Designing Handy Mandy!

Here we have another design sketch by John R. Neill for Handy Mandy in Oz (1937) by Ruth Plumly Thompson. 

HANDY MANDY IN OZ  sketch by John R. Neill $500.

"Handy Mandy in Oz - sketch 3" (1937)

John R. Neill (American) 1877-1943

Pencil on paper, unsigned

Image size: Multiple images on sheet

Paper size: 11" x 8.5"

$500 SOLD 

Click here to see this drawing on our sales page 

There are very few of these preliminary drawings that survive, showing Neill's process illustrating the famous Oz books. This sheet shows two very early (and rather different!) ideas for Handy Mandy herself. In the main image she appears younger than she does in the final book illustrations, with Heidi-like braids hanging down her back. The second drawing at lower right shows her in the Dutch cap Neill finally decided upon and the semi-circle behind her shows Neill's pondering the chapter heading design.

HANDY MANDY design sketch showing Chapter Heading design.

Two more "chapter heading" shapes appear along the mid-right hand side of the sheet. Above them, to the right of the standing Mandy, is a rough for the final illustration of Mandy on the flying rock from page 22 on the published book.
 

HANDY MANDY design sketch & final illustration of Mandy on flying rock.

We have many other fine original drawings by John R. Neill on the website!

Come check it all out at

www.johnrneill.com 

"Handy Mandy in Oz #1"

This wonderful collection contains some very special Oz material - roughs and design sketches showing John R. Neill's process in illustrating the Oz books - such as the following page of roughs for the 1937 Oz title Handy Mandy in Oz by Ruth Plumly Thompson.

"Handy Mandy in Oz - sketch 1" (1937)  SOLD

"Handy Mandy in Oz - sketch 1" (1937)

John R. Neill (American) 1877-1943

Pencil on paper, unsigned

Image size: Multiple images on sheet

Paper size: 11" x 8.5"

$700.00 SOLD 

CLICK HERE to see this drawing on our sales page

There are very few of these roughs that survive, showing Neill's process illustrating the famous Oz books. This sheet shows five images of Handy Mandy. Neill is trying out different poses, working out how best to show a girl with seven hands to best advantage!

The bottom sketch of Mandy holding a tray of food in each of her seven hands was utilized in the final pictorial endpaper design of the book.

Comparison of sketch and printed illustration.

Interestingly the pose is reversed in the final illustration. The loose sketch of Mandy drawing back multiple fists was also incorporated into the endpaper design.

Comparison of sketch and printed illustration.

The sketch of Mandy pointing her finger was used for the drawing on page 114 of the published book.

Comparison of sketch and printed illustration.

It's curious that Neill chose to use mirror images of Handy Mandy holding the trays of food and Handy Mandy pointing. He may have used a transfer technique (such as rubbing the back of the image face-down on the illustration board) or perhaps he just changed the pose. The nearly identical flip-flop of the assorted foods makes it seem the reversal was simply part of Neill's method.

We have many other fine original drawings by John R. Neill on the website!

Come check it all out at

www.johnrneill.com