Tag archives: Quentin Blake

Wednesday, 8 February 2012

Quentin Blake – As large as life

I blogged a few weeks ago about an exhibition of Quentin Blake’s paintings for hospitals and other health organisations. It is now in London, at the Foundling Museum. I loved it. This is just one of his fabulous Planet Zog pictures for a children’s hospital. I also particularly liked his paintings of ancient circus artists, created with elderly mental health patients in mind. They are delightfully funny, heart-warming and sympathetic. His artwork for an eating disorder clinic is also full of empathy and humour. There is a reading corner decorated with wallpaper designed by Blake (as is the wonderful café). The day I visited lots of children and adults were busy there producing art and stories inspired by the exhibition. Some great looking family events accompany the exhibition. Anyone with an iPad can download a free app with more about Blake’s work.

The Foundling Museum is well worth exploring. It gives the history of the Foundling Hospital, the first home for abandoned children. Some of the stories are truly tragic. The museum does lots of impressive work with today’s looked-after children and young people.

Friday, 2 December 2011

Two great illustrators and exhibitions of their work

What lovely news this week, that Quentin Blake has been awarded the Prince Philip Designers Prize. This BBC piece includes a brief video clip in which he talks about what the award means to him. There’s another interesting interview with him here, in which he discusses his artwork commissioned by a variety of hospitals to have a therapeutic effect on patients. An exhibition of over sixty of the pictures, including ones Blake created for a mental health ward, an eating disorder clinic, and a hospital for young people, is on till 11 December at Compton Verney and is moving to the Foundling Museum in January.

I was delighted to fit in a visit to a wonderful (free) exhibition of John Burningham’s work at the Fleming Collection in London. I’ve always loved his illustrations. Seeing the original artwork was an enormous treat. The
colours and textures were a revelation. There were lots of pictures I had never seen too, not to mention the original model for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and some fascinating archive material. On until 22 December and thoroughly
recommended!