Basking in the Light

Žabáček, 1982

The loveliness of the first sunny days of this late-coming Spring inspired me to post some pictures

from the gentle green worlds of Czech artist Jan Kudláček. Born in 1928 in Moravia and living in Prague, 

Kudláček is a painter, graphic artist, and above all an award winning illustrator who since 1963

has published almost a hundred children's books. His distinctive style and brushwork technique 

convey a vibrant and luminous quality to his joyful and poetic illustrations of nature,

 flowers, small animals and fairytale creatures. 

Petruschka, 1970

Holčička a déšt' (A Little Girl and Rain), 1974, thanks to Arthur van Kruining

Svatba v rybníce (Wedding in a pond), 1982, 

all photos thanks to micky the pixel

Svatba v rybníce, 1982

 Zlatý proutek (Golden Wand), 1983

 Jussi ja kalat, 1989

Pohádková lampička (Fairy-tale lamp), 1992

Pohádky pro skřítka Hajaju (Tales for Sprites), 1995 

La Dame et le Chien

Georges Clairin, Sarah Bernardt, 1876

Last Friday I gave a lesson about the posters of the Belle Epoque,

which reminded me of how much I enjoy that period, and of how much 

lovely stuff I is hiding in my (by now really big) image archives.

So here's a sequel to a 2010 post, celebrating a time when 

the elegance of hounds and the fashion of ladies 

seemed to be made for each other

G.L. Sormani, 1900

Edward Penfield, 1908

Bernard Boutet de Monvel, 1912

Coles Phillips, 1915

Otto Poertzel, The Aristocrats, 1920s

Georges Barbier, 1922

Coleth

Jean Dupas, Woman with Stole, 1929

Art Deco postcard

 Louis Icart, Femme aux Levriers, 1929

Jean-Gabriel Domergue, Woman with Greyhounds, 1930

Erté, Symphony in Black

The Cloudy Dog

A sweet and soft video by the young Japanese animator Asami Ike, 

for anyone who's ever loved a dog.

Thread, Paper & Feather

Catherine Frere-Smith

Soft sculptures are one of the trends in animal art I am always drawn to,

wheter they be made of felt, fabric or paper; and stitched, knitted or glued 

to form sweetly simple or stunningly intricate creations.

Women artists have been the most active in exploring these creative paths,

and with this avian gallery I want to honor some of my favorites  – but I am still 

on the lookout for more, so if an artist you love is missing, please let me know!

Emma Hall

 Ann Wood

 Emily Sutton

Alice Wolfe

 Anna-Wili Highfield

Elsa Mora

Abigail Brown

 Diana Beltran Herrera

 Swig

 The Makerie Studio

Amy Switzer

Franco Matticchio - Kit & Kattic Cocktail Party