The Curated Collection | Oliver Jeffers


My first introduction to today's artists was in fact not through his fine art, but actually through a beautifully illustrated and imaginatively written children's book. As a mother who is passionately interested in feeding my son's expanding imagination, I am always on the hunt for quirky, humorous and beautifully illustrated books. One of our favourite and most memorable books thus far is a delightfully unusual story from Oliver Jeffers.


Having read this book to Noah many a night before bed, I knew the unusual and engaging story was thoroughly lodged in his happy little head. But what I didn't know was that he had also taken note of the author's memorable name and {at the age of 3 or 4} had tucked it away for future reference.


One day, while sitting on a lovely sofa in an Anthropologie store waiting with his dad while I tried on some clothes in the fitting room, Noah announced "Dad, do you know who designed this piece of furniture we're sitting on?" "No, I don't, Noah! Who?" replied Graham. "It was designed by Olifer Jeffer Clelands." Graham and I both laughed to the point of tears with delight at our little boy's imagination in that moment.

Yes, Noah's toddler-esque divergent thinking had elaborated on Oliver Jeffers' name just slightly, but I think even more wonderful than that was the fact that he realized there are creative people in the world who design wonderful things, and Oliver Jeffers was most certainly one of them.

Not only an author and illustrator of wonderful children's books {which I hope to collect in full!}, Oliver Jeffers is also a daringly quirky and fascinating visual artist. His paintings feel like a secret passageway into his imagination, a place where I find myself smiling broadly and wondering greatly at the world through Jeffers' lens.



There is, of course, an illustrative quality that threads throughout all of his work, and it is one of the things I most adore about Oliver's art. The illustrative details {such as the measurements in his "Measuring Land and Sea" series} add to my interest in understanding just how Jeffers sees the world.

 
I hope Oliver's humourous, quirky and delightful sensibilities have become an invitation for you to view the world around you with wider, more child-like eyes. And I hope his work {and Noah's little story} put a smile on your face today.

xo
s.

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