The value of a dead artist

I’ve been making book bags for my favourite or precious books for some time now and I’ve just made a new one. 

This book has been sat among my other art books since 2013 without any thought as to its worth.  

Cornish based artist Ponckle first came to my attention during a visit to my college tutor’s bohemian style home in 
Halifax.  I spotted highly coloured postcards pinned to the wooden walls of her downstairs loo and was smitten by the images.

1996 - Ginger Cat Can Can

1998 - Birthday Cats

The story of Ponckle the person and artist is fascinating and inspiring.  Her early years were spent mixing with many great jazz musicians like Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Johnny Dankworth and Cleo Laine.  Very much the black sheep of the family she moved her family to St. Ives where she opened a gallery in her house displaying her quirky paintings. The main body of her work, for which she is famed features cats and self portraits.

So why am I only just making a bag for this delightful softback 100 page book ?  

Well, since Ponckles  death in 2012 at the age of 77 her work has become very sought after and so has this book.  I paid about  £10 for my copy and it can now be found on Amazon at £150 and EBay at £98.   So I think it needs a bit of tlc don’t you.

I quite often lend my books to friends and I may well have lent this one out before now,  but I think you can guess I won’t be doing it again.  Sorry if I’ve wet your appetite for reading more about this rather intriguing eccentric character, the best I can offer is an out of date link below and a little You Tube film.

www.ponckle.com

Ponckle Remembered video