I've put together an illustrated talk based on the 'Ravilious in Pictures' series; you can hear/see it at the Yellow-Lighted Book Festival in Nailsworth, Glos on Friday 10 June or in Saffron Walden on 13 July. This date is being arranged by the Fry Art Gallery, venue TBC.I'll also be signing copies of 'Ravilious in Pictures: A Country Life', volume 3 in the series, at Ben Pentreath's shop in Bloomsbury, on May 11 at 5.30pm.
This is a follow-up to illustrated talks I've given at the Towner Gallery in Eastbourne and the St Bride Library in London, and it should be a lot of fun. What I do is select some particularly interesting Ravilious watercolours and go behind the scenes, exploring places, investigating mysteries, telling stories and introducing characters that are relevant to a particular picture.
The aim is to paint a portrait of the artist in words and pictures, and if you've enjoyed any of the books in the 'Ravilious in Pictures' series I think you'll find the talk entertaining and thought-provoking.
I'm planning to take 'Eric Ravilious: A Life in Pictures' to more venues, and will be sending out a brochure in due course. In the meantime, if you'd like to book the talk for a venue or arts group, please get in touch via the Comments, our Facebook page or Twitter.
4 comments:
A great pleasure this morning as a package arrived from Amazon containing 'A Country Life'. It's a little later than originally advertised - something to do with the change of cover, perhaps? The new one is more apposite to the title than the previous village scene, I guess.
Anyway, no matter. It's another wonderful-looking collection, and worth the wait. I look forward to sitting down to read it at home (in my garden, at the foot of the Downs, on the outskirts of Lewes - where better?) this evening.
Any more Ravilious books planned, or is this the last?
Hi James, Good to hear from you... Yes, the change of cover slowed things up slightly, but we have the right one now (Amazon for some reason haven't changed the picture)
I'm glad you like the series - will there be another book? Never say never...
Well, I'm very happy with the present volumes. It's a pleasure to own such a well-produced collection of Ravilious's work, and your text is an excellent accompaniment to the paintings.
If, however, you are considering more titles, there are three that spring to mind. Perhaps the most straightforward would be a volume covering his work from 'further afield' (possible title there?), such as the Waterwheel (1938), painted in Brecknockshire, and the two Greenwich watercolours. Also, in 'A Country Life' you intriguingly mention a trip to northern France. Another would be a book of his lithographs - the Submarine series and, of course, the illustrations from 'High Street.' And, lastly, a book focusing on his engravings - including, perhaps, his designs for Wedgewood.
Just rough ideas, obviously. Not sure if there would be enough images for each one, and there's the issue of securing rights...
I'm glad you're enjoying the books. Your ideas for future volumes are interesting - you may find something close to your 'further afield' book appearing within the next year...
Post a Comment