Favorite Fairy Tales Told in Russia, Herbert Danska

 Today's vintage children's book, Favorite Fairy Tales Told in Russia, features work by an artist that I am not familiar with. While I don't have any information on this artist for you, a quick search took me to Leif Peng's blog, Today's Inspiration and a post he did back in 2007 showing some work by Herbert Danska. To view that post, click here. 

I found another post on Danska by Greg Allen at daddytypes, to view that click here.

Illustration from To Your Good Health

Illustration from To Your Good Health

Illustration from Vasilisa The Beautiful

Illustration from Vasilisa The Beautiful

Illustration from Vasilisa The Beautiful

Illustration from Snegourka, The Snow Maiden

Illustration from The Flying Ship

Illustration from The Flying Ship

Favorite Fairy Tales Told in Russia

Retold by Virginia Haviland

Illustrated by Herbert Danska

Little Brown and Company, 1961

Childcraft, The How and Why Library

Today's vintage children's book is Volume 12 of the Childcraft Library. My set of Childcraft, The How and Why Library, is a 1972 edition. It was published by the Field Enterprises Educational Corporation. Books like these can have a wealth of
illustrations and I love looking at them.

Illustration by Herb Kane from "Colors Can Talk"

Design by Suzi Hawes, Photography by E.F. Hoppe, 

Mind Your P's and Q's, from "Colors Can Talk"

Illustration by Robert Borja, from "Shapes From A-Z"

Illustration by Carl Yates, from "Shapes From A-Z"

Photos by Don Stebbing, Illustrations by Joe Rogers from "Colors Can Talk"

Art by Joyce John, The Case of the Missing Hot Dog, 

from "Things That Go Together"

Art by Robert Addison, from "Materials Can Talk"

Art by Harry Olson, from "Seeing Is Believing?"

Art by Herb Kane, from "Clothes and Trimmings"

Art by David Cunningham, from "Seeing Is Believing?"

Lumberjack, William Kurelek

 I'm back after a nice winter break. Madison is a winter wonderland after receiving around 18 inches of snow a few days before Christmas. I've grown to appreciate the month of January - no holiday hassles, things are quiet and it's a good time for doing crafts, making changes, reflection and reading.

Speaking of reading, Lumberjack, written and illustrated by William Kurelek, is an excellent choice for winter reading. Kurelak worked as lumberjack in his late teens and early 20's, against his father's wishes.  It's an interesting insight into a type of work and lifestyle that no longer exist and is full of history. I'm not  sure if this book was solely intended for youth, but it can certainly be enjoyed by both. The paintings are great - love his style.

William Kurelek, artist and writer, (1927 - 1977) was born in Canada to Ukrainian immigrant parents. He was largely a self taught artist whose parents did not support his artistic vocation. In the early 1950's while living in England he was treated for depression and schizophrenia. While at the Maudsley Psychiatric Hospital there, he produced a painting called The Maze, which referenced his tortured youth. Years later in 1981 this painting was used as a cover for the rock band Van Halen for their album, Fair Warning.

To read more about Kurelek click here or here. To view a trailer from a documentary film made about The Maze and William Kurelek click here.

Unlike some of the artists I research, there seems to be a lot of information about Kurelek on the internet, which only shows his value as an artist.

He had many credits and awards for his work which can be viewed on the Wikipedia link.

Lumberjack

Paintings and Story by William Kurelek

Tundra Books, 1974