How Dare You – Part 1
May 27, 2025
I scrambled to submit my application to the Folio Book Illustration Award 2025 before going on holiday earlier this month. I originally wanted to paint it in gouache, but ended up doing it digitally in Procreate to save time. I definitively wouldn’t have met the deadline otherwise.
The Folio Society publishes limited editions of beautifully illustrated books. The winner of the award gets, along with some money, the chance to have their work featured in an upcoming Folio book. A dream job.
I’m splitting my process into two (maybe three?) parts because I have too many inspirations to discuss!
Crop from my submission
This year, the illustration had to be based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale Rapunzel. Have you read the story recently? It’s surprisingly weird, like ‘wtf?’ weird. But it’s a fun one to let your imagination run wild.
The direction from Folio was to choose a specific scene. I selected the part where the husband is caught stealing the witch’s rampion—a type of plant also known as rapunzel—for his wife (the Grimms weren’t big on naming their characters). The witch is super mad and says, ‘How dare you come into my garden like a thief and steal my rampion?' A fair question, and one that gave me the title for my piece.
The witch’s head, seen above, is very much inspired by the work of Carlo Crivelli, an Italian Renaissance painter from the 15th century. I came across his work at the National Gallery in London and was mesmerised by it. The figures’ facial expressions are so cool, the details are stunning, and I love the almost deformed hands. His style is so easily recognisable: an amazing mix of illustrative and realistic elements. He’s my current fave.
It’s very clear where my inspiration comes from for the face and hair
Because Rapunzel is a fairy tale, I wanted to try something more fun than my usual style. Something that would make it appealing for kids as well as adults. So I chose to integrate the illustrative, more stylised aspects of Crivelli’s work.
When I share the rest of the illustration next month, you’ll see that I could probably have pushed this stylisation further. À suivre!
Judith xx
Monthly inspiration
Surprise, it’s Carlo Crivelli’s work!
All of these can be seen at the National Gallery in LondonWant to get this blog directly in your inbox each month? Just subscribe to my Inspired Substack.
