A book I love – Art of the New Naturalist

a lovely thing

I love finding great books. Or ones that you didnt know you wanted. I recently found a copy of The Art Of The New Naturalist without its dust jacket so it was very cheap and even more mysterious. I have grown to really love this style/period of British printmaking mostly thanks to working alongside a printmaker in my time at Wolverhampton Art Gallery who was passionate about them and very talented in his own right.

The book is devided into two periods. The first and by far the most interesting is dedicated to the work of Clifford & Rosemary Ellis who designed nearly every book jacket from 1945 – 1985. Each cover is err covered showing planning and process work.

quick snap of one of my favs

I feel really switched on by this work at the moment. The prints have the feel of 50′s 60′s textiles and ceramic patterns which i have always loved but somehow dont have the same warmth as these more pictorial images. 

Perhaps it is a sign of my getting older that I find the only thing i like on tv is autumn watch and my urge to be amongst british countryside is rapidly growing from a casual pleasure to an medicinal necessity. The Britishness of these prints and colourways shines through and what I used to see as dusty and boring I now see as soulful and authentic.

As an example a friend and I spent far to long driving to South Stack RSPB reserve on Anglesey on saturday and back through Snowdonia.

View From South Stack, I had seen Gerhard Richter the day before!

I am sure that for many these books and prints are already very familiar and well known so forgive me if you are thinking “where have you been” for me they are a lovely discovery and I thought it might be nice to share.

here is a link to The New Naturalist Online where you can print on demand! I will of course be starting a collection of originals immediately so if you have any let me know.

I will be exploring these new inspirations when i fire up my new printing press. I will also be doing a special sale event of my current editions that I have available. It may take the form of a blind auction so if you think you would like to own a Melbourne look out for that .