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Book illustration
Wilks, Mike - Enlarge image
Book illustration
- Date:
1979 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Wilks, Mike (illustrator)
- Materials and Techniques:
Poster colour on paper
- Credit Line:
Given by the artist
- Museum number:
E.3205-1980
- Gallery location:
Prints & Drawings Study Room, level F, case EDUC, shelf 2
This illustration for In Granny's Pond shows a combination of intense realism and surrealism which characterises Mike Wilks' work. This is the second book illustrated by Wilks, published in 1980. Crammed full of birds and animals it is reminiscent of his work in the puzzle book The Ultimate Alphabet.
Born in 1947, Mike Wilks studied the Flemish Renaissance at art school. The intense realism of Jan Van Eyck, Rogier Van der Weyden and Hans Memling, the fantastical darker world of Pieter Breughel and surrealist edge of Hieronymus Bosch can all be seen in Wilks' work. It comes as no surprise to learn that he is also inspired by the surrealists and artists like Maurits Escher. He sometimes uses pen and ink, but works mainly in acrylic and gouache, producing work of poster-like intensity and colour.
