Ernest Aris facts for kids

Alfred Ernest Walter George Aris (1882–1963) was a talented author and illustrator of children's books. He was also known by his pen names, Robin A Hood and Dan Crow. Ernest Aris created pictures for over 170 books. He also designed fun items like cigarette cards, postcards, toys, and games.

Early Life of Ernest Aris

Ernest Aris was born in Islington, London, on April 22, 1882. He later moved to Bradford. There, he studied art at the Technical College and School of Art. He earned his diploma in 1900. Later, he continued his art studies at the Royal College of Art in London.

Ernest Aris's Career

As an artist, Ernest Aris created many commercial works. Some of his designs were even chosen for the Victoria and Albert Museum. He made pictures for cigarette cards and postcards. He also designed toys and games.

Ernest Aris was very good at drawing portraits. He used materials like charcoal, wash, and watercolour. His art was shown in famous places. These included the Royal Academy of Arts, the Royal Society of British Artists, and the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours.

He drew pictures for the Christmas special of a national illustrated newspaper called The Graphic. His first book came out in 1909. After that, he became a well-known author and illustrator of children’s stories. His pictures were used in many books, even in a series published in 1989. He also created cartoons, jigsaw puzzles, and advertisements.

Ernest Aris wrote and drew pictures for many children’s books. One book's cover from 1947 said he was the "Author and illustrator of some 170 different titles". An article from 1938 said he illustrated over 400 children’s books. It called him "a master of the art of pleasing the child mind". He was indeed a very busy illustrator. His work helped create a new style in children's book pictures. Many other artists later copied his style.

Working with Beatrix Potter

Ernest Aris had an interesting connection with the famous author Beatrix Potter. She wrote to him using her married name, Mrs. Heelis. She asked him how much he would charge to illustrate a small book. She wanted it to be in the style of her book Jemima Puddle-Duck. Ernest surprised her by saying he had never seen that classic book!

Ernest had worked in Windermere, where Beatrix Potter lived. He probably knew who Mrs. Heelis was. He might have said that because he had already drawn a duck similar to Jemima. This was for his own book, Mrs. Beak Duck. He saw a chance to work with her publisher, Harold Warne. He sent Warne some of his drawings and offered his help.

Harold Warne wanted to publish more stories from Beatrix Potter. She was not always keen to write more. So, he sent Ernest's books and letter to her. Instead of being upset, Beatrix saw this as a good thing. Her eyesight was getting worse, and her hands were stiff. She wrote that she had "wished for a long time that you would find some second string". This meant she wanted someone else to help with illustrations. She thought Ernest was "just what we want."

Beatrix Potter then wrote directly to Ernest. She asked him to create six drawings for a story she planned for her niece, Nancy. She gave Ernest some rough sketches and ideas for colours. Ernest's original drawings and Beatrix's sketches are now at the Victoria and Albert Museum. When she hired him, she was careful not to tell him she was Beatrix Potter.

Within a month, Ernest finished the drawings. He sent them to Mrs. Heelis. He told her, "I have not adopted your colour schemes as there was a tendency to be on the sombre side." This meant he didn't use her dark colour ideas. He also changed how the pictures were set up. Beatrix had suggested "Russet brown and blue grey check" for the elves' clothes. But Ernest chose red instead.

Beatrix Potter later used some of Ernest's ideas for her own designs. For example, she changed his meadow with yellow flowers to an open field. But she kept his idea of two Oakmen carrying a bundle on a pole. This was not in her first sketch. Ernest also told her that in one of her sketches, "The figures are a little too near the front of the picture." She used this comment to make her design more open.

Around the same time, an American publisher used Ernest's pictures. They illustrated a copied version of Beatrix Potter's book, The Story of a Fierce Bad Rabbit. Beatrix's publishers were very angry when Ernest's book The Treasure Seekers showed a rabbit named Peter. Beatrix told Harold Warne to sue the publishers. But she also suggested they buy Ernest out. Beatrix defended Ernest but told Warne to complain to the publishers.

Warne's did complain, and Ernest apologized directly to Beatrix. This showed he knew she was the famous author. Beatrix told her publishers that Aris was "artlessly conceited" and a "little bounder". This ended any plans for them to work together regularly. After this, he changed publishers and used his pen names. His work as Robin A Hood is well known. But few people know he published six books as Dan Crow.

Designing The Cococubs

In 1934, Ernest Aris designed a group of animal characters. A toy company called Britain's made these animals. They were given away free with a new type of Cadbury's Cocoa. This cocoa was advertised as ‘The Children’s Cocoa’. Each animal had its own unique personality. A press release said they were "exclusively designed by an expert in child psychology".

This idea was a huge success! About 300,000 children collected these toy figures. They were known as the Cococubs. This project was called "one of the cleverest publicity schemes of the year" in advertising.

Personal Life

Ernest Aris had trouble hearing. By the time he was 60, he was profoundly deaf. He went back to work for the International Correspondence School, which offered distance-learning. He loved going to the opera.

He also enjoyed other hobbies. These included fishing, travel, studying insects (entomology), and swimming. He loved collecting things. He collected matchbox labels, stamps, and cigarette cards. He also enjoyed gardening and collecting old furniture.

People thought he was good company. Beatrix Potter described him as both "amusing" and a "scamp." His friend Charles Bayne, who edited Little Folks magazine, said Ernest had an "endless store of humorous ideas."

Ernest Aris passed away at his home in Hornsey, North London, on April 14, 1963. He was 80 years old.