Some of my favorite works of John's are his prints of everyday weeds, vegetables, fruits and trees. His examinations of similar varieties of potatoes, for example, is as witty as it is graphically striking. It's pretty awesome how he can take something as boring as a potato (sorry, passionate potato people [PPP's]) and make something as fun and interesting as the print below.
"Potato Prints", John Dilnot.
A more tongue-in-cheek example of John's work is "Bad Apples", which features rotten specimens of many archaic and forgotten species of the fruit indigenous to England. In contrast to the potatoes above, the colors and differences between the apples become a silly yet engrossing journey into the many ways that an apple can go bad. There's even a worm or two in there.
"Bad Apples", John Dilnot.
As cool as these images are on a computer screen, the experience of seeing John's work in person is one that should not be missed. I own the print above, and it is rich, incredibly detailed, and highlight his craft far more than any JPG on a computer screen can convey. So I highly recommend checking out his work if you're lucky enough to be in England near his studio, or able to see his work in one of the many venues he's shown his work in in recent years.
As if his talent in printmaking weren't enough, Dilnot also makes spectacular handmade boxes, many of which use his beautiful drawings in conjunction with maps of England to illustrate the migratory patterns of certain birds. Others examine multiple species of birds and owls perched on trees that run up and down the box.
"Mouth of the Thames", John Dilnot.
One of the things I respect most about John's work is his craft. These boxes and his prints are obviously the result of meticulous handiwork and years of skilled craftmanship. He respects his subjects but at the same time is able to see the whimsy and humor in them, and I think this balance is where Dilnot's work becomes wonderful.
"To The Forest", John Dilnot.
Whether it be capturing the beautiful sweeping movement of a flock of birds across a channel, or a survey of common garden weeds typically found in your front yard, Dilnot succeeds in engaging our imaginations, he makes us smile, and always leaves us wanting more. And as far as awesome things go, you can't get better than that.
John Dilnot is an artist living in the UK, and if you liked anything above, you should check out all of his work at www.johndilnot.com.
