Delightful illustrations by:
Jordi Solano’s blog: Spain
Jordi Solano at: Plum Pudding Illustration
Month: November 2016
Plum Pudding
Winter is Coming
Don’t miss this beautiful book!
Jim LaMarche
Jim LaMarche is one of the most talented artists working in children’s books today. His many successful books include Rainbabies by Laura Kraus Melmed and Albert by Donna Jo Napoli, which was selected as a New York Times Best Illustrated Book; and Up and Raft, which he also wrote. Most recently he illustrated The Carpenter’s Gift by David Rubel. Jim lives in Santa Cruz, California. (Simon and Schuster)
Sistene Chapel Virtual Tour
The virtual tour
Contrary to popular belief, Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel in a standing position.
Michelangelo wanted nothing to do with the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling.
In 1508, 33-year-old Michelangelo was hard at work on Pope Julius II’s marble tomb, a relatively obscure piece now located in Rome’s San Pietro in Vincoli church. When Julius asked the esteemed artist to switch gears and decorate the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling, Michelangelo balked. For one thing, he considered himself a sculptor rather than a painter, and he had no experience whatsoever with frescoes. He also had his heart set on finishing the tomb, even as funding for the project dwindled. Nevertheless, Michelangelo reluctantly accepted the commission, spending four years of his life perched on scaffolding with his brush in hand. He would return intermittently to Julius’ monumental tomb over the next few decades. (more)
James to the Rescue
The Friend Ship
Little Hedgehog is very lonely. But then she overhears passersby talking about something that gives her hope-something called a Friend Ship!
Hedgehog imagines a ship filled with friends of all kinds, and soon she’s ready to hit the open seas in a boat of her own to track it down. Along the way, she meets other lonely animals eager to join her quest.
They search north. They search south. They search east. But Hedgehog and her new friends can’t find the Ship anywhere! Until she realizes she knows just where the Friend Ship is. . .
This heartwarming tale by Kat Yeh, with charming illustrations by Chuck Groenink, proves that sometimes, what you’re searching for is right in front of you. (Goodreads)
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Delightful illustrations by Chuck Groenink
Chuck Groenink 
Twitter: @ChuckGroenink
Twitter: @yehface
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Textile Art: The Feast
The Medieval Cookbook at Amazon
Drawn from 14th- and 15th-century sources, including works by Geoffrey Chaucer, and carefully adapted to suit the modern kitchen, this beautifully illustrated cookbook explores the traditions and tastes of authentic medieval cookery. (British Museum Shop)
In French: The Bayeux Museum
More: (from Khan Academy)
More cookbooks from Maggie Black here.
Snow and Salt
Snow and salt seem to go together . . . for lots of reasons.
Here’s another:
• Sprinkle on salt. To create the appearance of snow-flakes, try adding a bit of salt into a wet wash in your sky or in a shadow area. The salt repels the water and pigment mixture, leaving light spots. The key to using this technique correctly is to make sure your wash is just right before adding the salt—if you add it too early while the wash is still too wet, the effect will be clumpy and harsh. You’ll also need to be sure to brush away the salt when the wash has dried completely. Otherwise it will continue to attract moisture. (Be careful that the wash is completely dry, or the salt and pigment can smear.)
