Skeleton Trees

Jan Pienkowski

Born in Poland in 1936, Jan Pienkowski made his first book when he was 8 as a present for his father. He has written and illustrated many books, designed posters and stage sets, founded a greetings card company and is also considered to have pioneered the modern popup book.

Find one of Jan Pienkowski’s books that is illustrated with black silhouettes. Read the story to the children and show them the illustrations. Discuss them and see if they can work out how some of the backgrounds have been made.

Aubrey Beardsley

Beardsley was an English author and illustrator whose early work tended to be rather erotic….. (don’t be put off!)..…...however, he later converted to Catholicism and begged his publisher to destroy all his earlier work. Beardsley was one of the most controversial artists of the Art Nouveau period - his work is mostly black and white and he illustrated a variety of legends and stories including Arthur, Merlin and the Lady of the Lake.

This website puts Beardsley’s work into sections so that the erotica can be avoided. Choose illustrations to stories that the children may know and look carefully at the illustrations. See if the children can spot all the detail in the background of some of Beardsley’s drawings.

Ruben Toledo

Toledo is a painter, sculptor, he draws and is an illustrator. His work has been shown at some of the most famous museums and galleries around the world. His work is a quirky mix of fashion and illustration and he has been invited to work on a wide range of projects including a limited edition cigar box, illustrating the covers of some Penguin Classics books as well as working on prestige advertising for American retailers.

Choose some of Toledo’s illustration to discuss and inspire the children when producing their skeleton trees.