On the internet I came across the portrait of the old lady above right, by Stuart Pearson Wright (1975). I like it immensely, and looked up more work by Pearson Wright.

I found more than enough! Some of it a bit too cartoonesk to my liking, but most are beautiful, and painted with compassion for the sitter.

In 2000 Pearson Wright won the prestigious BP Portrait Award.

Whenever we receive mail from our publisher, Hoogland & van Klaveren, there is a card with it with an image from Sam & Dave dig a hole by jon Klassen.

Klassen (1981) is a Canadian writer and illustrator.

His illustrations seem deceptively simple. But there is a wealth of emotion in this simplicity.

And what beautiful colours and textures!

I wanted to show much more of his work, but had to restrain myself.

But please look it up for yourself!

I know the work of British artist and illustrator David Gentleman (1930) primarily through his stamp designs, and through the cover of the penguin pocketbook Plats du Jour , one of my favourite covers of all time.

Turns out he made beautiful watercolours and prints besides, and even a mural in the London underground.

He also wrote and illustrated a series of travel books on amongst others Italy and India.

I love his work!

What great photographers we have here in Holland! 

Rineke Dijkstra, Hendrik Kerstens, Marco Duyvendijk to name but a few. And this one:

Hellen van Meene (Alkmaar 1972)!

She makes beautiful portraits of adolescent girls, gracious in their somewhat awkward bodies.

The series with dogs also has a friendly kind of humor.

What a beautiful way to start the week!

Out now: De schelmenstreken van Reinaert de Vos, written by Koos Meinderts, illustrated by 19 different illustrators, published by Hoogland & van Klaveren, Hoorn.

I think it's the time of year. 

I am an anglophile at the best of times, but around this time I sort of crave the English landscape.

It seems to be made for autumn, and -later on- snow.

Stanley Roy Badmin (1906-1989) captured it brilliantly in his watercolours, that I am now going to delight in at my leasure.

Photos of Marjolijn Hof and me at yesterday's presentation of Lepelsnijder at the children's bookshop in Amsterdam.

...there really are two copies of our little golden book Bobbies berenfeest in the christmas window display at the Bijenkorf!

Last night my copies of Lepelsnijder (Spoon carver) arrived. Written by Marjolijn Hof, with illustrations by me. I hope it will soon be translated!

It looks beautiful, thanks to Leentje van Wirdum for the design.

Published by Querido, Amsterdam, € 15,99

I am fascinated by the work of the Austrian artist Bresslern-Roth (1891-1971) as I have just about finished work on a print of a sheep's head.

Bresslern-Roth was a master in capturing animals in linocut.

For every colour, more of the image is cut away, so you start cutting away what needs to be left white.

My print isn't a linocut but a template print, but the process is similar.

And I haven't yet seen a print from her with a sheep, but I can learn a lot from Bresslern-Roth!