May Gibbs: More Than a Fairy Tale: An Artistic Life

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Description

May Gibbs is one of Australias most loved illustrators her gumnut babies have been adored by generations of children. In May Gibbs: More than a fairy tale her early life and artistic career are explored in detail.

Encouraged by her artistic parents, who met at Londons famous Slade School of Art, a young May discovered a love of drawing and painting. Before long she was contributing illustrations to newspapers and magazines and exhibiting wildflower paintings to high acclaim.

In her twenties, May travelled to England in her quest to develop as an artist. While working and studying in London she became a supporter of the suffragette movement, and in 1911, at the age of 34, she returned to Australia to pursue her career.

She soon became a commercial success with her iconic illustrations for children. Her bestselling books, featuring the gumnut babies, established a mythology of the Australian bush that still endures today. This fascinating illustrated biography is complete with beautiful reproductions of May Gibbs work throughout.

Reviews

"Richly illustrated with her drawings, portraiture, watercolours, sketches, cartoons and postcards, this book surprises and delights. It also ensures Gibbs is more than folklore." Herald Sun

"This is a gorgeously illustrated biography; the quality and range of Gibbss reproduced artworks are impressive: from watercolour landscapes, portraits, postcards and pictorial mementos to prize-winning pictures of wildflowers, cartoons and sketches. But the value of this book does not lie only in its attempts to colour in the hazy outlines of the young Gibbs; it also opens a window on to the sociopolitical and cultural history of early 20th century Australia." Thuy On, Weekend Australian, Review

"A quality production with an olde world charm you would expect from anything associated with this remarkable woman." Manly Daily

Author Bio

Robert Holden has had a distinguished career as a librarian, curator, writer and book reviewer. He is the author of more than 30 books and has been awarded a Senior Fellowship by the Literature Board of the Australia Council. He is particularly recognised for his pioneering research on Australian children's book illustration.

Jane Brummitt has had a lifelong passion for May Gibbs' work fostered by her aunt, the wife of May Gibbs' brother Ivan. Jane campaigned to save May's Sydney home, Nutcote, and has remained a committed supporter.