Josse Davis. 84 Maltravers Street, Arundel, West Sussex. Great Britain. BN18 9D. Telephone: +44 (0)1903 883447
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Brought up during the sixties on a diet of Margaret Tempest, E.H.Shepard
and Beatrix Potter he was to keep a fond attachment to this style of
illustration. He has always felt a need to paint and draw in two distinctive styles: The first is the detailed designs with meticulous drawing with pen, ink and finished in water-colour. The other is a looser more spontaneous style with oil & chalk pastels, acrylic, water-colour and inks scratched back and smudged to build up a vibrant finished piece. Probably because of the influence of Beatrix Potter and Margaret Tempest illustrations he feels comfortable working within a frame and often takes it further with ornate and detailed borders. These can be an extension to the actual centre piece and in many cases can add more to the narrative, working like a semi-story board. "I respect there must be a time for seriousness and I"m not a "Ha Ha Ha" illustrator but I do like to introduce a certain element of whit into my work; some little happening in the background, that twinkle of life, a humorous relief but not so much as to distract from any serious nature in the storyline." Josse works with Macintosh software and is upto date with its various graphics programmes. Happy working with card designs and book illustrations, he finds that there is a special discipline having to work around a story line that keeps the brain keen. "The childrens books that stick in my memory are those whose text can not be read without thinking of the illustrations and whose illustrations can not be seen without wanting the companion text:" Piglet and his ..."And where"s my balloon? And what"s that small piece of damp rag doing?" (Winnie the Pooh by A.A.Milne) Mr Tod looking upon the badger ..." he did not like the look of Tommy Brock"s teeth. He was lying on his back with his mouth open, grinning from ear to ear. He snored peacefully and regularly; but one eye was not perfectly shut." (Mr Tod by Beatrix Potter) Look at the work and see what you think. Josse Davis January 2003 JosseDavis01@aol.com. |
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Design: Minka | © 2003 Josse Davis | Go back to the top of the page