If you couldn’t already tell, Sylvia Plath is one of our favorite artists around here.  Her novel, The Bell Jar, is a must-read and a fascinating piece of literature (parts of protagonist Esther Greenwood’s life resemble that of Plath’s), along with her poems — we continuously loose ourselves in “Mad Girl’s Love Song.”  Not only was Ms. Plath an amazing and inspiring author and poet, but a talented sketch artist, whose pen and ink illustrations were unveiled last November at The Mayor Gallery in London. The Paris Review reminded us that while we weren’t able to visit the gallery — although we totally wish we could’ve — The Telegraph featured 30 of the illustrations.  Plath took up drawing as a personal side-project, cataloging gorgeous scenery with imagery from France, the UK and America-peppering the collection, portraits, shoes that reference her novel, flowers, and animals (curiously there’s a few bull and cow illustrations), as well as nautical-tinged drawings, which you can gawk at below.

The Bell Jar, Sylvia Plath, ink and pen on paper.

“I had removed my patent leather shoes after a while, for they foundered badly in the sand. It pleased me to think they would be perched there on a silver log pointing out to sea, like a sort of soul-compass after I was dead.” -  The Bell Jar

Cow Near Grantchester, Sylvia Plath, pen and ink on paper.

Untitled, Sylvia Plath, pen and ink on paper.

Harbour Cornucopia, Wisconsin, Sylvia Plath, pen and ink on paper.

Meadow-Flowers, Sylvia Plath, pen and ink on paper.

Site of First Church, Hawley, Sylvia Plath, pen and ink on paper.

Tabac Opposite Palais de Justice, Sylvia Plath, pen and ink on paper.

Cambridge: a view of gables and chimney-pots, Sylvia Plath, pen and ink on paper.

The Ubiquitous Umbrella, Sylvia Plath, pen and ink on paper.