‘Arthur Spiderwick’s Guide’ a Fantastic Collection of Fantasy Art by Black and DiTerlizzi
The Guide describes and illustrates the mythical creatures, including elves, goblins and dragons, that populate the Spiderwick series, but the lore is timeless and the illustrations so striking that the Guide deserves a place on the shelves of all myth lovers.
Since it purports to be the field notebook of Arthur Spiderwick, the Grace children’s weird, missing uncle, ‘Arthur Spiderwick’s Guide’ is arranged like a scrapbook. Divided by sections according to habitat (land, sea, air, etc.), the book then discusses each of 29 creatures in a mishmash of typed description, “handwritten” notes (supposedly by Arthur himself), sketches and gouache portraits.
The text, written by Holly Black, is serviceable, but uninspired. Notes and descriptions of the creatures accurately reflect the accumulation of folkloric knowledge, e.g. pixies’ propensity to pinch people and throw acorns or “elf-shot.” The “manuscript” commentary by Arthur Spiderwick seems to be observations about the appearances and habits of particular fantastical individuals. I say “seems” because the “manuscript” is printed in a cramped, light brown font on a tan background, and I can barely read it. In such a lavish book, the illegibility of over half the text is a grave failing.
Tony DiTerlizzi’s illustrations, however, more than compensate for any eyesore text. Each mythical creature gets at least one full-color gouache plate, sometimes more (in the case of the mermaids and the elves). Those with only one plate, such as the phoenix and the basilisk, receive gatefolds. Detailed sketches of each creature’s features and/or clothing accompany each description. Rendered with a natural palette of browns and greens against a sepia background, DiTerlizzi’s works of art connect the characters to the earth, to shadows and mystery.
The humor and originality in DiTerlizzi’s portraits draw the viewer back again and again. His goblins and leprechauns smirk with wizened faces that portray their mischievous nature. The Manticore, traditionally known as a lion with a man’s face, here looks like a baboon/lion combination, regal, wise and even a bit sad.
And I adore DiTerlizzi’s unconventional mermaids; no buxom maidens with tails, these sleek, camouflaged, hairless creatures are arrayed with wing-like fins. They look properly inhuman, pensive and perfectly convincing. Like every other creature in the Guide, they are beautiful.
