Quentin Blake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Quentin Blake
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Quentin Saxby Blake
16 December 1932 |
| Education |
|
| Known for | Illustration |
| Awards | Kate Greenaway Medal 1980 Hans Christian Andersen Award for Illustration 2002 |
Sir Quentin Saxby Blake (born 16 December 1932) is a famous English artist. He is known for his amazing drawings in children's books. He has illustrated over 300 books, and many of them were written by the well-known author Roald Dahl. His drawings for Dahl's books are some of his most popular works.
In 2002, Quentin Blake won the international Hans Christian Andersen Award. This is a very important award for people who create children's books. From 1999 to 2001, he was the first British Children's Laureate, a special role for a children's author or illustrator.
Contents
Early Life and Art Beginnings
Quentin Blake was born on 16 December 1932 in Sidcup, Kent, England. During Second World War, he was sent away from London to a safer place in the West Country. He went to Holy Trinity Lamorbey Church of England Primary School. Later, he attended Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School. His English teacher, J. H. Walsh, really helped him find his path in life.
Quentin Blake's artistic talent grew during his school years. A painter and cartoonist named Alfred Jackson helped him a lot. Alfred Jackson encouraged Quentin to send his drawings to Punch magazine. Quentin's first drawing was published when he was just 16 years old! His school art teacher, Stanley Simmonds, also saw his talent. He supported Quentin and showed him the work of other artists.
After school, Quentin Blake studied English Literature at Downing College, Cambridge. He also studied art part-time at the Chelsea School of Art and Camberwell College of Art.
Quentin Blake's Career Highlights
In the 1960s, Quentin Blake taught English at a French school in London. This started his long connection with France. He also taught at the Royal College of Art for more than 20 years. He was even the head of the Illustration department there from 1978 to 1986.
The first book Quentin Blake illustrated was The Wonderful Button in 1961. After that, he became known for his funny and reliable drawings. He illustrated over 300 children's books. These included books by famous authors like Joan Aiken, Sylvia Plath, Roald Dahl, and even Dr. Seuss. He illustrated the first Dr. Seuss book that Seuss himself did not draw, called Great Day for Up! in 1974.
By 2006, Quentin Blake had illustrated 323 books. He wrote 35 of these books himself, and Roald Dahl wrote 18 of them. He has also illustrated books for David Walliams.
In the 1970s, Quentin Blake sometimes appeared on the BBC children's show Jackanory. On the show, he would draw pictures on a canvas while telling stories. In 1993, he designed five British Christmas postage stamps. These stamps showed scenes from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
Quentin Blake is involved in many projects outside of books. He supports "The Big Draw", which encourages people across the UK to draw. He also works with The Nightingale Project, a charity that brings art to hospitals. Since 2006, he has created art for hospitals and health centers in London and Paris. His 2012 book, Quentin Blake: Beyond the Page, talks about how his art has appeared in public places like hospitals and museums. In 2007, he designed a huge mural at St Pancras railway station in London. It shows an "imaginary welcoming committee" for passengers arriving on the Eurostar train.
He is also a founding trustee of House of Illustration. This is a center in London for art exhibitions and activities about illustration. In 2020, it was announced that the center would be renamed the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration.
In 2023, the TV show Blue Peter asked Quentin Blake to design a new Blue Peter badge. They called it their Book badge.
Personal Life
Quentin Blake has never been married and does not have children. He lives in South Kensington, West London.
Selected Works by Quentin Blake
Quentin Blake has written and illustrated many books himself. Here are a few examples:
- Patrick (1968)
- Mister Magnolia (1980) — This book won the Kate Greenaway Medal.
- The Story of the Dancing Frog (1984)
- Mrs Armitage On Wheels (1987)
- All Join In (1990) — This book won the Kurt Maschler Award.
- Clown (1995)
- The Green Ship (1998)
- Zagazoo (1998)
- Loveykins (2002)
- Quentin Blake: Beyond the Page (2012)
He also illustrated many books by Roald Dahl, including:
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
- Matilda
- The BFG
- The Witches
Awards and Honours
Quentin Blake has received many awards for his work.
- He was the first British Children's Laureate (1999–2001).
- In 2001, he became an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Arts.
- He won the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 2002 for his amazing contribution to children's literature.
- He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2005.
- For Mister Magnolia, he won the 1980 Kate Greenaway Medal. This award is for the best children's book illustration by a British artist.
- He won the Kurt Maschler Award for All Join In in 1990.
- In 2011, he received the Prince Philip Designers Prize.
- He was knighted in 2013, which means he became Sir Quentin Blake, for his services to illustration.
- In 2014, he received the insignia of a Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur from France.
- In 2022, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) for his services to illustration.
See also
In Spanish: Quentin Blake para niños
