EXTRACTS: Illustrators issue 8 © 2014 The Book Palace (96 PAGES in Full edition)

96 of combat, but also seemed tome to have a technical accuracy and immediacy that convinced me the scenes were based on the illustrator’s direct experience. It was also enlightening to read that he felt his output, quite apart from the undoubted grind of producing the illustrations, was something he regretted as though the work had no value. I was glad to read he did indeed generally enjoy a rich and physically active life when not tied to his studio. Thank you very much for featuring this artist. Yours sincerely —Charles Higham Thanks for your comments Charles— we’ll be running a feature on Eric Parker in issue 9 of illustrators which might rekindle more such memories. Letters @ To the Editor of “illustrators” Initially I did not buy illustrators because I considered that £15 was too much to pay for what I believed to be another magazine. That was my mistake. Eventually the description of the content of Issue 2 caught my attention and I bought a copy to sample. I was hooked immediately and took out a subscription, which I have now renewed. It is much more than a magazine. For a start, most magazines are full of advertisements, of which very few, if any, hold any interest for me. I appreciate, though, that advertising is usually a necessary evil to keep the cost down. I am glad, though, that illustrators contains very few ads, and that these are relevant to the general content. More significantly though, illustrators focuses on in-depth articles on artists who deserve wider recognition for their work in the 20th century. Some of them have it overseas, but sadly graphic art and book illustration have never been as appreciated in the UK as it has elsewhere in Europe, and in the USA. Some of the artists featured in illustrators so far are known to me, and I welcome being able again to revel in the quality of their talents, whilst I am very happy to be introduced to others who have been hitherto unknown to me. The quality of the reproduction of illustration, and of the paper you use is superb. So well done and long may this enterprise continue. It will over time, I am sure, forma veritable encyclopaedia of the craft of the illustrators. Yours faithfully, —Roger Coombes We were all really heartened when we received Roger’s letter, which is a perfect summation of the rationale that impelled us to launch illustrators . Each of the considerations that he enumerates are ideals that we have striven to achieve, and the fact that Roger has picked up on them is very cheering indeed. So without further ado, we are going to award Roger with a copy of ‘Ron Embleton’s Complete Adventures of Wulf the Briton’. Dear Peter et al at Illustrators Themagazine is a tremendous read and the opportunity it gives to view such excellent artwork all gathered together in 96 pages is not to be missed. The chance to feature in it as a cartoonist amongst such truly greats of illustration was, although somewhat daunting, something to be treasured. I first met the redoubtable Bryn Havord during my time at Today newspaper and was blissfully unaware he coveted my “proper draughtsman’s swivel stool” so. Likewise I never realised that this large, bearded designer fromthe features department had literally been there and certainly done that in the world of magazine art direction, all of which he brings to the magazine in his entertaining articles. So, well done Peter and team for producing this quarterly delight and I look forward to every issue. Just a thought – whatever happened to my swivel stool after Today’s closure? Very best wishes —Dave Gaskill Dear Dave, Bryn Havord has asked me to assure you that after the demise of Today newspaper, your swivel-stool is in safe hands, and with copious applications of WD40 and other lubricating oil, works as well as it did when it was in your care. Very best wishes —Peter Richardson Dear Sir, I am writing to express my appreciation of the article about Graham Coton. Like many of my generation I tasted the excitement of war through comic strips such as those found in the War and Air Ace Picture Library. Graham Coton’s dynamic and action-packed scenes not only recreated the thrill and destruction Win a book worth £125.00! Your feedback is important to us! Send us your views, and we are offering a free book to the writer of the best letter published in each issue. The prize for the best letter published in the next issue is Book Palace Books Frank Bellamy’s Complete Swift Stories. The editor’s decision is final. ● Please send your comments to the editor, Peter Richardson, at Illustrators. The Book Palace. Jubilee House. Bedwardine Road. Crystal Palace. LONDON. SE19 3AP, or email him at p-r@dircon.co.uk