Creative Artistic Revival

Emily Gravett, an acclaimed artist and storyteller, shares her creative journey with us.

This marks the release of the newly illustrated 'Quidditch Through the Ages'.

Originally penned by J.K. Rowling under the pseudonym Kennilworthy Whisp, this Hogwarts library classic first appeared in 2001.

The book's initial publication supported the charities Comic Relief and Lumos.

Now, decades later, it has been beautifully reimagined.

Gravett's illustrations breathe vivid life into the rich history of the wizarding world's beloved sport.

Her process involved deep research, from studying ancient tapestries to the craft of broom-making.

This special edition is brought to fans by the collaborative efforts of Bloomsbury and Scholastic.

The creative journey for the illustrated edition began in a Brighton home,

transforming historical notes into vivid artistic interpretations.

Every detail, from the precise dimensions of a Quaffle to crafting an original comic about the Golden Snitch,

was meticulously considered during the development process.

This edition visually chronicles the sport's progression,

starting from its rustic eleventh-century origins.

It follows Quidditch's evolution through the centuries,

culminating in the highly refined and competitive twentieth-century spectacle familiar to fans today.

I found the allure of this project impossible to resist. The opportunity to work on something related to the wizarding world, yet not directly focused on the main characters everyone knows so well, was refreshing. When I received my copy of the original text, inspiration struck immediately - I could envision countless creative possibilities on every page.

I circled potential illustration concepts throughout, imagining it as a luxurious exhibition companion piece - the type of premium, image-rich volume you'd purchase after visiting a fascinating museum display. This concept gave me tremendous creative freedom to experiment with diverse artistic techniques and span different historical periods.

While developing the artwork, I carefully researched period-appropriate color palettes and stylistic elements for each era represented. The vintage beverage advertisement, for instance, draws clear inspiration from iconic 1950s Guinness posters. However, I maintained some creative flexibility with historical accuracy since we're ultimately dealing with a fictional universe.

Exploring the artistic journey behind the Quidditch Through the Ages illustrations required me to venture far outside my comfort zone. I found myself studying the techniques of classical masters like Bruegel, despite having only casual experience with watercolors rather than oils.

Each illustration presented unique challenges that demanded research and experimentation. When creating illuminated manuscript pages, I questioned everything: the appropriate parchment textures, whether to incorporate gold leaf, and how to accurately represent aging effects like cracking and wear.

The calligraphy aspects were particularly demanding. I spent considerable time researching historical handwriting styles to ensure period authenticity, though I constantly doubted my execution.

The homage to Bruegel's distinctive style was perhaps my most ambitious undertaking. While I attempted to capture his essence, I can only imagine the master himself might view my interpretation with some bemusement!

Creative Visualizations and Personal Inspirations

I found it simpler to envision the characters when their appearances weren't explicitly depicted. It allowed me to imagine what they might look like myself. For instance, with Kennilworthy Whisp, I based his appearance on my dad! I even have a funny photo of him wearing a silly hat, and I used Photoshop to extend his beard to match the character I envisioned.

Discovering the Visual Magic of Quidditch

When I began illustrating the Hogwarts library collection, I was pleasantly surprised by the rich visual potential within the text. Each sentence about this fictional wizarding sport contains vivid imagery waiting to be brought to life through illustration.

The greatest challenge wasn't finding things to draw - it was restraining myself from expanding too much on the original material! Though I maintained the integrity of the source content, I couldn't resist adding a few creative elements like custom advertisements and visual articles.

At times during the project, I felt a special connection to the work, almost as if it were becoming my own creation. Among my favorite contributions are the additional advertisements featuring my original dialogue, particularly the special Snitch comic strip where I crafted all the character conversations.

The experience transformed my understanding of how even fictional sports can be represented through compelling visual storytelling.

To enhance realism in my artwork, I often craft physical pieces before illustrating them. For example, I created a small plate inspired by traditional Japanese woodblock designs, carefully shaping it through pottery. Additionally, I fashioned a broomstick from the appropriate wood, choosing to do this while staying in my Welsh workshop. Observing a nearby ash tree through the window, I decided to make a broom resembling those used in folklore. I hung the finished broom on the side of my woodshed, which startled some people who saw it unexpectedly. While making these items is fairly straightforward, I must clarify that they don’t possess any magical flying abilities!

Identifying as a proud member of Ravenclaw, I believe it suits me well. The house is known for valuing intellect and wisdom, which resonates with my personality. Interestingly, my daughter initially identified as a Slytherin but later retook the quiz and found herself as a Gryffindor, highlighting how perceptions can shift.

Among the many characters in the wizarding world, Hagrid remains my favorite—his love for creatures and kindness truly stand out. His association with Gryffindor House also adds to his admirable qualities.

Exciting news for fans: the illustrated edition of "Quidditch Through the Ages" has just been released today in the United States through Scholastic, and in the United Kingdom via Bloomsbury.

For those eager to dive deeper into quidditch, we invite you to visit our dedicated quidditch hub. There, you can enjoy interactive quizzes, explore in-depth articles, and discover all the details about this new edition!

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