CHARITY SHOP BOOK

I had a lovely catch up and many cups of tea with one of my childhood friends this week. Neither of us grew up around here, so it is lucky for me for her to live nearby. Strangely, we also both ended up having illustration degrees, so we both love going into charity and junk-shops to have a good rummage. I found a great vintage and near-perfect girls journal. It looks fifties in style. I am always amazed and inspired by how limitations of old printing, produced really creative styles. The illustrations are in the style of Edward Ardizzone’s pen and ink drawings and other images remind me of Edward Bawden’s stylized lino-cuts, while other drawings are duo-toned, my favorite being this wonderful owl. The cover itself is a wonderfully weird palette of colours. But elsewhere, it is inspiring how the use of a mere two colours has resulted in strong punchy illustrations. More is definitely less. There are a few full-colour plates in the middle of the book, and they are awful. A bargain for £2.50.