Jan 6, 2012

She Painted the Children

From The Princess and the Goblin by JWSmith
Cover for Good Housekeeping by JWSmith
Mother and Child by JWSmith

Close Friends by JWSmith

Jessie in her younger days 1863-1935

  I totally heart this illustrator! 
Who hasn't seen her drawings in so many children's books?
Her name is Jessie Willcox Smith and she loved painting children. 
Maybe one day when I grow up...!

Well, we do have the same awesome hobby, anyway!
 Jessie illustrated more than 60 books and almost 200 covers for Good Housekeeping.

Little Women illustration by JWSmith 1923





















A Mother and Her Children Reading a Book by Jessie Willcox Smith


Heidi cover illustration 1922 by JWSmith

Jessie Willcox Smith (American 1863-1935), The Then Lover.

Baby Boy and Japanese Doll by JWSmith

Posy Print by JWSmith


Little Drops by JWSmith


I got this book for a song. Just fifty cents plus postage, 
and it is nearly 2 inches thick with rough cut, thick pages. 



"She was among the most gifted of the students of Howard Pyle, 
and she took to heart his precept of (loosely put) studying a particular subject thoroughly, 
and conversely, 
painting what one knows best in order to bring the subject alive."
quote by Roger Reed



8 comments:

Brandy @ Afterthoughts said...

I have a fairy tale in my head I've always wanted to put on paper (and see if I still like it when it gets there!). If I ever do it, I'll ask you to be my illustrator, kay? :)

Grace'n'Chaos said...

Oh Pam, she is one of my favorites too. I just found at our used library a Scribners copy of A Child's Garden of Verses illustrated by Jessie Wilcox Smith. It's a lovely book!!

Pam... said...

Ok Brandy. Will do!
Very cool Jenny. Don't ya love those deals?

mommyx12 said...

Interesting. I never knew these things. I've seen most of those photos but had no idea about the illustrator. Thanks for the tidbits of knowledge.

Sarah said...

What a gift to attain. Her paintings are just beautiful...thanks for sharing! (-:

Stephanie said...

Oh my, she is by far one of my favorite artists! She captured the sweetness of children and the love of mothers in a way that I don't think any other artist approached except possibly Mary Cassatt. Beautiful.

Jill Farris said...

I love her as well. Beautiful! So wholesome!

I also have several children's books lurking in my mind...good to know you are an artist! It would be fun to collaborate on a book about a big family, wouldn't it?
Thank you for following my blog!

Jill Farris

Pam... said...

It would be awesome to do a book on large families. We know just a bit about them, I'm thinking.
and you are welcome.