The Boris Karloff Art Gallery: L

When I first discovered Boris Karloff films I was a little boy growing up in Vancouver, BC.  My interest in art led to a career as an illustrator and I am best known for my illustrations in a number of children's books, starting with Waiting for the Whales in 1991. This book won several awards, including the Governor General's Award for Illustration. Since then I have illustrated many other picture books using a range of illustration styles. These paintings are part of my "Where Monsters Dwell" series which may be seen at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/41362313@N05/sets/72157622584516447/ During the past quarter century my artwork has graced the covers of over sixty books and has been featured in magazines, calendars, posters and advertisements across North America. My corporate clients include Kool Aid, McDonald's Restaurants and Aliant Telecom. My artwork has been recognized and exhibited by The Society of Illustrators in New York and is included in the permanent collections of Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa, the Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books in Toronto and the Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation and Fantasy in Toronto. In 2005 my paintings for A Poppy Is To Remember were selected to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in the Library and Archives Canada publication Read Up On It. My partner Sandra and I reside in the beautiful Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia. Sandra is an award winning author and she has collaborated with me on two children's books, Driftwood Cove and Pumpkin People. For your interest I have attached scans of several paintings inspired by your father's films.  These paintings are part of my "Monster Gallery" series which may be seen at:  www.octobermansion.etsy.com More information about me, including examples of my children's book illustrations, may be found at: http://tla1.com/ill_bio.php?id=168

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In my artwork I have tried not only to create a likeness but also to capture the essence of the subject. I have spent many enjoyable hours creating these works and I hope that in my portraits, I have managed to do so. I work almost exclusively in graphite pencil as it not only suits my style of working but also adds bold theatrical contrasts. The beauty of a graphite portrait lies in the depth of tone and contrast achievable by using varying grades of pencil and differing pressures of application. I often draw in reverse by lifting out areas with a putty rubber. It is an ideal medium for expressing texture and detail. My portraits are built up over many hours by blending layers of finely laid pencil. All my pencil work is created on 220g/m acid free heavy weight cartridge paper. I hope you enjoy my work. Regards, Stephen Lilly www.freewebs.com/stevelilart  stevelilart@aol.com  07926256211 3 Pomeroy Road Great Barr Birmingham B43 7LY England

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