Ronald Searle interview

Here is an interview with Ronald Searle that is definitely worth watching. Ok, so he isn't exactly in the category of 'Children's' Picture books, but he IS in the category of Picture books for grownups and Comics and so as you know the connection in terms of process and artistry is obvious.

My favorite bit he says in the interview, regarding his work: ' The moment it's successful- kill it! Because it can only get worse from there.' That strategy towards your work really shows artistic integrity and is sooooo very very sadly hardly existing anymore in our current age of making a series out of everything in order to sell the sticker book, stuffed animal and mug to go along with your book.

Also, noteworthy other than the fact that Searle appears to be drunk at all times, is his desk of which you get a really good long view during the interview. Notice the color-coded planner and the many small timers hanging up. Timing yourself for drawings can be a really great and effective way to work! But yeah, this man totally rocks! Check out his stuff if you're not familiar with it because he is one of the great masters of visual slapstick and comedy! Yup. So good!

Jian Ghomeshi on the eminent extinction of the independent bookstore

Have a listen to Jian Ghomeshi's opening lines for his CBC show Q. The topic: our independent bookstores and what's left of them. If you scroll down that webpage there are also some good comments from listeners posted.
Thanks Jian, couldn't agree more!

While on this topic:

Here are four really great indie bookstores I love that are currently operating in Vancouver that have Not gone out of business yet and should you not have been there I highly recommend going there.

1. Humpty Dumpty Books and Music

1496 Cartwright St

(604) 683-7009

online

( located inside the Kidsmarket on Granville Island)

They offer a great selection of classics especially and have a lot of softcover books which means that they will be more affordable. Also featured is a French and Spanish selection. It's a very small space crammed full of amazing books! Next time your on Granville Island go and check it out!

2. Lucky's Comics

3972 Main Street
(604) 875-9858

online

Lucky's has a great and quircky selection of comics, some especially for children, graphic novels, novelty books, picture books, novels and zines. Also there is a gallery in the back so you can check out some local talent at the same time. Great place to get lost in for a bit while you're on Main Street.

3. Oscars Art Books

1533 West Broadway (Granville & Broadway)
(604) 731-0553

online

Oscars is a fantastic bookstore full of art books. They book shelves just on drawing, just on typography, just on painting techniques, paper making, illustration, photography, etc... Also they have tons of books on artists as well as a great selection of moleskin sketchbooks, calendars, and always a big table in the back with books on sale! Go there!

4. Mc Clouds Books

455 Pender Street

(604) 681-7654

online

This is my favorite bookstore in Vancouver in terms of atmosphere. You go in there and the first thing you'll probably see is just stacks of books not even on shelves, just stacked on top of each other. It really smells like books in there if you know what I mean. Mc Clouds specializes in antique books and if you really want to tease yourself go peek in their glass cabinets filled with antique Children's picture books. Absolutely amazing!

An interesting little fact about Einstein

(Image above: Albert Einstein as child)
Something I will be covering in my class tomorrow will the topic of 'Why Children's picture books are important, and why our jobs as their illustrators/creators are important'. One example I thought would be interesting simply because of the fact that it pertains to the universally known Albert Einstein is something I came across while listening to one of my favorite podcasts called Radio Lab, this one in particular being on the subject of Time. ('Beyond Time')

On the show (at about 25.21 minutes into it if you want to have a listen yourself) a Professor of Physics at City College in New York tells the following story:

Listen to it here for yourself if you wish.

When Einstein was a child he read a Children's book by Aaron Bernstein. (The book I have now found out was part of a science series for kids, so not a picture story book but nontheless) In the book the question is posed, what it would be like to out race a telegraph message in a telegraphy wire. In other words, to out race electricity. But this was only the beginning because in Einstein's head, he thought of a different question. Which was 'What would it be like to out race a light beam?'. What would it look like? He obsessed about this for years. After 10 years of thinking about this without solving the puzzle, he was riding the bus to work one day and looked at a famous big clock. As he was moving away from the clock on the bus, he imagined would it would be like if the bus he was in all of a sudden started to move at the speed of light. What would happen to the clock and it's time then. And thus was born the theory of relativity.

The Professor of Physics telling this story also refers to this book by Aaron Bernstein as 'perhaps the most important children's book ever written in the history of the human race.' With which I don't think I would completely agree, but I do definitely see how it would be the most important one to you IF you were a Physicist. Either way, I thought that this little story featured on the podcast would make just another fine example of the power that is contained within the Children's book. Books that make us think, books that make us imagine, books that help transform us and shape us into who we will become later on in life.

Also, on a non related note. Should you not be familiar with the Radio Lab podcasts I highly recommend them to anyone. Amazing.

Otfried Preussler

Otfried Preussler is a German writer and illustrator of longer what would be labelled here 'juvenile fiction stories'. It's rare to find artist's who are considered mostly writers, (because the text in the stories so heavily outweighs the images) who illustrate their own stories. I really love Preussler's stories and illustrations. Both seem very spontaneous and honest. And both have character oozing out of their every line and word. Also, you can really tell that Preussler was truly an illustrator as well as a writer. His characters whom you can already imagine truly come to live when you see them on the page, usually being tricked or tricking someone. Also, in a 130plus page book there are illustrations on every spread and on most spreads both pages have illustrations. I miss those types of fiction books. ... let's bring them back! Also, seeing as it's pretty much impossible to find anything on Preussler image image wise, I might soon have to do some scanning. This is the little bit I did find. Hard to get a good idea from it if you're not familiar with him.

Two of my Influences Big Time/On the importance of Children's books

Here are two drawings I made when I was 5 years old. One is of Pippi Longstocking and her horse little Uncle, and one is of the Moomins and the little My one of my favorite Moomin characters up to this day. My mom has saved a lot of drawings I made when I was little and I am very grateful for this today seeing as these serve as an invaluable window into my childhood for me now.

Both of these books were a huge influence on me! I have often thought about where I get my particular 'set of morals' from and I have always come back to my favorite children's books that my Mom used to read to me. All the books that have stuck with me the most and that I still re-read to this day are books that have truly inspired me with their stories, underlying stories and beautiful illustrations. I think these books have played a huge part in essentially making the person that is me today.

Two interviews with Maurice Sendak

Here are two interviews with Maurice Sendak author of 'Where the Wild things are'. In the long interview pay attention to the part where he and the host talk about his work being Guerrilla Warfare and on why he feels it is important to feature dark subjects in his books.

Also... Sendak is a great example of how divided people are on 'what is appropriate for children'. Sendak is one of the most sold, celebrated and respected children's book illustrators/writers and yet there are to this day many people who very much think of his work as completely inappropriate for children! This is something that seems to come with the territory! The way I see it is to just go with your gut feeling and remember that you can't please everyone!

here is the other shorter interview on Sendak featured on You Tube