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Inspiration from Artists Wk 127 Featuring Artists : Ronald Lampitt and Daumier
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Posted
Welcome to this week Inspiration from Artists thread the featuring artists this week are : Ronald Lampitt and Daumier .
Jenny will open with her introduction to Ronald Lampitt and on Wednesday Robert will introduce us to the work of his chosen artist Daumier .
Have a good week and I hope you enjoy the artwork of the featuring Artists .
Posted
RONALD LAMPITT (1906 - 1988) was an English artist and illustrator, best known for illustrating children’s books - especially the Ladybird series - and railway posters. He never received any formal art training, although had been offered a place to study at the Slade, but his father, despite the family being comfortably off, refused to let him go, telling him to get a ‘proper’ job. He never did get that ‘proper’ job and, self taught as an artist, began to take on work as a commercial illustrator.
Although born in Worcestershire he lived most of his life in Sidcup, Kent, and loved the Kent countryside which he enjoyed sketching together with his good friend Rowland Hilder, who had also illustrated (Wild Flowers) for Ladybird, and together they formed a sketching club.
During the war he worked in Intelligence, and after the war until the early 1960s produced illustrations for the John Bull magazine as well as other publications such as Readers Digest and Look and Learn magazine. It’s believed that this work brought him to the attention of Ladybird’s editor and he subsequently, over a seven year period, produced illustrations for nine Ladybird books, arguably becoming Ladybird’s most distinctive illustrator. During the 1950s and 1960s he also illustrated railway posters for British locations.
He was a private man with little interest in seeking entertainment further afield, and died aged 82 after a long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease.
Posted
Of all of these, the one I admire most is the monochrome - poster art was decried years ago as not being "real art", it, like illustration generally, was decried, or at least undervalued. Now, the quality of these artists is recognized - and original posters can fetch a very hefty price: more than some of those "real art" paintings of the period. I hope, but doubt, that this artist received proper reward for his work while he was still able to enjoy it. Most of them were paid at commercial artists' rates. I.e. not enough!
The Ladybird books featured some very, very good artists at the peak of their popularity - I've recently bought a trio of Ladybird books which I enjoyed in my youth, and am in the market for more; it's only an opinion, and I don't of course buy contemporary children's books, but of those I've seen (with some stunning exceptions) the illustrations generally lack the charm and liveliness of the older offerings.
Posted
Some more of his superb artwork, the detailing in them painting is excellent and tell the story, especially useful when you are not able or are a poor reader . I agree Robert many of these fine artists were ignored by the art community and considered to be inferior in sone way . I recently bought a book of twentieth century illustrators there are some fine artists in it who I never k we about but enjoy there work now.
Posted
Yes indeed, a very fine artist. In Jenny's first selection, like Robert, I like the mono geese drawing best, closely followed by the last poster.
Here's a few I like. I've a soft spot for the old railway posters, having been introduced to several great artists by this method...
An astonishingly complex line drawing....
An astonishingly complex line drawing....
Posted
Fantastic, Lew - the man was a genius. Mind you, who'd know that better than you, eh? Your ambition for fame may have faded, if you ever had it! But - your work, as I'm sure we all know, is fantastic; and if only you'd pursued your talent - well, you'd be famous now. I know you'll scorn this and say you're just an also-ran - but I think we all know better. I think you could have been a famous artist; I suspect you just didn't want to be; but I think you're a better artist than many who made the grade and a name for themselves.
Oh yes you could! And I know you'll deny it!
Posted
Paul, I assume you’d still like me to do the railway poster week? I hadn’t realised quite what a wide ranging subject it is, but have started to prepare a write-up and have selected one or two posters each by about 23 different artists which should be more than enough for the week.
Another from Ronald Lampitt….
Edited
by Jenny Harris
Posted
Thank you Jenny for your introduction to this excellent artist. Fascinating to see his work if a rather rose tinted view of the world. I like the crazy detail, and so many busy little people in his paintings. The gardens and allotments are especially fun to see. Was life ever like this!? It feels especially poignant with the news of riots currently.