"Country Diary Drawings" By Clifford Harper (published by Agraphia Press, London 2003), Part 2

 

 

I thought I'd lost this book for ever and I was so annoyed with myself for not remembering where I had placed it some three years ago! I was preparing to order another one when luckily it appeared behind a bookshelf (where else?) as I was relocating my art books to another room.

 

The book is a collection of 36 drawings done for The Guardian's Country Diary articles, beautifully reproduced in every detail, each one standing in its own page for better appreciation. I love the narrative in them as well as their style and craftsmanship. There's always a bit of mystery and allegory in Harper's work which makes it so much more interesting and special than any other illustration. 

 

 Agraphia Press Ltd (www.agraphiapress.com ) is owned and run by Harper himself as far as I understand - an ideal situation for an artist, to be able to control publications (and profit, hopefully) of his own work. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifford_Harper

 

 

 

"Country Diary Drawings" By Clifford Harper (published by Agraphia Press, London 2003)

 

 

"The Buddha And The Terrorist", Satish Kumar, illustrations by Clifford Harper (publ. by Green Books 2004) Part 2

The last few illustrations from this book by Clifford Harper. I love the serenity he achieves in the faces that is only found in religious icons. There is so much work and thought on all the details and the arrangement of the shapes and patterns.

"The Buddha And The Terrorist", Satish Kumar, illustrations by Clifford Harper (publ. by Green Books 2004)

A few months ago I treated myself with three of Clifford Harper's books. This one is by far my favourite but all of them are stunning. Harper draws like nobody else, creating beautiful shapes within shapes and mesmerising patterns which can keep you looking forever. His work can be admired every Saturday on Guardian's review (some samples of which I'll be posting soon) but the quality of these drawings is much, much better. Here's the artist's biography but there are also many other websites that feature articles on him, including Wikipedia. http://www.cartoons.ac.uk/artists/cliffharper/biography