Postage Stamps as Ambassadors of Culture
Postage stamps may be only a tiny canvas, but stamp art can have a lot of significance. Some stamp designs commemorate national or global events and occasions, some simply celebrate culture and art for the sake of it. Stamps are sometimes described as ambassadors for their country, so I can totally get behind this new ‘myths and legends’ set from Royal Mail in the UK.
Celebrating Folklore
The set of illustrations celebrates folklore, including some regional myths you may not know. Illustrated by London-based artist Adam Simpson, each of the eight stamps focuses on a different myth or legend, from mischievous Cornish piskies to a grindylow from up north. A Scottish selkie slips off her sealskin, the Loch Ness Monster emerges from the deep and the East Anglian Black Shuck bares its fangs.
Design Process
Adam, who previously designed a Royal Mail stamp for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, says it can be challenging to find a composition that works at such small scale. The Beowulf stamp was particularly difficult because it required multiple illustrations, with Beowulf, the monster Grendel and the mead hall, Heorot. He also had to avoid making it look too gruesome. "I wanted to give a sense that Beowulf is about to tear Grendel’s arm off without it being too gory!," he says.
Adam used a mixed-media approach. He began with a separate sketchbook for each piece, which he filled with ideas, drawings and notes, immersing himself in each myth. From rough ideas for compositions, he created multiple iterations. Once he’d decided on the direction for each piece, Adam scanned his work and made more edits using digital art software. He submitted working drafts to the Royal Mail Stamp Advisory Committee for regular feedback, refining things over the course of a year.
Conclusion
The set of stamps comes amid a resurgence of interest in folklore. Adam hopes the artwork will create intrigue and prompt people to learn more about the origins of each myth. He’s since been working on a project around Norse mythology and has been illustrating Brothers Grimm tales.
FAQs
Q: What inspired Adam to design the myths and legends stamp set?
A: Adam was inspired by the rich and varied mythological heritage of the British Isles and wanted to celebrate the stories and legends that are associated with different regions.
Q: How did Adam approach the design process for the stamps?
A: Adam used a mixed-media approach, beginning with a separate sketchbook for each piece and filling it with ideas, drawings and notes. He then created multiple iterations and refined his work over the course of a year.
Q: What was the most challenging part of designing the stamps?
A: The most challenging part was finding a composition that worked at such small scale. Adam had to be mindful of the level of detail and the amount of information he could include in each stamp.
Q: What does Adam hope to achieve with the stamp set?
A: Adam hopes the artwork will create intrigue and prompt people to learn more about the origins of each myth. He also hopes to inspire people to explore their own cultural heritage and the stories that are associated with different regions.
