Without the details there could be no larger picture. May Gibbs became one of Australia's most well-known and loved illustrators. Her gumnut babies have been adored by generations of children. For the first time her early life and artistic career are explored in detail. She traveled to England in a quest to develop as an artist and became an early supporter of the suffragettes. Her early paintings of wildflowers led her to discover the limitations of being a woman artist and she discovered that working hard to develop a sustaining commercial career in art was not going to be easy. One of the few women to become a commercial success, she did so by turning to fantasy and children's illustration. This is a fascinating illustrated biography of a talented artist, complete with beautiful reproductions of May Gibbs' work throughout.
Book Description
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Product Description
About the Author
Robert Holden was the curator of The Museum of Childhood, he has written numerous books on artists and those whose focus has been illustrating for children.
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
There are no customer reviews yet on Amazon.ca
5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars
2 reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Revealing biography of Australia's greatest children's author-artists!
Aug 25 2012
By John Gough
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover
May Gibbs is arguably Australia's greatest children's author-artist.
She may be fairly compared with such internationally recognised author-artists as Beatrix Potter or Tove Jansson (famous for Moomins!).
An American comparison might be Robert Robert Lawson.
May Gibbs is best known for "The Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie", although "Scotty in Gumnut Land" and "Prince Dande Lion" are also outstanding children's illustrated novels.
An earlier massive biography by Maureen Walsh covered her whole life and career very well.
But happily, research for a later exhibition of Gibbs' work resulted in discovery of fresh information, and examples of her early work as an artist, artistic innovator and entrepreneur, and a contributor of cartoons and other work to Australian magazines.
This research by children's literature expert Robert Holden and co-author, resulted in a revelatory exhibition.
It also led to this book.
Anyone interested in Australian art, Australian children's literature, Art Nouveau and Art Deco in Australia, and in May Gibbs (obviously) will find this book essential reading.
One major issue pursued by the authors is Gibbs and her considerable activities campaigning for women's rights, and especially the right to vote!
Also, they uncover, far more than Walsh was aware of, Gibbs' work as an entrepreneur, organising public events such as art shows, costume parties, and similar entertainments. She even appeared on the theatrical stage, and exhibited to considerable praise as a painter - notably of flowers.
The parallels with Beatrix Potter's botanical artwork are striking!
This book will be fascinating for new-comers to Gibbs, also!
It should serve to encourage wider reading of May Gibbs as a remarkable author-artist, not well known or appreciated in North America.
Very highly recommended,
John Gough jagough@gmail.com
She may be fairly compared with such internationally recognised author-artists as Beatrix Potter or Tove Jansson (famous for Moomins!).
An American comparison might be Robert Robert Lawson.
May Gibbs is best known for "The Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie", although "Scotty in Gumnut Land" and "Prince Dande Lion" are also outstanding children's illustrated novels.
An earlier massive biography by Maureen Walsh covered her whole life and career very well.
But happily, research for a later exhibition of Gibbs' work resulted in discovery of fresh information, and examples of her early work as an artist, artistic innovator and entrepreneur, and a contributor of cartoons and other work to Australian magazines.
This research by children's literature expert Robert Holden and co-author, resulted in a revelatory exhibition.
It also led to this book.
Anyone interested in Australian art, Australian children's literature, Art Nouveau and Art Deco in Australia, and in May Gibbs (obviously) will find this book essential reading.
One major issue pursued by the authors is Gibbs and her considerable activities campaigning for women's rights, and especially the right to vote!
Also, they uncover, far more than Walsh was aware of, Gibbs' work as an entrepreneur, organising public events such as art shows, costume parties, and similar entertainments. She even appeared on the theatrical stage, and exhibited to considerable praise as a painter - notably of flowers.
The parallels with Beatrix Potter's botanical artwork are striking!
This book will be fascinating for new-comers to Gibbs, also!
It should serve to encourage wider reading of May Gibbs as a remarkable author-artist, not well known or appreciated in North America.
Very highly recommended,
John Gough jagough@gmail.com
4.0 out of 5 stars
gorgeous book~
May 11 2013
By Blue moon
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
loved learning about mary gibbs and really enjoyed all the color illustrations included. a wonderful overview of australia's premier illustrator.
›
Go to Amazon.com to see both reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Arts & Photography > Artists, A-Z
- Books > Arts & Photography > Design & Decorative Arts > Graphic Design > Commercial
- Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Artists, Architects & Photographers
- Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Ethnic & National > Australian
- Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Specific Groups > Women
- Books > Humour & Entertainment
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
