'You're thinking about the picture which you're doing, enjoying the gestures in drawing..and then you're also being the children in the story..thinking about the sorts of reactions that might happen...'

 

Quentin Blake now on Teachers TV

Working with the House of Illustration, Quentin has made a 15-minute programme which can now be seen on the Teachers' TV channel and online. In 'Inspirations - Quentin Blake- The Power of Illustration' Quentin takes us on a journey through the story, ideas and illustration techniques behind two of his own books, Clown and The Green Ship. He also reflects on how words and pictures are two languages which introduce different and sometimes contrasting elements to a story.

Teachers TV

 

Illustration from 'The Green Ship'

 

 

 

 
   

'We all have our own experiences of waiting rooms ... .. I’m grateful for the ferns and palms and suchlike that are often introduced to enhance them, and as I was thinking about drawing something for the Gordon Hospital it occurred to me that in these situations we all belong in some sense to the Potted Plants Club; and so I presumed to imagine some other members of it'

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two new Quentin Blake hospital projects for 2009

The Gordon Hospital, Pimlico is a mental health hospital for adults and
Quentin was asked to do two pictures for the waiting area and one for the family room adjoining the reception. In addition Quentin was inspired to create a different series of 'swimmers' pictures which hang in the corridors. The pictures can be viewed by prior arrangement by phoning Dr.Nick Rhodes on 020 3214 5840 .

 

 

 



 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ellington Ward in Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, is an older adults mental health ward. Quentin has made a series of pictures on a circus theme which were installed in Spring 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quentin Blake at the Trousseau Children's Hospital, Paris

Quentin has had huge success with recent projects involving site-specific decorations for hospitals and other healthcare settings. This led to an invitation from a specialist Paris children's hospital to produce a scheme of 16 large-scale images for a newly refurbished outpatient unit.

The otherwise drab and dark corridor and waiting rooms have been transformed by his optimistic and sensitive visions of young patients and their doctors in cheerfully fantastic settings. The scheme was launched in October 2008 and  patients, families and staff are now enjoying their brand-new environment.

 

Quentin working on the Trousseau pictures in his studio in France

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

Quentin Blake wraps at St Pancras

Passengers leaving St Pancras International station are now greeted by an extraordinary 16m high building wrap. It's covered with a madcap human and birdlife welcome committee who cook, paint, drink, garden and swing their way round the building and a streetside hoarding. Commissioned by Argent , London and Continental Railways and DHL–Exit Supply Chain, the developers of the new Kings Cross, it's the first of several public art installations intended for the scheme.

The wrap covers the Victorian Grade II listed Stanley Building, which will be refurbished for new uses in due course, but, until then Londoners and visitors can enjoy the largest-scale Quentin Blakes ever, for free.

art at king's cross

 

 
 

 

At last! The party food you've been waiting for: Roald Dahl/Quentin Blake cakes!

Your favourite Dahl recipes and treats are now available at Tesco's. Look out for Quentin's unforgettable drawings of The Twits, the BFG and Charlie, on packets of Whizzpoppers, Snozzcumber Surprises, Mr Twit's Scary Hairy Cakes and many more.

 

 

 

 

Quentin Blake works for hospitals and other healthcare settings

Quentin's work is increasingly seen beyond the pages of books.  He continually applies his imagination and extraordinary skill to new challenges, as his work for NHS trusts demonstrates.  After his highly successful commissions for the Kershaw Ward at the South Kensington and Chelsea Mental Health Centre, his work can now also be seen at six further centres, including Bentley House in Harrow, a day service for older people in Harrow with mental health problems. At St Charles' Hospital in London W10, Quentin's drawings decorate the Redwood Ward in the Chamberlain and Nightingale Buldings which provides therapeutic treatment, rehabilitation and respite care to people over 65 years of age. The Alexandra Avenue Health and Social Care Centre in South Harrow caters for young people and Quentin's enormous ‘Planet Zog' drawings now animate waiting areas and other public spaces.

Although these buildings are not open to the general public, visits can sometimes be arranged. For Chamberlain and Nightingale Buildings at St Charles Hospital please email Bev Smith. beverley.smith@nhs.net For the works at Bentley House Day Assessment Unit, Harrow please contact Jo Hulman, Community, Day Service and Outreach Manager johulman@nhs.netFor Kershaw Ward in the Kensington and Chelsea Mental Health Centre email Dr Nick Rhodes nick.rhodes@nhs.net

Quentin Blake is also patron of the Nightingale Project which brings life and colour into the South Kensington and Chelsea Mental Health Centre through music and the visual arts. Nightingale Project




 

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