painters and The Academy of Fine Arts in St Petersburg, Russia, where he lives.
Today, when the attitude “less is better” is progressing in book design, the deliberately elegant, bright and festive works of Anton Lomaev, one of the most interesting modern Russian illustrators, may seem redundant to some, while others, on the contrary, will enjoy the good old handdrawing with pencils and brushes. The illustrator's style has a graceful technique, a distinct realism of knowingly fabulous worlds, a desire to draw authentic costumes and household items, and an emphasis on the liveliness of a human face, irony, and balanced and clearly expressed ethical position of the artist.
Please visit Anton Lomaev's website to see more of his magical art.
17 Books
Vladislav Erko / Владислав Ерко
Vladyslav Yerko is an illustrator, who works with the major children’s book publishing house “Ababahalamaha” in Ukraine. His covers for the Ukraineian Harry Potter series are said to be among J. K. Rowling’s favourites. Yerko is also responsible for Illustrating the Ukrainian edition of “Snow Queen” (Snihova Koroleva in Ukrainian). It was named Best Children’s Book of 2006 by Hans Christian Anderson foundation and released in English afterwards.
“The full page illustrations by the award winning Ukrainian artist, Vladyslav Yerko, are alone worth the price of the book. I recommend it to all ages.” – Robert Goldsborough, writer and former Chicago Tribune Magazine editor.
8 books
Scott Gustafson / Скотт Густафсон
Although Scott has had the opportunity to work on many projects throughout his career, it is in illustrating children’s books that he finds the greatest satisfaction. Over the years, he is primarily known for his work illustrating children’s classics such as Peter Pan, The Night Before Christmas, and the more recent titles, Classic Fairy Tales, Favorite Nursery Rhymes from Mother Goose, Classic Bedtime Stories, and his novel for young readers, Eddie: The Lost Youth of Edgar Allan Poe, which he wrote and illustrated.
Scott’s most recent book, Classic Storybook Fables, was released by Artisan after two years (and 49 new oil paintings) in the making! Artisan has also reprinted Classic Fairy Tales, Favorite Nursery Rhymes from Mother Goose and Classic Bedtime Stories, so we are very pleased that all these titles are available in bookstores everywher
3 books
Denis Gordeev / Денис Гордеев
Denis Gordeev (Денис Гордеев), born 1964, is an artist from Moscow, Russia. He is a book illustrator and on his portfolio he presents i.a. "The Three Musketeers", "Treasure Island", Brothers Grimm Fairy Tales, "The Lord of the Rings", "The Silmarillion", "The Sons of Hurin", "The Hobbit" and "The Witcher" ("Ведьмак").
I love his illustrations for the Oscar Wilde's books, one of my favorite authors.
2 books
Nika Goltz / Ника Гольц
Nika Goltz has been called, “one of the most talented and productive Russian children’s book illustrators.” In a career lasting over five decades, Goltz illustrated more than 100 children’s books.
In 1943 Goltz graduated from the Moscow State Academy Art Lyceum and in 1950 graduated from V. Surikov Moscow State Academy Art Institute. The first book she illustrated was the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, “The Steadfast Tin Soldier,” published in 1956.
Goltz would go on to illustrate The Little Prince, the fairy tales of Oscar Wilde, numerous Hans Christian Andersen’s tales, and many others. Her fairy tales worlds were realistic, bright, and full of wonder. However, she did not subscribe to the concept of “children’s book.” Noting many, such as Don Quixote and Gulliver’s Travels, for their deep philosophical content. For this reason, she did not illustrate for children nor for grown-ups. By and large, she illustrated for herself. But she did acknowledge the responsibility of children authors and illustrators, appreciating the lasting impression a book can have. Consequently, Goltz created artwork enjoyed by both children and grown-ups.
From 1998 Goltz’s devoted most of her creative output to the work of her favorite author, Hans Christian Andersen. She was awarded the Silver Medal of the Academy of Arts, and in 2006 won a International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) award for the book "Bolshaja kniga lutshih skazok" (The big book of the best fairy tales). She was also awarded the Honored Artist of Russia, Russia’s highest title for artistic achievement.
"I am often asked if I paint for children. In my opinion, every artist draws mostly for himself. I draw because I can't live without drawing. Although I am convinced that I am doing this for someone, including children." Nika Goltz
"Art is not a commodity, art is a religion." Nika Goltz
2 books
Christian Birmingham / Кристиан Бирмингем
Christian Birmingham is a British illustrator and artist who has worked with children's writers including the Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo, on books including Whitbread Children's Book of the Year The Wreck of the Zanzibar and Smarties Prize winner The Butterfly Lion. He was also shortlisted for the Kurt Maschler Award and Kate Greenaway Medal for illustration.
Birmingham graduated from Exeter College of Art and Design in 1991 with a first-class honours degree in Graphic Design (illustration). He won his first book illustration contract soon after leaving college and has since worked with major British and American publishers on titles including the centenary picturebook edition of C. S. Lewis's The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and Clement C. Moore's classic poem The Night Before Christmas (which has sold more than 1.5 million copies). He has also illustrated two sets of Royal Mail special stamps, to commemorate 100 years of the Rugby league and the centenary of the birth of children's author Enid Blyton.
3 books
Kinuko Y. Craft
Kinuko Y. Craft Official Website. Kinuko Y. Craft is one of the most widely respected and well known fantasy artists in the World today. Her past commissions have included paintings for book covers of the who’s who of well known fantasy authors, opera posters, fairy tale books as well as covers for almost every major national magazine. During her storied career she has become known for meticulous attention to detail, a passionate love of fine art and a deep knowledge of art history. 3 books
Bagram Ibatoulline / Баграм Ибатуллин
Bagram Ibatoulline was born in Omsk, Russia, and attended the State Academic Institute of Arts in Moscow. He has worked in fine arts, graphic arts, mural design, and textile design, and is adept at painting in different styles. His first book was Philip Booth's Crossing, named a 2001 Best Book by Publishers Weekly. He is best known for his books with Kate di Camillo, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and Great Joy. He lives in Chichester, New York.
"Being a book illustrator nowadays is, of course, old-fashioned, but very cool" Bagram Ibatoulline
2 books
Patrick James Lynch (P. J. Lynch) / Патрик Джеймс Линч
P. J. Lynch has worked as a children’s book illustrator since leaving Brighton College of Art in England in the 1980s. He has won many awards including the Kate Greenaway Medal on two occasions, first for “The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey” by Susan Wojciechowski, and again for “When Jessie Came Across the Sea” by Amy Hest.
“The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey” has sold more than a million copies in the USA alone, and has recently been made into a movie.
In recent years PJ has designed posters for Opera Ireland and the Abbey Theatre as well as several sets of Irish stamps.
In 2006 Lynch completed two large murals on the theme of Gulliver’s Travels for the new Cavan County Library, and he has recently designed a giant mosaic for the Marian Shrine in Knock, Co Mayo which was unveiled in February 2016.
PJ has lectured on his own work, and on Art and Illustration at the National Gallery of Ireland, The National Library of Ireland and at the Irish Museum of Modern Art, as well as at numerous conferences and colleges across the U.S.
He lives in Dublin with his wife and their three children.
2 books
Gennady Spirin / Геннадий Константинович Спирин
While the work of artist and illustrator Gennady Spirin has been described as “realism,” he says that he doesn’t like that label. His distinctive illustrations of fairy tales, classic tales, and folk tales are the result of careful research and loving detail combined with imagination and interpretation.
And they resonate with children.
“Children have a realistic view of the world,” he explains. “That is why I try to make it look interesting to them. Children can’t draw what they see because they don’t have the skills yet, so it comes out childlike. They admire real objects the way they look, not a conceptual or a symbolic representation of it.” Gennady Spirin
Inspired by Renaissance masters, this philosophy has resulted in more than 50 books that are treasured and often handed down in families. His talent has caught the eye of singer and author Julie Andrews, for whom he illustrated her book Simeon’s Gift (written with Emma Walton Hamilton), and pop star Madonna, with whom he also collaborated on a book, Yakov and the Seven Thieves. Former First Lady Laura Bush commissioned a large poster for a book fair that is now displayed in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
2 books
Gennady Spirin - The Sea King's Daughter: A Russian Legend
Gennady Spirin - Rumpelstiltskin by The Brothers Grimm
Other Artists
Paul O.Zelinsky "Rumpelstiltskin"
Anne Yvonne Gilbert - "Dracula", Bram Stoker
Robert Sauber - "Gift of the Magi", O. Henry
Максим Митрофанов «Кентервильское привидение»
Ольга Ионайтис "Ночь перед Рождеством"
Вячеслав Назарук "Сказы Бажова"
Ксения Шафрановская "Мэри Поппинс"
Борис Диодоров «Аленький цветочек»
Демидова Наталья Юрьевна "Девочка со спичками"
"Большая книга лучших сказок братьев Гримм"
Андрей Потурайло - "Пропавшая грамота", Н.В. Гоголь
Олег Коминарец "Вечера на хуторе близ Диканьки", Н.В. Гоголь
Оксана Викторова "Вечера на хуторе близ Диканьки", Н.В. Гоголь
А. В. Николаев "Мастер и Маргарита", М.А. Булгаков
and more....
Part 2. Books about Masters of Art
Sorry, I will finish this part soon...