More Tove

There are a handful of authors who are lucky enough to create a complete, complex universe that people relate to and love and return to again and again.
J.R.R Tolkien.
A.A Milne.
C.S Lewis.
J.K Rowling.
(What's with all the initials?...)
Another that is not so well known outside of Europe is Tove Jansson - someone I've blogged about a million times before.
Tove created a series of very sophisticated books for young people.
They are full of complex and interesting characters and situations in a completely fantastical and whimsical world (I hate that word, "whimsical". It's what bad children's authors and illustrators strive for. Tove just did it).
My favorite character of hers was The Groke.
The only worthwhile image I can find of The Groke is this one from a completely charming animated version of the books.

The Groke slides about the place icing up everything she slides over.
Her motives are never explained but she is bad news.
I found a soundclip of the noise she makes in this animated show which should help if you are trying to imagine her...
Tove's books and pictures have been a huge influence on my own work, but I never realised it until a few years ago.
I looked her up straight away to discover she had died only a few days before.
Since I last blogged about her I've found a great deal more of her art online, so here's the nicest stuff.
You'll also find to the left a link to Tove's drawing for The Hobbit, and if you shuffle about on the same site, you'll find a pile of BEAUTIFUL images done for Alice in Wonderland.