Studio update – My latest growth chart features the work of Arthur Rackham, perhaps the single most famous children’s book illustrator of the early 1900s, who continues to inspire each successive generation of illustrators.  It is a privilege to work with Rackham’s images and a dfficult task to choose which of them to share though my children’s growth chart designs.  I have no doubt that every child’s nursery room should have Rackham’s twisting trees looming overhead and Rackham imps skipping past with lanterns aloft.

To order an Arthur Rackham Midsummer Night’s Dream Growth Chart or Arthur Rackham cards, visit the Apples in Winter Etsy shop.

About the Artist

One of 12 siblings, Arthur Rackham was born in 1867 London and worked as a clerk in his early years, making a little extra money selling illustrations to magazines through the 1890s and gradually making a name for himself as a professional illustrator.  After the turn of the century he reached his stride, and would go on to produce with 25-years-worth of major illustrations, including celebrated works such as Rip Van Winkle (1905), Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens (1906), Alice in Wonderland (1907) and more, enjoying international recognition and awards during his lifetime and illustrating for about 60 published works until his death in 1939.

Rackham’s style and his high technical standards have inspired generations of children and illustrators, so much so that the term “Rackam-esque” is a recognized shorthand for a scene of fearful twisting trees, gnarly-nosed trolls, lithesome maidens and dancing fairies, plus the little gems of fun secreted beneath the tree roots. Rackham’s work waltzes with darkness and light and as Jim Vadebonecouer Jr. observes in his Rackham biography, “His drawings would convey a non-threatening yet fearful thrill and a beauty that was in no way overtly sexy or lewd. It was a perfect Victorian solution and he seems to have taken to it with an impish delight.”

More Resources

Arthur Rackham Society for biographical information, links and events
Alephbet Books for biographical information and a chronological listing of works
Creative Commons graphic resources
Gutenberg Arthur Rackham resources, for the text and images for his books

Have an Arthur Rackham resource to recommend? Please contact me…