Merry Christmas

I've posted this several Christmases before and it's always worth posting again: The First Noel, a small Golden Book illustrated by the brilliant husband-wife team of Alice and Martin Provensen, 1959.

You can view the book in its entirety HERE.













Here's to a very Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Peace,
Ward

The Golden Bible: New Testament by The Provensens

Alice and Martin Provensen created some beautiful work for this giant Golden Book edition of The Golden Bible: The New Testament from 1953. Absolutely brilliant. I find it hard to take my eyes off these pages. When I look at their work, I feel hopeful, joyous, optimistic. Much like the idea of what Jesus's birth was meant to be: the promise of something new. Of joy and peace. Happiness. When I look at these illustrations, I am happy:


The Golden Bible: New Testament; Edited and arranged by Elsa Jane Werner; Illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen. © 1953, Simon and Schuster.











I'm sitting here looking out at a scene that's covered in over a half foot of freshly fallen snow. It is Christmas Day. I feel peaceful, I feel optimistic. I wish the same for your Christmas.

A very Merry Christmas to you and yours,

- Ward Jenkins

A Very Merry Christmas to You

I'm making this a yearly thing:



I've posted this for the past two Christmases, but again, I say it's worth posting again: The First Noel, a small Golden Book illustrated by the brilliant husband-wife team of Alice and Martin Provensen, 1959.

You can view the book in its entirety HERE.













Normally I don't scan an entire book, but I did so for this particular one because 1) it's not really that long, 2) the illustrations are amazing, and 3) the story.

This book was done during what I consider a highpoint of creativity for The Provensens. Around the same time, they illustrated the equally beautiful Homer's The Illiad and the Odyssey from 1956.

Merry Christmas!

(And a very Happy Birthday to bro-in-law Von!)

Merry Christmas to You

I posted this last Christmas, but it's worth it to post again: The First Noel, a small Golden Book illustrated by the brilliant husband-wife team of Alice and Martin Provensen, 1959.

You can view the book in its entirety HERE.

More Provensens

Speaking of Alice & Martin Provensen -- Troy Oxford, a fellow Retro Kiddo, has posted some beautiful illustrations from The Golden Bible New Testament, illustrated by Alice & Martin Provensen, published in 1953. The illustrations are not as stylized and experimental as their later work, but the colors and compositions are just as strong. By the end of the decade it looked like the couple were experimenting more with less line, stronger sense of form and shapes. But even here with the New Testament, you can see that they were already painting characters in their signature flat, stylized medieval-era look. This look transpires successfully here in this book as well as on The First Noel because of the subject matter. It's as if the Provensens updated those illuminated manuscripts from that era and brought them into the 20th century.

The First Noel

My gift for you on this Christmas Day: The First Noel, a small Golden Book illustrated by the brilliant husband-wife team of Alice and Martin Provensen, 1959.

You can view the book in its entirety HERE. Below are several page spreads from the book:







Be sure to visit Leif Peng's Today's Inspiration blog for posts on The Provensens. Also, visit this blog to see more from other books that they illustrated.

Someone has turned Alice & Martin Provensen's fantastic 1956 Homer's Iliad and the Odyssey into an interactive experience, featuring all of the artwork from their book.

Merry Christmas!