'Extinct Boids' by Ralph Steadman and Ceri Levi

A brief #LockdownLibrary review by Mychael Barratt

Throughout this period of lockdown, London-based painter and printmaker Mychael Barratt has been taking us all on a daily adventure through the plethora of art books in his newly alphabetised book shelves; from the remarkable works of painters such as Pollock and Miro, textile designers like William Morris, sculptors such as Giacometti and Gormley... the list goes on.

One review in particular caught the attention of The Big Draw team: a brief overview of the book 'Extinct Birds Boids' by Ralph Steadman and Ceri Levi. When Ceri Levy asked Ralph Steadman to produce one piece of art representing an extinct bird for a recent exhibition, Ghosts of Gone Birds, Ralph said 'yes'. Then 'yes' again... and again... and again.

An astonishing 100 paintings later, Extinct Birds Boids was born. This book details the discoveries that Ralph and Ceri made on their travels through the savage seas of extinction - Ceri's accompanying text provides a running commentary, detailing the unfolding madness behind the creation of each piece in Ralph's extraordinary work. Things got tough as the pair discovered just how many amazing birds have been lost from our world forever.

"But," as Ralph said "it did, after all, make a nice change from drawing politicians".

"Ralph Idris Steadman is an illustrator who was born in Cheshire in 1936 but grew up in North Wales. While he was studying at the London College of Printing he did illustration work for Punch, Private Eye and Rolling Stone magazines and the Daily Telegraph and New York Times newspapers. He is renowned for his political and social satire drawings and for his friendship with American writer Hunter S Thompson and their collaboration on projects including Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Steadman’s work is typically a combination of loosely drawn pen and India ink and watercolour and is characterised by its improvisational spontaneity and wild ink splatters.

"In another collaboration, he worked with author Ceri Levy to create Extinct Boids, a book chronicling the plight of extinct species of birds. With his usual combination of humour and technical bravura, Steadman created a staggering 100 paintings of species ranging from the remarkably well known Dodo and Great Auk to the less familiar Gob Swallow and Needless Smut. I got my book from the co authors at the Port Elliot Literary Festival and was able to see some of the paintings in the flesh. They are stunning works that delicately walk the tightrope between historical research and absolute fanciful imagination.

"A proportion of the proceeds of this beautiful large scale book goes to Ghosts of Gone Birds who support frontline conservation projects, so it is nice to know that the purchase of my book did a little good. It would be lovely to think that if Levy and Steadman go on to produce a second edition, that they would have no new extinct species to add."

Written by Mychael Barratt.

#LockdownLibrary #RalphSteadman #Cerilevy #ExtinctBoids

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