The unsung artists, contempories of Beatrix Potter... and a "second string"

 No one would argue that Beatrix Potter is one of the most beloved and well-know Storybook creators of all time. However, during the time of her writings there were countless other marvelous artists and writers creating books, board games and greeting cards, people we rarely recognize. To honor these unsung artists, I plan on introducing their wonderful work  in a few posts which I will stagger over the next few weeks. I think it is about time that the works of these illustrators and writers have a revival and receive more credit for their contributions to Children's Literature.

All the illustrations you see on this post are by the artist ERNEST ARIS

 Let me start with an Artist that actually had a connection to Beatrix Potter.  In 1916 when Beatrix Potter, (who by that time wished to be known by her married name of Mrs Hellis) was in her 50's, and suffering from diminished eyesight. She found that her painting skills were marred by this sad fact.  Her niece had written a story and Beatrix  began a search for just the right illustrator to  fulfill the mission of illustrating this story, in a way that Beatrix P. imagined it should be.

By post, she contacted the  Illustrator Ernest Aris. Mr Aris was a prolific artist in his own right.
Submitting  rough sketches, color ideas and the Name of the Book, "The Oakmen", to Mr Aris,  B.Potter kept her identity a secret as well as the PLOT of the book... But she did ask that he use the style of  Beatrix Potter, from the book "Jemima Puddleduck".
 Mr. Aris claimed he was unaware of such a book, to which Beatrix Potter took great offense!

  She did purchase 6 illustrations that he created for her. Although first pleased with his work, she eventually decided to shelf  the paintings he provided thinking them too bold, the colors too bright and not at all in her style.  She decided to illustrate the story herself.

 But she never did


 As an artist myself, I can certainly not imagine being asked to illustrate in someone else's style, so it hardly seems fair that he would be expected to fulfill her wishes to a tee. Not to mention the fact that Beatrix referred to him as a "Second String " artist and said "his animals are not good". I have to disagree with that, I LOVE his animals.

The relationship went further south when Miss Potters publisher accused Ernest Aris of Plagerism after Mr Aris wrote a story about a rabbit named Peter. Beatrix wanted to sue his American Publisher for the outrage and buy out Ernest Aris.

 Eventually, Mr Aris apologized to Beatrix....so there must have been some  truth to the plagiarism

charge in  HIS naming of the rabbit after HER famous character.

  To be honest with you, as much as I adore the work of Beatrix P., I object to her referring to Mr Aris as a Second String artist. I find his work just as creative, charming and imaginative as hers.

Even though that little goose looks similar to Jemima Puddleduck, I don't know of many different ways in which to paint an anthropomorphic goose. And this goose is most definitely His style.

 

 Ernest Aris, born in Britain, 1882- 1963 was absolutely prolific, having illustrated and written over 170 little books, designed postcards, games, puzzles and toys.

 His style is uniquely fun and whimsical. I have several of his books and he was delightfully inventive and humorous. He wrote under his own name, but also under the names Robin A Hood and Dan Crow.

 Ernest was hard of hearing and yet he loved the Opera.. He enjoyed Gardening, collecting oddities, entomology, travel and collecting OLD furniture.

  He was described as "Amusing and a Scamp" by Beatrix Potter and  it is said he had an "endless store of humorous ideas". I believe it just by the names of his book characters.

  Tazzletip was an entire series

 As were the Brambledown Tales

 Something else I love: his little toy designs from the 1930's . During the Great Depression, when toys were un-affordable, the Cadbury Chocolate Company began putting little metal painted toys in each container of their COCOA. These little toys were called Cococubs, and were collected by over 300,000 children in Britain. Although the toys were designed by Mr. Aris,  Cadbury claimed in a press release, that they were created by an expert in "Child Psychology". Not exactly truth in advertising, but then again, maybe this wonderful artist WAS, in a sense, an expert when it came to things kids like.

This is my tiny collection of Cococubs. 

  They are less than 2" tall.

There were 37 assorted characters with names like Henrietta Fussyfeathers and  Mrs Cacklegoose. These are  not easy to find In America, all of mine are from the UK. I only have seven figures so far but am constantly on the lookout for the rest of the group. Some of them are elusive, but it makes for a fun treasure-hunt!

 They are so representative of the Ernest Aris style.
What silly fun!

 

 So, what do you think? Is this an artist that should have had more recognition? I believe so.