Art Task – Famous Artist
Quentin Blake
Quentin Blake is an English writer of children’s books, and an illustrator. He has illustrated several books for children by the popular writer, Roald Dahl, and has won several awards. He was born in Kent in 1932 and had his first drawing was published when he was only 16.
Task
1. Explore some information about Quentin Blake on his own website here
2. Look at some of his drawings and works here
What do you notice about his style of drawing?
3. Find out about how he draws here
4. Try it yourself! Can you sketch some of Quentin Blake’s drawings? Choose one from the gallery you looked at. Use your yellow homework book to record in if you need to.
5. Post on the blog about the pictures you sketched. What techniques did you use? Did you use any tips from Quentin Blake? Did you add colour?
Good luck! I look forward to hearing about the pictures you sketched. Think back to our sketching sessions in class, have a go at using the techniques of shading we experimented with.
If you would like to upload any of your drawings. Ask an adult to help you. Follow the instructions here
I will post your work on this blog 🙂
Quentin Blake was born in London in 1932 and he has always enjoyed drawing.
After school he had to go on National Service which means he had to help Britian in World War 2. He was very clever and went to Cambridge University, then he did a teaching course and then he went to art school and did life-classes which is when you draw real people.
He always earned money for being an illustrator and he was a teacher at the Royal College of Art. He had drawings printed in a magazine called Punch when he was still at school!
He has done the illustrations for most of the Road Dahl books and my favourite one is Esio Trot. He has won lots of prizes and in 2002 he won the Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration which is the highest international award that you can win for illustating childrens books.
He received a knighthood for ‘services to illustration’ in the New Year’s Honours for 2013 so he is now called Sir Quentin Blake!
Thanks for the information Orla. Please do share how you get on with the sketching too ?
Great research Orla! ?
Orla, well done for uploading your terrific drawings! They look a lot like Quentin Blake’s drawings 🙂
I particularly like Matilda and the Enormous Crocodile, I bet it took you a while to draw all of his teeth!
Julian, great sketch of ‘Down behind the Dustbin!’ I can see how you have used Quentin Blake’s style. I love how you managed to show the dog sitting behind the bin. Well done for your efforts! 🙂
Task 1
BORN:Quentin Saxdy Blake – 16 December 1932
cartoonist, illustrator and children’s writer. He has illustrated over 300 books, including 18 written by Roald Dahl which are among his most popular works.
He went to Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School,by National Sidcyp.Then he studied English at Downing College,Cambridge,going on to do a postgraduate teaching diploma at the University of London followed by life-classes at Chelsea Art School.
Quentin Blake was known for his collaboration with writers such as John Yeoman and most famously ROALD DALL!!!
He has also illustrated classic books. He even illustrated Christmas classic books and created much-loved characters of his own.
I made a freestyle sort of drawing that looks as though it it is done on a spur of the moment. However even a single drawing needs a certain amount of preparation and planning.
Great facts Karolina! Have you tried to draw any of his work? I would love to see!
Well done Gabriella and Graceanne on your super drawings of some of Quentin Blake’s characters!
I love that you used paint to add in plenty of colour to your drawings. 🙂
Great Esio Trot Miss Savage!
Quentin Blake
——————–
Quentin Blake was born in the suburbs of London in 1932 and has drawn ever since he could remember. He is known for his collaboration with writers such as Russell Hoban, Joan Aiken, Michael Rosen,John Yeoman and most famously Roald Dahl. He has also illustrated classic books, including a Christmas and candide and created much loved characters of his own including Mister Magnolia and Mrs Armitage. His books have won numerous prizes and awards ,including the whitbread awards, the Kate Greenaway Medal,the Emil/Kurt Maschler Award and the international Bologna Ragazzi prize. He won the 2002 Hans Christian Andersen Award for illustration, the highest international recognition given to creators of children’s highest international recognition given to creators of children’s books.
Chloe, I love your artwork. It looks just like Quentin’s. I really like how you used a black felt tip to go over the outline so that your images stand out.
Have you seen the film Charlie and the Chocolate Factory?
🙂
How interesting, I never realised just how great he is.
Thanks for your painting of your cat Jiana! Did you look at some of Quentin’s animals? He’s drawn lots!
I love that you added in scenery to your picture. What’s your cat called?
I painted my cat Rambo. He is so cute.
🙂
Karolina, well done for sending in your sketch of Matilda. I can really see you have incorporated Quentin’s style of drawing. It really looks like the original, great work! 🙂
Quentin Blake has been using a light box for the past forty years. How it works: the light shines up through the rough drawing ( on fairly thin paper ) which I place underneath a blank pease of water colour paper. Quentin Blake can see the rough shape of the drawing under the paper.
How interesting Penelope!
Penelope your drawing is brilliant, the bird looks so delicate on the branch. I like how you added a little bit of colour but not too much. Well done!