A review by vylotte
The Book of Ballads by Charles Vess
4.0
Charles Vess is an artist I've come across a number of times. His work is instantly identifiable, with lots of long flowing lines and a timeless sensibility, it's easy to imagine his work in a renaissance tome or a fairy-tale library. I personally remember his work in Sandman (the "A Midsummer's Night's Dream" fae story), Fables and the illustrated version of Gaiman's Stardust.
From what I gather, this was a labor of love for Vess. He took classic old English and Scottish ballads and had various friends create stories around them, which he then illustrated, and produced on his own label. And when you consider among his friends are Emma Bull, Charles de Lint, Terri Windling and Neil Gaiman, you have something special.
Every panel is intricate and detailed, dreamy and dramatic. Really a lovely book, and one I will be looking for to add to my own collection.
From what I gather, this was a labor of love for Vess. He took classic old English and Scottish ballads and had various friends create stories around them, which he then illustrated, and produced on his own label. And when you consider among his friends are Emma Bull, Charles de Lint, Terri Windling and Neil Gaiman, you have something special.
Every panel is intricate and detailed, dreamy and dramatic. Really a lovely book, and one I will be looking for to add to my own collection.