This week I re-read a book I found in Newcastle library and I also found that I have read this book before as a child called Goth Girl by Chris Riddell. I actually have found a massive obsession for his books and art style. I only found this out from doing my research file for my semester one and noticed my found love of his books. I’ve provided his book (Riddell, 2013).
On this topic about Chris Riddell I find his work to be my inner creepy style found love. meaning I adore the sweet but sinister appeal he goes with his work.
I have stated about other books in a blog A massive Reading reviews I have stated before that these books have no relation to my multi textual children’s book. However this blog I me explaining my interest to this book in its self. I haven’t read it per-say since I was in secondary school but I have reviewed his illustrations. So much so I started following him on social media via Instagram. In this book there is a page that I have admired from this book and it is this one.
I love this illustration. I am going to present what I like about this book from my notes of which I gathered from the library of which I got this book from. Lets start. I have stated that I love the historical aspects to this illustration. I’ve always been a fan of historical art and with Chris Riddell’s artwork I like how he’s made a little girl look like a old Victorian maid. I feel this fits extremely well with the story and the aspirations of the creepy tale. The way his shading and drawing methods for this illustration have Applied. I feel it fits really well and that it keeps its child friendly appeal and the sinister side of things.
In other notes that I have provided. I say that I like the sketch drawings. I feel like the sketch drawings from Riddell’s work gives an older feel, by all the feel I mean periodic feel. Granted I think this is what Riddell was trying to get across for his illustrations in this book. If this was his intentions I am a fan for sure. The last note that I have mentioned in my list of notes is that I enjoy his work for the creativity in children’s books. I have followed his social media of which I stated earlier and have found that his work has a sweet/weird feel to it. I personally think this fits along side my own work as In my brief description of this blog that I am “the weird and wonderful, dark and sweet. a little indecisive” (Davies, 2018).
I actually found his work and his sketch shading similar to a artwork of which I found from one of my favourite concept artist named Laura Price. Price did a follow tutorial of Bob Ross. However she did hers digitally while Ross did his with oil paints (Price, 2019). I clicked on thinking that his method and her’s for creating shadow style trees to be like hectare sketching or in some cases cross hatching. 
As you see here the method that they are using for the trees is simile to Riddell’s artwork. I found this strangely amusing how I could find the resemblance to these two artists methods. However when asking other peers they said it wants quite similar. I argued a point saying nothing is similar but only to be recognised. I find this for myself to be a great way of teaching fellow artists that there is no such thing as a right way to do it as both end up quite the same. Like for example this tutorial made me think of Chris Riddell’s work.
Overall I find his work to be a huge inspirational aspect into my own work for future referencing. He has inspired me to use his as an artist research for my teaching methods. He has inspired me to use social media to represent my own work and how to pursue it in the art industry. I overall think this artist is a divine guidance towards those who are wanting to pursue a career in creating children’s books and illustrations.
I hope this blog was useful and that you liked my in take on Chris Riddell.
until the next blog
Rach 🙂
bibliography
Davies, R. (2018). My quote.
Price, L. (2019). DISNEY ARTIST FOLLOWS A BOB ROSS TUTORIAL (PHOTOSHOP). [online] YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAHHUWY-Jxg [Accessed 17 May 2019].
Riddell, C. (2013). Goth Girl and the Wuthering Fright. London: Pan Macmillan.
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