Sunday Story - The Fairy Child

The Fairy Child - Jose Ortiz

For September's Sunday Story I've chosen 'The Fairy Child', beautifully illustrated by the wonderfully talented artist Jose Ortiz.

Two of the illustrations contained in the story were included in one of my earlier posts called Fabulous Fairies.

This story appeared in 'Once Upon a Time' children's magazine.
Issue #55 published 28 February 1970.


A card I bought this week to send to a friend.  I love the poem (Yeats was born in Dublin):

The Stolen Child by William Butler Yeats

At the beginning of last week I was ill in bed for a couple of days.  The first day it rained from morning to night - which was good as I slept the whole time!  The second morning was glorious with wonderful sunshine.  I lay in bed and looked at the garden through the window - this is what I saw.  It was lovely and I could lie and watch all the little birds darting about!   (I'm quite fine now.)

Even when I was very small I liked to stop and smell the roses. . .

Jose Ortiz

While putting together the pages of this blog I have been amazed at the sheer volume of work completed by many of the illustrators featured.  This output must be seen in the context of the incredibly high quality of their art, especially considering that they must often have been adhering to strict publishing deadlines.  

Jose Ortiz (1932 - ) is a Spanish born illustrator, world renowned for his work as a comic strip artist and cartoonist. Such is his popularity in other genres it is virtually impossible to find references to his work as a children's illustrator.. (See Yesterday's Papers or Desk Artes for examples of his better known art.)

Despite this I think Ortiz produced some of the loveliest illustrations of my childhood.  He is equally adept at portraying 'modern' children, fairies, elves, princesses and comic characters.  He has a delightfully light touch and the wide-eyed appeal and slightly humorous characterisation of much of his work make it truly evocative of the era.   

Jose Ortiz - The Magic Cat

Jose Ortiz - Johnny Long Legs

Jose Ortiz - The Wishing Well that Stopped

 

Jose Ortiz - The Flower Clock

Louise and the White Deer

Louise and the White Deer

Jose Ortiz - The Very Brave Princess

Illustrations from various issues of Once Upon a Time magazine