I saw a ship a-sailing

[anteros_lmc]

My very first ship!

volgivagant and I were talking about the artists Anne and Janet Grahame Johnstone recently as we are both fans of their gorgeous illustrations. The twin sisters were prolific illustrators of children's books between the 1950s and 1980s and are perhaps best known for illustrating the first edition of One Hundred And One Dalmatians. I was given a nursery rhyme book illustrated by the Johnstones for my birthday in *cough* 1970 and this is one of my favourite pictures :)


Look at the uniform on that duck! According to wikipedia Anne became an expert in 19th century military uniforms and also worked as a heraldic artist for the College of Arms. Looks like she was a dab hand at naval uniforms too!

I still have my nursery rhyme book and over the years it's been scribbled on by sister and I, ripped by both me and daughter, and repaired with yellowing sellotape. It's still one of my favourite books though!

Comments

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

A very handsome Naval duck. i like his spyglass very much. I have a feeling that I have seen a book with illustrations by them, once, long ago. Not Dalmatians though, mine had little ink drawings.

Maybe another collection of children's poetry?

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Isn't he handsome? It wouldn't surprise me if you'd come across the Johnstone's illustrations in the past, they illustrated literally hundreds of collections of stories, rhymes and poems. I love their distinctive style.

[esteven]

What a handsome duck!

Someone on my flist -no longer on lj- drew Jack Aubrey as a duck and Stephen Maturin as a blue-footed booby. :D

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

He's a splendid duck isn't he?

A duck and a blue footed booby?! *speechless*

[esteven]

*nods*
They were the ducks and boobies of the world. Since unfortunately the artist has chosen to delete her duck!art, I'll send you one of those I have saved in an email.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Erm....thanks! I think :} In return, allow me to direct you towards rum_inspector's splendid Hornblower and POTC ponies :)

[esteven]

Dear me, I am always amazed with what fans can come up. The Norrington pony is esp pleasing. :D

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Norrington pony is almost as smart as Captain Duck! Clearly there is no end to fandom creativity :D

[esteven]

I am always amazed and delighted to see the manifold talents in fandom. :D

[essayel.livejournal.com]

Oh I remember these! *nostalges*

The Grahame Johnstones also illustrated a "One Thousand and One Nights" [kids version though - no farting Caliphs or gay adventures] which I have upstairs and I'm sure I remember them doing pictures for the story of Odysseum in Look and Learn. Sadly L&L doesn't have any of the pictures online but I fancied Odysseus, who was tanned, sinewy and strawberry blond, like crzy when I was eight!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Their style is so distinctive isn't it?

I fancied Odysseus, who was tanned, sinewy and strawberry blond, like crazy when I was eight!
I had a bit of a thing about Odysseus at about that age too! Even without the aid of tanned and sinewy illustrations ;)

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Isn't it lovely? :) I'd love to see the ship and the pirates from Peter Pan if you ever get your scanner going.

[latin-cat.livejournal.com]

Hee! I've loved that nursery rhyme since I first heard it in Bagpuss (Begins at 6:35);



The uniform is not quite so good as in your book, though.*g* But I do love especially the movement she's got into the mice. A very competant crew you have there, Captain Duck!

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

That is adorable. I love the squeaky little mouse voices.

[latin-cat.livejournal.com]

Oliver Postgate is fondly remembered by many. :D

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Bagpuss was one of my favourite tv programmes when I was wee :) The Marvellous Mechanical Mouse Organ is quite unforgettable!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Yay Bagpuss! I adored Bagpuss when I was wee, I have the series on dvd now and I still love it. I remember this episode well but funnily enough I "sing" this rhyme to a completely different tune! Have you ever come across early music group The Broadside Band? They have a wonderful collection of Old English Nursery Rhymes that I used to inflict on my daughter when she was too small to complain :} They sing some fabulous versions of these old rhymes.

A very competant crew you have there, Captain Duck!
Hasn't he just?!

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

Definitely a handsome duck!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Quack quack!

[venusinfurs90.livejournal.com]

This is beautiful!

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Isn't it lovely? I think this is the only nautical illustration in the book but I really ought to copy some more just because they're gorgeous :)