Choose One Graphic Artist and Describe Their Work and Why You Like It.

I have chosen to look at Arthur Rackhams’s work because I recognised his illustrations of Alice in Wonderland which were in a book I read when I was younger. I really like the unusual technique he uses which really capture the fairy tale theme of his works. I think his illustrations are very interesting because they are beautiful and very detailed. Also, his style is from a time long past that is rarely seen today.

Arthur Rackham’s illustrations are relevant to my work because they depict scenes from stories and fairy tales. His works have illustrated Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm amongst others which are fictional stories coming from the imagination of the authors. Arthur Rackham has also sketched many illustrations of fairies, mermaids, witches and trees which also relate to the title of ‘Twisted Tales’.

Rackham's illustrations are easily recognised by his characteristic use of line and depiction of fairytale creatures. The graceful and flowing pen lines softened by the use of watercolour, is a style that Rackham invented himself and it is often described as a fusion of the northern European style and the Japanese woodblock tradition. To complete an illustration he would sketch the outline before adding the shapes and details. Then he would go over the lines using pen and ink. To create coloured pictures he applied washes of colour to create a translucent effect.

Throughout his lifetime and Rackham was highly praised for his illustrations and his works have become even more popular now, after his death. The forests he created had giant, almost frightening roots and leering faces and he was able to create a balance between plain and overly gaudy fairies. He has been described as ‘the leading decorative illustrator of the Edwardian period’ and a master of ‘imagination, draftsmanship and colour-blending’.

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