American artist Viginia Lee Burton

illustration from The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton, 1942

I just finished watching an interesting documentary on late artist and illustrator Virginia Lee Burton on WHYY Philadelphia, "A Sense of Place" (here is the site for the movie). The program, with commentary from her sons, family friends and other artists talks about the life and work of Virginia from childhood in New England, to CA to Gloucester, MA where she lived most of her life. She is best known for her children's books and also worked in decorative and textile arts.

The Little House, 1942

Choo Choo, 1937

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, 1939

Calico the Wonder Horse, or the Saga of Stewy Stinker, 1941

Life Story, 1962

As the founder of the Folly Cove Designers (founded in 1940), she taught lessons in printmaking and design to neighbors. The collective grew and its work was sold in retail locations, and featured in magazines. Today work from the Folly Cove Designers can be found in museums including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

"Fish Story", 1957

"Reducing"

Here is a link to a cute and informative pdf of a pamphlet for children including some of Virginia's design philosophies from Cape Ann Musuem.
I would love to buy some of her beautiful children's books and prints some day!

(images from landofnod.com, amazon.com, capeannhistoricalmusueum.org)