Mar
23
Last year’s Bridge Songs event raised around $900 for ACE, a community initiative from Big Brothers and Sisters in Edmonton co-led by Jennifer Wilde, one of the “Part Time Lovers” (leaders of iLoveArtists). ACE is an after school arts program working at Delton School near the Alberta Avenue area of Edmonton. Jennifer and her team asked the students to contemplate Hope, and create a work of art about what Hope is to them. The results are beautiful, if a little heart-breaking at times. Thanks to Jennifer and her crew at ACE for sharing this book with us.
ACE Book 2010 – Hope Is
Tags: ACE, Big Brothers and Sisters, community arts, Hope, Jennifer Wilde
Posted in Alberta Avenue, Book Reviews, Hope, Illustration | Comments Off
Oct
9
Illustrations. At times, they make the book, like in Maurice Sendak’s Where The Wild Things Are. Other times, they become woven into the story in the memory of every reader, like Pauline Baynes’ drawings of the characters and locales of The Chronicles of Narnia, present in every print version I’ve ever seen. Other times illustrations can put a fresh spin on content and change over time to influence, inform of illuminate the text. I once saw a copy of The Screwtape Letters with wry ink illustrations by Papas that heightened the wink and smirk of Screwtape beautifully. You can view a bit of that here.
So what can illustrations bring to The Bible? Sometimes, they are devotional, bringing the viewer closer to the God of Scripture. Other times, they make commentary on the text that may or may not be in line with its original intent. Other times, they may even critique the text or flip it on its head. A picture, worth a thousand words, is a powerful thing.
So, here are five of the most beautiful and/or interesting illustrated Bibles I’ve seen.
R. Crumb Does Genesis
From the product’s description on Amazon …
“his eagerly awaited graphic work retells the first book of the Bible in a profoundly honest way.”
Crumb is known for his quirky, irreverent and often sexually charged images, so his take on the stories of Genesis is certainly one to watch. What Crumb tackles here is no less then the direct, literal illustration of the very words found in the text. Crumb took four years to complete the monumental task of all 50 chapters. Being Genesis, there will be sex and violence of course. But it’s all in the text, after all. Likely to raise both eyebrows and conversation, I’d like to get my hands on a copy.
View/order the book on Amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0393061027/
The Wolverton Bible
Basil Wolverton, known also for offbeat, intensely detailed illustrations (you’ll remember his work from Mad Magazine), has also taken a crack at Scripture. His graphic-novel take seems to be revered among comic aficionados, even moreso than Crumb’s perhaps. Again, a fresh perspective is brought to the text that may bring the Words of God to new waking life for even the most schooled in Scripture.
You can find this gem on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Wolverton-Bible-Basil/dp/156097964X/
Saint John’s Bible
The recently completed Saint John’s Bible project is a much more classic approach to Biblical illustration; that of illumination.
The Saint John’s Bible is hand-written and hand-illuminated, measuring 1100 or so pages at 3 feet by 2 feet. I wasn’t sure what “hand illuminated” meant, but it essentially means there is artwork throughout the Bible acting as meditation on the text. As if the hand calligraphy text wasn’t beautiful enough, there are gorgeous, insightful drawings throughout. This project began in 1998 by artist Donald Jackson, comissioned by Saint John’s Abbey and University, and took 10 years to complete.
In the store, you can buy prints from the project as well as reproductions of the Bible in seven parts. I just found a new Christmas wish for the next 7 years. Artwork from the project is also touring.
I’ve mentioned this once in the past, but really, this is a profound, beautiful project that you need to check out. Especially in juxtaposition to the work of Wolverton and Crumb.
View the Saint Johns Bible.
From The Minds of Babes
Children’s eyes can see the Biblical story in a fresh way. They are free from having all of the baggage of my own lenses to lug around.
In the Spirit of childhood wonder, I direct you to a project where children from around the world have illustrated stories from the Bible. Apparently, there was a worldwide call for submissions a few years back, and this site presents some of the best. There are also books that can be ordered, cataloging the submissions in full color.
So go on and have a gander. If Jesus taught that we must become like little children, I’d say seeing as they see is a good start. And who knows, you may just find some of the dust shaking loose from your own world-worn eyes.
Children of the world illustrate stories from the Bible.
(the above link was not working when I posted this, but it seems temporary. You can also find some of the illustrations at http://www.a-zara.com/pe–89-8908-4483.htm
Barry Moser’s Bible
With a patron to finance the project he’d most like to tackle, legendary illustrator Barry Moser set about on a most ambitious undertaking, a Bible with over 200 hand engraved illustrations, with at least one for every book.
No doubt you’ve seen some of them, but like me, likely only a sliver. You can view some of the illustrations, and even buy a signed copy, online at R.Michelson Galleries, at http://www.rmichelson.com/Artist_Pages/Moser/Bible.htm
You can read more about Moser’s undertaking, and the beautiful, challenging work that resulted from it, in an excellent essay by Catherine Madsen called, “A Terrible Beauty: Moser’s Bible”, published in Cross Currents Magazine, which you can read at http://www.crosscurrents.org/madsenmoser.htm
Madsen closes her essay with what is perhaps the high calling of all who seek to illustrate the Holy Book.
“He has taken a text that we think we know and made it both utterly strange and more strangely familiar. Perhaps nothing essentially different is meant by “Behold, I make all things new.”
What I Have Missed …
Certainly there are more illustrated Bibles out there. If you know of any I’ve missed, or want to make further comment on the ones mentioned above, please join the conversation below!
Tags: Barry Moser, Basil Wolverton, Bible, Children's Bible, Cross Currents, Genesis, Graphic Novel, illuminated Bible, Illustration, R. Crumb, St.John's Bible
Posted in Art, Friday Five, Illustration | 4 Comments »
Dec
17
Children of the world illustrate stories from the Bible.
As I approach Christmas this year, I have 2 new sets of eyes to peer through – the wide-open eyes of my children, Jack and Lucie.
For Jack, 4 and Lucie, 2, these are eyes filled with wonder and curiosity. They are eyes that see the Biblical story of the Nativity in a fresh way. Eyes that see it, perhaps, as it is meant to be seen, and without all of the baggage my own lenses lug around.
In the Spirit of childhood wonder – which somehow seems intrinsically linked to this Christmas season – I direct you to a project where children from around the world have illustrated stories from the Bible. Apparently, there was a worldwide call for submissions a few years back, and this site presents some of the best. There are also books that can be ordered, cataloging the submissions in full color.
So go on and have a gander. If Jesus taught that we must become like little children, I’d say seeing as they see is a good start. And who knows, you may just find some of the dust shaking loose from your own world-worn eyes.
Children of the world illustrate stories from the Bible.
Tags: Illustration
Posted in Creativity & Inspiration, Illustration, Painting | Comments Off
Dec
6
After visiting the Royal Bison Arts and Crafts Fair this past weekend, I decided to follow the link on a business card I picked up from Artist/Illustrator Jeff Kulak. What I saw, I liked.
Jeff is an Edmonton artist and so I thought I’d share his fine work here. Go check out his site and be inspired by some excellent design and illustration work. Personally, I live Jeff’s use of color and layout choices. It all has a retro vibe to it that reminds me of the best Hitchcock movie posters, and it’s an asthetic I am constantly drawn to.
And speaking of drawing, I think it’s time I used the new pencils my wife so graciously bought me.
Tags: Illustration
Posted in Illustration | Comments Off
