I share of few of her illustrations with you here, but you should really check out the rest of her stuff at www.emcguire.net as well as her blog which is a wealth of fantastic images.
Showing posts with label illustrators. Show all posts
Showing posts with label illustrators. Show all posts
Illustrator of the Week - Erin McGuire
It has been quite a while since I have featured an illustrator on this site, but sometimes you run across an illustrator who has such amazing artwork that you can't help but share them with the world, in hopes that others will fall in love with them in the same way you have. I have always had a bit of a fascination with cover artists, for they are sometimes the gateway into a good book. I know the cover design process and how careful an illustrator has to be and for me, one of the best cover artists out there is Erin McGuire. If you have been to a bookstore, you have seen her work. She has illustrated books like the new Nancy Drew Diaries, Anne Ursu's The Real Boy and Breadcrumbs, Vivian Vande Velde's Frogged, Susan Patron's Lucky series, and Cynthia Lord's new Shelter Pet Squad.
I share of few of her illustrations with you here, but you should really check out the rest of her stuff at www.emcguire.net as well as her blog which is a wealth of fantastic images.
I share of few of her illustrations with you here, but you should really check out the rest of her stuff at www.emcguire.net as well as her blog which is a wealth of fantastic images.
Dinotopia by James Gurney Book Review
20th Anniversary Edition
While perusing the shelves of a library, James Gurney comes across a sketchbook diary of a forgotten explorer. Inside Arthur Denison, and his son William, account for their adventures on a lost island. An island in which humans and sentient dinosaurs live together harmoniously. It speaks of wonderful cities, a unique culture and way of life, a dinosaur alphabet, festivals, and danger.
Published in 1992, Dinotopia has thrilled readers young and old. It is Atlantis, Narnia, and Oz all rolled into one. It has been published in 18 languages, sold over two million copies, won a Hugo award, was the inspiration for a television mini-series, an animated film, and several video games. It spawned numerous sequels from art versions like the original to novels and children's series. In 2002 the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History had a Dinotopia exhibit using the dinosaurs featured in the book.
Are we getting the picture yet? This book has been out for two decades and the real question is, if you haven't read this yet, why haven't you? The illustrations that accompany the journalistic quality of the novel are awe inspiring. The story itself is a fabulous fantasy adventure that paints the picture of a wholly unique and wonderful world that any child would love to imagine themselves a part of. I know that my siblings and I used to lay on the floor and stare at the pictures, sometimes reading the words and sometimes just taking in the beauty of James Gurney's art.
Illustrator of the Week Dan Santat
Dan Santat
Chances are you have seen Dan Santat's artwork around. Perhaps you have watched the hit Disney show "The Replacements". His fabulous book OH NO! (Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World) and it's companion picture book OH NO! NOT AGAIN! (Or How I Built a Time Machine to Save History) being my two favorites. He has illustrated picture books, chapter books, and graphic novels all with a fresh eye that sees art through a child's perspective.
Chances are you have seen Dan Santat's artwork around. Perhaps you have watched the hit Disney show "The Replacements". His fabulous book OH NO! (Or How My Science Project Destroyed the World) and it's companion picture book OH NO! NOT AGAIN! (Or How I Built a Time Machine to Save History) being my two favorites. He has illustrated picture books, chapter books, and graphic novels all with a fresh eye that sees art through a child's perspective.
Illustrator of the Week: Explorer: The Mystery Boxes
Seven clever stories answer one simple question: what's in the box?
This is a graphic novel full of short stories by seven wonderful artists Kazu Kibuishi, Raina Telgemeier, Dave Roman, Jason Caffoe, Stuart Livingston, Johane Matte, Rad Sechrist, and Emily Carroll. My favorite story was The Butter Thief, but I thought all were interesting and fun although I wouldn't say any were particularly deep and are clearly aimed at intermediate readers. So this week's illustrator of the week features all the artists from this collection.
Under the Floorboards by Emily Carroll
Spring Cleaning by Dave Roman & Raina Telgemeier
The Keeper's Treasure by Jason Caffoe
The Butter Thief by Rad Sechrist
The Soldier's Daughter by Stuart Livingston with Stephanie Ramirez
Whatzit by Johane Matte with Saymone Phanekham
The Escape Option by Kazu Kibuishi
Illustrator of the Week - Colin Stimpson
Illustrator of the Week: Frank Dormer
From Frank: Hi! I’m Frank Dormer. I draw a lot. sometimes I draw kids doing normal things. What I really like to draw is dinosaurs and cowboys. My wife says that I am drawing too much. Who doesn’t want to draw dinosaurs and cowboys!
Frank W. Dormer's Illustrations give me this vague nostalgia for Jack Kent. Although I would be hard pressed to explain why as I myself am not an artist, despite all the various invites to artist symposiums and illustrator blog groups, but when I picked up The Obstinate Pen, I was drawn in by it and that is enough for me.
Illustrator of the Week - Laura Park
Laura Park first came to my attention after reading the wonderful Middle School, the Worst Years of My Life. Laura Park describes herself as a cartoonist and illustrator with a fondness for colorful inks and Lady Falcon pen nibs.
Illustrator of the Week - Mehrdokht Amini
Mehrdokht Amini is a London based illustrator from Tehran with degrees in graphic design and art research. Her illustrations appear in books in both Arabic and English. Her newest book Golden Domes and Silver Lanterns is reminiscent of so many Disney designs, but her whimsical style and middle eastern roots bring the characters to life in a magical way.
