Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Artist Spotlight: Alice B. Woodward

The Peter Pan Picture Book (1907)
Or, rather, Spotlight: The Peter Pan Picture Book, illustrated by Alice B. Woodward. The Peter Pan Picture Book was based on the original 1904 production of J.M. Barrie’s play and published in 1907, four years before his own novelization, Peter and Wendy. Alice B. Woodward created 28 colored plates for the book, which remained so popular it didn’t go out of print until 1982. At the time she was already a well-known artist, illustrating both children’s books and scientific papers. 

When it comes to Peter Pan, Alice B. Woodward’s illustrations are some of my favorites. 
 They capture the feel of the story perfectly, whether it’s adventurous, magical, creepy, or tragic. Take a look and see what you think!









4 comments:

  1. Thanks for posting these! I wasn't familiar with Alice B. Woodward's work before this. She has a lovely style. :)

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    1. Doesn't she? She's one of my three favorite Peter Pan illustrators (the other two are Trina Schart Hyman and Amy June Bates). I also love Iain McCaig's concept art for the 2003 movie.

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  2. Ooh, those are great illustrations for the marvelousness that is Peter Pan, they look perfect for a children's book! I especially like the third one, with Peter Pan and Wendy flying over the city. I also think it's so interesting that Alice B. Woodward published her artwork based on the play, before the novelization even came out--a Peter Pan book before there was a Peter Pan book, who knew? ;)

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    1. It took me awhile to realize that Peter & Wendy was actually a novelization of the play Peter Pan, so it's doubly cool to know there was someone who had the idea to adapt it into a book even before J.M. Barrie did!

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