nessbily

Kay Nielsen

The Danish gift to early 20th century fairytale illustrations. (1886–1957)

Of course I have to speak about him too. I learned about him at the same time as I learned about Edmund Dulac, from the Golden Age of Illustrators book.
To me he reminds very much of Rudolf Koivu and John Bauer.

This is one of my favorites... I like the ornamental frame, the white skin of Sheheradzade and the dark cloak and depressed posture of the Sultan... and the sky above it all is... mmm...

This one reminds me of a couple of Finnish Kalevala paintings:

Väinö Hämäläinen: The Elk Chase (1903)

Akseli Gallen Kallela: Joukahainen's revenge (1897)

Akseli Gallen Kallela: Kullervo departs for war (1901)

John Bauer

1882-1918

As Scandinavian, the Golden Age of illustration wouldn't be dealt with without mentioning John Bauer. He was drowned in a boat accident, but his legacy lives strong up here in North. He's well worth mentioning and as worthy to be emulated as Rackham and Dulac :-)

The Nordic spruce forests indeed are like a heavy, dark walls...

John Bauer at artpassions
John Bauer at Illustrators

Harry Clarke

Harry Clarke (March 17, 1889–1931) was an Irish stained glass artist and book illustrator.
Born in Dublin, he was a leading figure in the Irish Arts and Crafts Movement.

Ivan Bilibin

Edmund Dulac

Edmund Dulac (1882.1953) was the other fairytale illustrator of the Golden Age. (The other one being Arthur Rackham. There are no others like these two.)

The beauty of his lines leaves me speechless, and the soft colors, light and shadows, experimenting with the art traditions of the fairytale culture... like the yellow sky of Princess Badoura... and the details, again. The whole picture is filled with details, background is decorated with rich ornaments, or simple texture or color...

His illustration makes me sated with bliss...

Arthur Rackham

I really cannot talk about my illustration inspirations and influences without mentioning Arthur Rackham (1867 - 1939)... His illustrations was the perfect backdrop to old fairytales, slightly dark, slightly muted colors, slightly surreal... his illustrations are straight from dreams, and subconscious, the stuff fairytales and myths are made of.

It's always cloudy and windy in Arthur Rackham's images... I simply love it. :-)

Pauline Baynes

In my mind one of the best illustrators in the world... I think her line drawings are better than her color work, but that too is wonderful... I wish I could... She died 2 years ago, and I still cry floods.

Pauline Baynes, queen of Narnia and Middle Earth
Pauline Baynes, 1922-2008
Pauline Baynes at Flickr