Today I'm sharing the art of Christopher Wormell. Perhaps because I grew up with old books around me, I have an abiding love for the art of wood engraving. I've blogged about
Thomas Bewick, one of the greatest wood engravers of all time, and about
Elliott Banfield, whose pen and ink drawings resemble wood engraving. Now it's time to showcase the multi-talented Chris Wormell of England.
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| Graphis, January/February 1992 |
To fully appreciate Christopher Wormell's engravings, it helps to know that he had no formal art training. Early on, Wormell worked a series of manual jobs, including road sweeper and factory worker, earning just enough to take breaks to paint landscapes.
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| Graphis, January/February 1992 |
When Wormell decided to take up wood engraving, he bought the tools and taught himself. Working in reverse, which this art form requires, came quite naturally to him, and the results were elegant and soon much sought after — both in England and the United States. These first two images are from the book English Country Traditions, published by V & A Publications.
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| Graphis, January/February 1992 |
I like how Wormell has achieved the house's reflection in this engraving for a property development company.
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| Graphis, January/February 1992 |
Here's a Christmas card Wormell designed for Alphabet Typehouse — see the "A?"
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| mendolaart.com |
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| mendolaart.com |
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| mendolaart.com |
Christopher Wormell also creates distinctive images with linoleum. Their highly graphic quality are in the great tradition of English pub signs.
Here's an image from the first of many children's books Wormell has illustrated, An Alphabet of Animals. I like the light green shadow on the zebra's body, or perhaps it's a reflection.
Today, Christopher Wormell is a hugely successful and well-loved illustrator of children's books, now working primarily in watercolor.
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