Picture Books Review #3 : Pat Cummings - TALKING WITH ARTISTS: VOLUME THREE

Genre # 1 Picture Books:
Review #3

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cummings, Pat. 1999. TALKING WITH ARTISTS: VOLUME THREE/CONVERSATIONS WITH PETER CATALANOTTO, RAUL COLON, LISA DESIMINI, JANE DYER, KEVIN HAWKES, G. BRIAN KARAS, BETSY LEWIN, TED LEWIN, KEIKO NARAHASHI, ELISE PRIMAVERA, ANNA RICH, PETER SIS, and PAUL O. ZELINSKY. Compiled and Edited by Pat Cummings. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 0-395-89132-9

2. PLOT SUMMARY
This book is a wonderful compilation of 13 popular artist’s and illustrator’s personal stories of their lives and glimpses of their childhood; specifically in regards to how they got their start in the business of illustrating children’s books, what inspired them, what medium or materials they use to make their pictures and illustrations, and what a typical day is like for them.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
This book was not exactly what I envisioned in the picture book genre – only because you could not tell what the story was about by looking at the pictures. Also, when I looked at the worksheet for evaluating picture books, there is not a real plot – “a real conflict that grows from a believable situation that is relevant to young children”. The only plot I could analyze was the artist’s own stories of their childhood and what journeys they took to become illustrators. I felt it was a bit of a stretch.
What is great about this book, however, is that it would be a wonderful extention to any lessons in class that included a book that the author or illustrator was known for. The students would be able to learn more about who wrote or illustrated their favourite story and possibly supply them with more of a “real” connection to literature.
Another aspect that I liked about this book was the diverse group of illustrators that were represented. It was very interesting to hear about their different childhoods and unique beginnings; and yet ultimately, they all shared the common thread of wanting to tell stories to children though pictures!

a. Characters:
The characters in the book were the 13 artists that were interviewed; and occasionally you saw the characters they illustrated and were known for. According to Pat Cumming’s book TALKING WITH ARTISTS: VOL. 3 - The 13 artists’ information includes the following (the information was taken from the book itself):

Peter Catalanotto – (born March 21, 1959) Peter works at home in a New York studio above the garage, and has a wife, Jo-Ann, who also works at home as a photographer; he has a 2nd grade daughter, Chelsea, and a German shepherd named ChaCha. He paints his illustrations of animals, people, clouds and trees using light and shadows in watercolours. Some of his works are titled: DYLAN’S DAY OUT, ALL I SEE, AN ANGEL FOR SOLOMON SINGER, and THE PAINTER.

Raul Colon – (born December 17, 1952) He has a wife, Edie, and two boys, Brian and Brandon, and likes drawing people. Raul uses a special kind of paper called Fabriano watercolor paper. He uses yellowish watercolours to start, and then sketches in figures, after that, he builds up wash after wash to get the colours darker. Then he etches into the paper with a “scratcher” and finishes with coloured pencils. He works in his studio in the basement of his New York condominium. One of his pieces of work is ALWAYS MY DAD.

Lisa Desimini – (March 21, 1964) Lisa loves to draw houses and uses oil paint, collages and Sculpey material. She does not have any children or pets, but would like to have a few children someday, and a dog too! Lisa is known for the following works: THE GREAT PEACE MAKER, MY HOUSE, LOVE LETTERS, DOODLE DANDIES, and HERON STREET.

Jane Dyer – (March 7, 1949) Jane has three cats, a dog, two lovebirds, and a lily pond full of goldfish. She likes drawing children and animals and has even drawn her daughters, Brooke and Cecily, into her books. She works in a sun-filled studio and sketches her illustrations and then uses watercolours. She is known for her CHILD OF FAERIE, GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS.

Kevin Hawkes – (August 25, 1959) Kevin likes to use acrylic paint and he likes to draw light and shadows (dramatic shadows) and large enormous objects flying through the air. His works include: THEN THE TROLL HEARD THE SQUEEK, MY LITTLE SISTER ATE ONE HARE, THE TURNIP. He has a wife, Karen, and three children – Spencer, Jessie and Ian.

G.Brian Karas – (September 27, 1957) Brian likes to draw funny looking dogs and ridiculous looking people. He has a wife and two boys, Bennett and Zachary, and a dog named Buddy. He uses “Gouache” (gwash) and acrylic paint and pencils for his illustrations. He works at home in a room that used to be half the garage and one of his works is: SLEEPLESS BEAUTY.

Betsy Lewin – (May 12, 1937) Betsy and her husband, Ted, (who is also an artist) have two cats and no children. She likes to draw animals and her books CAT COUNT, BOOBY HATCH, WHAT’S THE MATTER, HABIBI?, and CHUBBO’S POOL reflect that.

Ted Lewin – (May 6, 1935) Ted is from New York and has a wife, Betsy, and two cats. He had a lot of interesting animals growing up – a lion, chimp, and many kinds of monkeys. He uses Strathmore Bristol paper and watercolours for his illustrations and loves to draw animals and birds. His works include: TIGER TREK, SACRED RIVER, MARKET, FAIR and FAITHFUL ELEPHANT.

Keiko Narahashi – (January 20, 1959) Keiko was born in Tokyo, Japan but moved to the United States when she started first grade. She did not speak any English at that time. She loved to draw as it “helped her figure out who she was and to communicate with the world.” She has a husband, two children, two snakes and a guinea pig. Keiko loves to draw children and animals in her studio, in an old factory building in New York, as well as in her office at home. She uses watercolours and gouache paint on D’Arches paper for her illustrations. Her books include: I HAVE A FRIEND, and IS THAT JOSIE?

Elise Primavera – (May 19, 1955) Elise has always worked in a studio out of her home and likes to draw animals and people even though, she does not have any children or animals of her own. She also likes to draw mountains, snow and night scenes too with “scary and creepy stuff”. She likes to use a little bit of everything in her illustrations – pen, pencil, watercolours, pastels, acylic, charcoal and gesso mixed with pumice stone. Her books include: GRANDMA’S HOUSE, GRANDMA’S PROMISE, and RAISING DRAGONS.

Anna Rich – (July 2, 1956) Anna is a native New Yorker who lives on Long Island and works in her studio in her house. She used to use watercolours on Manila paper, but now sketches her illustrations in pencil and uses oil paint. Anna likes to draw people, but also landscapes and environments. She has a husband named Harry and a cat named Dinah. JOSHUA’S MASAI MASK and ANNIE’S GIFTS are two of her books.

Peter Sis – (May 11, 1949) Peter was born in Brno and grew up in Prague, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic) and now lives in New York with his American wife, and two children, Madeleine and Matej. He used to work at home, but was worried that his children would get into the paints, so now he works in a studio about five blocks away. Peter likes to draw water and water scenes using paper, ink, pen, watercolours, and also acrylic paint with gold pigment in it. Some of Peter’s books are: HANSEL AND GRETEL, and A SMALL, TALL TALE FROM THE FAR, FAR NORTH.

Paul O. Zelinsky – (February 14, 1953) Paul was born in Chicago but lived in Kyoto, Japan for a year, when he was little – that is where he learned to draw geishas. He lives with his wife and two daughters in New York, and has a studio in a small apartment close to his home apartment. Paul likes to doodle, and to draw trees and monsters! He has books called: THE WHEELS ON THE BUS, SWAMP ANGEL, RUMPELSTILTSKIN, RAPUNZEL, and EMILY UPHAM’S REVENGE, OR HOW DEADWOOD DICK SAVED THE BANKER’S NIECE, A MASSACHUSETTS ADVENTURE; and has used watercolours, pastels, oil paints, gouache or opaque watercolours in his illustrations.

b. Plot:
The plot for this book involved how each diverse artist had a different route that they took to get to where they are now. Some knew right away that they wanted to draw illustrations for children’s books, and some stumbled into it unknowingly. One thing that all of the illustrators seemed to have in common was the need to tell children to follow their dreams and do not let anyone tell you that you cannot do something – if you want to do something, believe in yourself and do it!

C. Setting:
Each illustrator talked about their own personal histories and childhoods. The settings for all of these illustrators took place in their own individual story and those 13 artists’ stories were varied; however, they all did talk about their art studios, whether they were in their houses or they had to commute to them. Some of the artists live in New York, or New Jersey, others in Massachusetts, or Pennsylvania, etc.

d. Theme:
Even though this book compiles many different stories about the different illustrator’s styles, they all share the same passion about what they do and why. According to Pat Cummings, “the word illustrate comes from a Latin word that means to throw light on something. So an illustration has to communicate something.”
It was enjoyable to read the artists’ journey to becoming an illustrator and to know a little bit more about them as unique individuals. They all stressed the importance of being yourself, true to yourself, following your dreams, and always trying to give it your best. This book would be very encouraging to young children who are aspiring to be book writers or illustrators themselves.

e. Style:
Pat Cummings was very smart when she interviewed the 13 artists in this book. She was more concerned with what they had to say about their lives and their everyday happenings, than what she herself had to say. She even incorporated a quote from each of the artists and illustrators in this book, which you can see below:

“Don’t let anyone make you feel that you can’t draw. Remember, everyone draws differently!”
- Peter Catalanotto

“You don’t do art for the money. That’s the number one thing. And number two is, you do it because you love it.”
- Raul Colon

“Keep looking for what makes you happy. Draw what feels right. Eat what feels right.”
- Lisa Desimini

“Spend some time each day dreaming.”
- Jane Dyer

“Be patient with yourself. If your painting doesn’t look quite right, keep trying. And try different things.”
– Kevin Hawkes

“No work is so dismal that you have to throw it out and start over again. Try to fix it, or paint over it, or cut it in shreds and glue those together to make a great collage.”
- G. Brian Karas

“Draw in your own way, from your own heart.”
- Betsy Lewin

“Carry a sketchbook and draw.”
- Ted Lewin

“If you love to draw, draw a lot of what you love to draw. Look hard at the things that fascinate you and don’t pay too much attention to advice about drawing, especially from grownups, like me.”
- Keiko Narahashi

“Draw a lot and never worry about staying inside the lines.”
- Elise Primavera

“If you like to do this kind of thing, do it, because it can’t hurt you and it probably helps your brain develop.”
- Anna Rich

“Everyone starts somewhere. Even if the work is not perfect, everyone has something to say, some story to tell. Just keep on trying.”
- Peter Sis

“The more you draw, the more you learn about the visible world around you.”
-Paul o. Zelinsky

f. Illustrations:
There were a few examples of pictures from each of the illustrators known works and apparent style. Children would probably connect the illustrations with the artist more because of the visual examples. It was great to see how different the drawing styles were and how the artists used different kinds of paint, watercolour, pencils, etc. to achieve their goals. I also liked the photos of the artists as children and as they appear today! That is always great for children to see that the artists were children once too!

g. Cultural Markers:
Not only did Pat Cummings include a diverse group of artists in this book to interview; but the illustrations also represented different ages, races, and sexes in their examples from each artist.

h. Awards & Recognitions:
Pat Cummings book TALKING WITH ARTISTS - VOLUME ONE was a Boston Globe - Horn Book Award Winner in 1992 for Non-fiction.
Her third book TALKING WITH ARTISTS –VOLUME THREE is full of award winning illustrators (and authors)!

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
BookList -
Cummings once again addresses kids' curiosity about the people behind the picture books they love. The look of this book is slightly different from her 1992 volume: typefaces have been changed, photos of the artists are now in color, and the jacket colors have been softened. The "My Story" section that introduced each profile in the first book remains a wonderful feature here, giving artists an opportunity to tell about themselves in a vivid, personal way; the general questions posed are the same as those in volume one; and there's still a fascinating glimpse of the artists' work as children. There are also some great, new features. Instead of a glossary of art terms, this book includes a simple, technical tip from each artist and a photo of the artist's workspace. Cummings' selection of artists is especially good this time, demonstrating a great diversity in artistic style and choice of media. Kevin Henkes, Floyd Cooper, Denise Fleming, and Vera B. Williams are among the 13 included. A special treat for budding artists and wonderful for teachers.

School Library Journal-
Gr. 3-8-Thirteen children's book illustrators discuss their lives and how they communicate their ideas. All of the profiles open with personal essays titled "My Story" revealing some biographical details but focusing on childhood dreams and ambitions, training, sources of inspiration, and feelings about their career choices. Following this section, a number of questions are posed-the same as those presented in the first two volumes-that explore the subject's personal and professional life. Then-and-now photos of the illustrators and reproductions of childhood and recent work accompany the narrative. The artists include Ra l Col n, Lisa Desimini, G. Brian Karas, Betsy Lewin, Keiko Narahashi, Peter S s, Paul O. Zelinsky, and others, and they represent a variety of styles and mediums. While many readers will find the artists' tips that conclude the volume useful, all will appreciate these insightful conversations.
-Daryl Grabarek, School Library Journal

Publishers Weekly -
Children's book illustrators discuss their craft in Talking with Artists: Volume Two, compiled and edited by Pat Cummings-as in the first book, interviews are accompanied by childhood and present-day photos of the subjects and examples of their work. Artists include Denise Fleming, Kevin Henkes, Maira Kalman, Floyd Cooper and nine others (Simon & Schuster, $19.95, ages 9-up ISBN 0-689-80310-9 Sept.).


5. CONNECTIONS
*If you would like to talk to children more about writing or illustrating books; the following books would be an additional read:

Carle, Eric. 2007. ARTIST TO ARTIST: 23 MAJOR ILLUSTRATORS TALK TO CHILDREN ABOUT THEIR ART. By Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. New York, NY: Philomel Books. ISBN-10: 0399246002 / ISBN-13: 978-0399-24600-5

Aliki. 1988. HOW A BOOK IS MADE. Ill. by Aliki. New York, NY: HarperCollins Pub. ISBN 0-06-446085-1

Christelow, Eileen. 1999. WHAT DO ILLUSTRATORS DO? Ill. by Eileen Christelow. New York, NY: Clarion Books. ISBN 0-395-90230-4

*Gather other books compiled and edited by Pat Cummings:

Cummings, Pat. 1992. TALKING WITH ARTISTS: VOLUME ONE / CONVERSATIONS WITH VICTORIA CHESS, PAT CUMMINGS, LEO AND DIANE DILLION, RICHARD EGIELSKI, LOIS EHLERT, LISA CAMPBELL ERNST, TOM FEELINGs, STEVEN KELLOGG, JERRY PINKNEY, AMY SCHWARTZ, LANE SMITH, CHRIS VAN ALLSBURG, AND DAVID WIESNER. Compiled and edited by Pat Cummings. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. ISBN 0-02-724245-5

Cummings, Pat. 1995. TALKING WITH ARTISTS: VOLUME TWO / CONVERSATIONS WITH THOMAS B. ALLEN, MARY JANE BEGIN, FLOYD COOPER, JULIE DOWNING, DENISE FLEMING, SHEILS HAMANAKA, KEVIN HENKES, WILLIAM JOYCE, MAIRA KALMAN, DEBORAH NOURSE LATTIMORE, BRIAN PINKNEY, VERA B. WILLIAMS, AND DAVID WISNIEWSKI. Compiled and Edited by Pat Cummings. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing. ISBN-10: 0689803109 / ISBN-13: 978-0689803109