EXTRACTS: Illustrators Issue 6 © 2013 The Book Palace (96 PAGES in Full edition)

94 The Bookshelf Philip Kelleway follows on from his earlier look at the Zinkeisen dynasty by focusing his attention exclusively on the work of Doris Zinkeisen’s daughters, Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone. As was revealed in illustrators five, these remarkable twins created some of the most memorable children’s book illustrations of the last century, and in this book Kelleway focuses his attention on their work, and the story behind how they went about creating it. With the benefit of years of research on the twins, and unparalleled access to family and friends, Philip Kelleway’s book is a delight to behold with page after page of beautifully reproduced artwork, the majority of it sourced from original art, which has been in the possession of the Grahame Johnstone family. I cannot recommend this book too highly, it really is a delight to peruse and, tantalisingly, there is more than enough Janet and Anne Grahame Johnstone artwork that isn’t included in this collection to merit a second volume. But in the meantime, this delightful book is more than enough to enchant the many fans of these exceptional illustrators. — Peter Richardson Pick Up A Pencil The work of Laurence Fish by Jean Bray Hard-bound 144 pages. JDF Associates £27.00/$43.50 l illustrators is also available in the USA from budplant.com Laurence Fish was an artist of his time, when young people with talent and drive could gain access to gainful employment, without the need for a university degree. Hence his CV makes for remarkable reading. He was selling designs to Alvis cars while still a schoolboy, and his fascination for flying led circuitously to his working on designs for Vickers Armstrong during the war, before being seconded to Lord Rothchild’s counter- sabotage unit. Jean Bray’s account of her late husband’s life and art is liberally peppered with such anecdotes, and it makes the enjoyment of his work all the more rewarding. Structurally the book is broken down into chapters which focus on the different disciplines that Fish worked within. The fact that he was able to expand his repertoire of commissioners as his career progressed, allows the narrator to share these facets of his art without having to break the continuity of presenting his life story. In terms of production and design, the book is beautifully presented with some lovely examples of the artist’s work, spread across lively and inviting layouts. All in all, this book is a must for any lover of beautiful illustration. — Peter Richardson James Bama American Realist By Brian M. Kane, Harlan Ellison and Len Leone Hard-bound 160 pages. Flesk Publications £27.95/$46.00 Limited Edition 1000 Signed and Numbered Boxed with a DVD £59.00/$95.50 I don’t like highly finished illustrations, and when I hear someone say, “He’s a wonderful artist, his work looks just like a photograph!” I shudder and think, “Why bother, just use the photograph, which is usually better.” However, if a highly finished work was called for, then James Bama was the man. Bama revolutionized the paperback book industry in America during the 1960s with his dynamic cover designs and illustrations. This impressive book spans his whole career. Examples of his work for magazine illustrations, paperback book covers, and advertising abound. Chapters examine his work in pop culture, horror, science fiction, adventure, and western genres, together with his most recent paintings. He usually worked from black and white photographic reference, and skilfully used colour to create mood. The book features some of his reference shots juxtaposed with the finished paintings, which gives a lie to my view that photographs are usually better, and I was especially moved by his portrait of Robert Kennedy. The book is a visual feast, and I highly recommend it. — Bryn Havord. The Johnstone Twins—An Appreciation of Janet Johnstone and Anne Grahame Johnstone By Philip Kelleway Hard-bound 144 pages Halstar £29.99/$43.50