Spotlight on Alison Paul
|
|
Q: When did you know that you wanted to be an illustrator? Are there other artists in your family?
A: My parents actually met in art school, so I don't know if it's in my DNA, but I definitely did grow up in an artistic environment. Both of my parents were oil painters, though, so I'd have to say that my choice to illustrate came out of my love for books and storytelling. My first illustration gig was in fourth grade when we wrote "tall tales" and several of my classmates asked me to illustrate their stories. I never looked back...
Q: Where do you find your inspiration?
A: At the risk of sounding cheesy, I find inspiration everywhere (which is why I keep a sketchbook on me at all times). A stranger will step onto the train platform, or someone will squeeze into the elevator, and something about him or her will stay with me. Parts of these people and our interactions make up my future characters and stories.
Q: You are an author- illustrator; which usually comes first in your mind when you have a new idea, words or images?
A: I definitely see the story first. I might know the title, or the characters' names, but I pretty much have to sketch the whole story out before I can write the words that go with it.
Q: Your latest book, Sunday Love, uses a black, white, and red palette. Did you enjoy working in limited color, and what opportunities did you find it presented?
A: I love the design challenge that a limited palette poses. For Sunday Love, I tried to take it one step further and literally let the palette dictate the story. I tried to only include characters and settings that were already black, white, and/or red. It then became a challenge to have all of those elements exist together in a space without the information getting lost. That line between clarity and confusion was a fun one to walk.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I'm writing story about a family of map makers. We'll see where they lead me...
Q: What would be your "dream project"?
A: I have always dreamed of doing a grand collaboration with some of my author/illustrator friends where we all swap stories and illustrate each other's words. I think it would be different and fun to write something with a friend's illustrations in mind, and interesting to see what their words bring out in my drawing.
Come see Alison and Bruno the Burglar, star of Sunday Love, at Curious George and Friends Books & Toys in Harvard Square this Valentine's Day, Sunday, February 14th, 1-3pm. There will be sundaes! :)
Sunday LoveHoughton Mifflin (January 18, 2010) link to amazon
The Crow
Houghton Mifflin
(September 1, 2007) link to amazon
|
|
|
|
|
Winter 2010 Books
|
|
|
Alison Paul
|
Sunday Love
Ages 4-8 Houghton Mifflin (January 18, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0618991840 ISBN-13: 978-0618991846 $16.00 link to amazon
|
|
Anne Wilsdorf
|
Tutus Aren't My Style
Ages 4-8 Dial (February 18, 2010)
ISBN-10: 0803732120 ISBN-13: 978-0803732124 $16.99 link to amazon
|
| Fall 2009 Books
|
|
|
Holly Berry
|
Woof: A Love Story
Ages 4-8 HarperCollins (November 24, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0060250070 ISBN-13: 978-0060250072 $16.99 link to amazon
|
|
Rebecca Bond
|
In the Belly of an Ox: The Unexpected Photographic Adventures of Richard and Cherry Kearton
Ages 6-9 Houghton Mifflin (November 16, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0547076754 ISBN-13: 978-0547076751 $16.00 link to amazon
|
|
Nicoletta Ceccoli
|
Dr. Sigmundus: The Resurrection Fields
Ages Young Adult Knopf (November 10, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0375843353 ISBN-13: 978-0375843358 $16.99 link to amazon
|
|
Christine Davenier |
Mr. & Mrs. Portly and Their Little Dog, SnackAges 4-8 Farrar, Straus and Giroux (September 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0374350892 ISBN-13: 978-0374350895 $16.99 link to amazon
|
|
Christine Davenier
|
Piper Reed Gets a Job Ages 9-12 Henry Holt (August 18, 2009) Christy Ottaviano Books
ISBN-10: 0805081992 ISBN-13: 978-0805081992 $14.95 link to amazon |
|
Bob Kolar
|
The Little Dump Truck
Ages 3-6 Henry Holt (September 29, 2009) Christy Ottaviano Books
ISBN-10: 0805082816 ISBN-13: 978-0805082814 $12.99 link to amazon
|
|
Eva Montanari
|
Chasing Degas
Ages 6-9 Abrams (October 1, 2009)
ISBN-10: 0810938782 ISBN-13: 978-0810938786 $16.95 link to amazon
|
|
Eric Puybaret
|
The Nutcracker Ages 6-9 Sterling (October 6, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1402755627 ISBN-13: 978-1402755620 $17.95 link to amazon
|
|
Ashley Wolff
|
When Lucy Goes Out Walking: A Puppy's First Year
Ages 4-8
Henry Holt (October 27, 2009) Christy Ottaviano Books
ISBN-10: 0805081682 ISBN-13: 978-0805081688 $16.99 link to amazon
|
|
Ashley Wolff
|
I Call My Grandma Nana Ages 4-8 Tricycle Press (August 11, 2009)
ISBN-10: 1582462518 ISBN-13: 978-1582462516 $15.99 link to amazon
|
|
Ashley Wolff
|
I Call My Grandpa Papa Ages 4-8 Tricycle Press (August 11, 2009)
ISBN-10: 158246256 ISBN-13: 978-1582462523 $15.99 link to amazon
|
|
Awards and Events
|
The I Love series, written by Philemon Sturges and illustrated by Shari Halpern (HarperCollins), was named one of the Top 10 Early Literacy Series by Booklist Magazine.
In the Belly of an Ox, written and illustrated by Rebecca Bond (Houghton Mifflin), is an ALA Notable Book.
The Little Dump Truck, illustrated by Bob Kolar (Holt), was selected a Top Ten Children's Book of 2009 by Nick Jr, and was also named a Best of the Best book by the Chicago Public Library.
How Robin Saved Spring, illustrated by Nicoletta Ceccoli (Holt), Just Like a Baby, illustrated by Christine Davenier (Chronicle), Muriel's Red Sweater, illustrated by Bernadette Pons (Dutton), and I Call My Grandpa Papa, written and illustrated by Ashley Wolff (Tricycle), have been nominated for the 2009 CYBIL awards.
Four Studio books were selected for the 2009 Original Art Exhibition: Woof! A Love Story, illustrated by Holly Berry (HarperCollins); In the Belly of An Ox, written and illustrated by Rebecca Bond (Houghton Mifflin); How Robin Saved Spring, illustrated by Nicoletta Ceccoli (Holt); and Chasing Degas, written and illustrated by Eva Montanari (Abrams). How Robin Saved Spring was also one of forty pieces selected as part of the traveling show from the 2009 Original Art Exhibition. The show will travel to schools across the county from December 2009 through December 2010.
"The Illustrator's Studio: Works of Wade Zahares" ran from October 22 - November 18 at Heartwood College of Art in Kennebunk, ME. Wade's work was also exhibited at the Center for Arts in Natick, MA, December 2 - January 13, 2010.
Giles Laroche's What's Inside (Houghton Mifflin) was accepted for the Society of Illustrators' Illustrators 52 Annual Book and Editorial Show, January 27 - February 20, 2010. Giles is also exhibiting at the Wenham Museum in Wenham, MA, where "Paper Capers: Adventures in Paper Art" will run from February 5 - May 9, and at the Danforth Museum of Art in Framingham, MA, where "The World At My Fingertips" will run March 17 - May 16. You'll also find Giles at the Newburyport Literary Festival in Newburyport, MA, April 23-24.
|
|
|
|
|
|