Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Arthur Rackham in ImagineFX

The next issue of ImagineFX magazine (Issue 84) is all about fairy tales. It includes a special feature on Arthur Rackham, with appreciations by Charles Vess, Tom Bagshaw, Brian Froud, and John Howe. 


The article says: “As the world around Arthur Rackham became mechanized, he made ancient legends seem real to his Victorian and Edwardian contemporaries.” 
 

John Howe says: "It’s almost as if the soot from the mines and factories has dusted the brilliance of a past inherited from Celtic times, hinted at by Shakespeare, set into folklore by the Elizabethans, rendered quaint and dainty by the Victorians, and finally left behind by the modern world. Arthur affords us a last glimpse, tinted with just a little of the wildness that the Victorians had discarded.”

Rackham will also be included in the museum survey of fantastic art opening this weekend in Allentown, Pennsylvania. I'll be there Saturday and Sunday.

8 comments:

Jenny Woolf said...

Interesting post. Love Arthur Rackham but not so keen on his colours, I like brighter richer colours. Always think Dulac is under estimated.

Kristy said...

Wonderful! I'm buying this right now...

Keith Parker said...

Yes, I just received that issue in the mail yesterday. There is also an article about book cover illustration in this month's issue. Any thoughts on that?

Keith Parker said...

Yes, I just received that issue in the mail yesterday. There is also an article about book cover illustration in this month's issue. Any thoughts on that?

arturoquimico said...

Seems like I read somewhere that Rackham had to go easy on the colors due to the printing process used at the time. I actually like the understated colors... gives his pictures a more dream like look.

rebecca said...

When will you be at the museum? I can go on Sunday, the 3rd -- but want to be sure not to miss seeing you! Thanks.

James Gurney said...

Rebecca, the museum opens at 12:00 on Sunday, and it's free. I'm planning to go to Jordu's presentation on monsters at 3:00, but I'll try to get there around 1:00 to see all the artwork. Hope to see you there.

Arturo and Jenny, The article talks about the subject you brought up--how Rackham was so understated with his color, even though he was working at the origins of color printing. I love both his approach to color, and Dulac's, which were very different. I always thought that greyed-down color helped the linework read.

Keith, I think they've done a good overview of book art as a career-- both digital and print, and cover and interior illustration. Book art has always been a great calling, especially if you want to connect your pictures to written stories.

rebecca said...

This is a fantastic (no pun intended) show, and Jordu's presentation was really wonderful -- informative, inspiring, and very funny. Thanks so much for sharing the news about the exhibit, and so great to have a chance to meet you there!