Book Illustration
1981 (made)
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This illustration for Puss in Boots, the Story of a Sneaky Cat, published in 1981, is typical of Tony Ross's style. A well-known illustrator of children's books, he has produced over 50 books since 1976. He combines humour with a lively use of line and colour. Although there is a strong sense of colour in his work, line is the most important element and he judges the quality of his work from its ability to hold its own as a black and white line drawing: 'if it doesn't work in line it's no good. To me colour always comes second'. He used the same pen for 20 years because its bluntness produced the scratchy finish he sought. His work has an international appeal and has been adapted for television animations, his best known characters being Dr Xargle and Towser.
Object details
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Object type | |
Materials and techniques | Pen and ink and watercolour on board |
Brief description | Book illustration to Puss in Boots, the Story of a Sneaky Cat, drawing of an ogre and cats, by Tony Ross, in pen and ink and watercolour on paper, 1981. |
Physical description | Illustration depicting an ogre at home. He has opened his front door to a cat in a hat with yellow feathers. Four dead cats hang from the Ogre's belt and two cat heads are displayed on the wall. A knife and a plate of cat bones lies on the floor. |
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Summary | This illustration for Puss in Boots, the Story of a Sneaky Cat, published in 1981, is typical of Tony Ross's style. A well-known illustrator of children's books, he has produced over 50 books since 1976. He combines humour with a lively use of line and colour. Although there is a strong sense of colour in his work, line is the most important element and he judges the quality of his work from its ability to hold its own as a black and white line drawing: 'if it doesn't work in line it's no good. To me colour always comes second'. He used the same pen for 20 years because its bluntness produced the scratchy finish he sought. His work has an international appeal and has been adapted for television animations, his best known characters being Dr Xargle and Towser. |
Bibliographic reference | Ross, Tony. Puss in Boots, the Story of a Sneaky Cat. London, Andersen Press, 1981. |
Collection | |
Accession number | E.290-1982 |
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Record created | January 6, 2004 |
Record URL |
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