the revival of illustration

Illustration is an amazing tool, as art is, but much more accessible. I love art and all things creative, and especially as my dad works in an area of graphic design, have always taken pride in this aspect of my interests. As I grew up, I have gradually found myself distanced from illustration as an interactive tool, like it was when we used to read children's books. For example, my obsession with Nick Sharratt best known for his Jacqueline Wilson illustrations, and Martin Brown who illustrated Horrible Histories. As we and the books we read 'matured' it seemed there was no need for this visual aid, so now the only time I come across illustrations are in my history text book (and can I just point out how limited and basic they are!) 
This want for artistically relevant illustrations grew when I read a young adult's fiction book, 'A Monster Calls', the story by Siobhan Dowd and written/adapted by Patrick Ness (a stunning author, recommended!) It is a beautiful story alone, but what interested me specifically was the fact it is full of illustrations by artist Jim Kay. 
You will have to see the book itself to truly appreciate how much I adore the images themselves, and how it lifts the story out from the words in a way only illustrations can. Jim Kay is clearly a talented artist as it is, and throughout the book he used so many techniques and textures to exactly capture that 'feeling', mono printing, charcoal, stamps, stencils. On the back cover it states 'His images for A Monster Calls use everything from beetles to breadboards to create interesting marks and texture'. Even just flicking through the book, you get an idea of how much his illustrations have been allowed to empathize the story, with full pages being allocated for an image, and even decorative boarders have been created. The story would have enchanted me anyway I'm sure, but it is something about these hypnotic black and white illustrations that have caused me to keep revisiting the book over the three years I have owned it, such that I have not seen since I grew out of basic children's fiction in primary school. 
So, it inspired me to find ways to apply this hugely effective method of communication, and interpret other teenage novels into a personal representation of the story. Not necessarily intertwined into the text as A Monster Calls does, however much I love it, but as a separate source to re-capture the readers imagination and connection with the story. I have started on an informal project to complete a series of these illustrations for another Patrick Ness book, ( I am a fan, can you tell?!), More Than This as it is one that initially brings a multitude of ideas to mind. I also plan to 'document' any developments here on this blog as I would love to make it slightly more art orientated and interactive!  
Oh, if you're into this sort of stuff like I am, or if you're just curious, definitely check out Keaton Henson. He's an artist/ musician, and his illustrations are simply hypnotic whilst being the opposite to the ones seen in A Monster Calls. 
www.jimkay.co.uk 
www.keatonhenson.com 

The first illustration from More Than This, the inspiration being the opening  line 'here is boy - drowning' 

The next drawing is from the scene where the boy 'wakes up' after his apparent death in the previous chapter

I'll continue to post these illustrations, if I'm happy with them, and maybe you can begin to follow the story!