tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47178670547898524182023-12-23T09:12:42.470-08:00WENDY WATSON'S BLOGABOUT ME AND MY BOOKS: Actual Events, Half Truths, and Total Fabrications Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.comBlogger187125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-34961560949485890332018-02-04T08:22:00.000-08:002018-02-04T08:22:56.011-08:00MY NEWEST BOOK
Hot off the press---the padded board book edition of one of my best-loved titles, Bedtime Bunnies. Now in a chewable format for all my youngest readers! Go to http://wendy-watson.com/books/bedtime-bunnies-board.html
to read reviews and to order from your favorite merchant.
And if you are longing for an autographed, personalized copy of the original hardcover edition, you can Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-91456882878771800732017-10-24T12:39:00.000-07:002017-10-24T12:39:01.440-07:00CREATING MISS MUFFET
I recently created an experimental piece that was inspired by a character in a colleague's manuscript. I began as usual with one of my "rag doll" figures, roughing in the character's pose, and the physical setting.
My next question was, what does this little Miss Muffet look like? I tried her first as a mouse. That didn't feel satisfying.
I tried her again as a little Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-35583312756502051932017-06-20T08:17:00.000-07:002017-06-20T08:17:13.296-07:00WHY WRITE FOR CHILDREN?
Photo of a fan with "Jakob Jakobsen", the Danish edition of my book "Jamie's Story."
This very young man hasn't yet learned to email, so it's his mother who sent me this photo, and told me how much he loves this book. (And yes, she gave me permission to use it in this post.) Over the years, many adults have told me how much one of my books meant to them as a child. Perhaps this fan willAuthor and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-37432962619229854892017-06-08T15:15:00.000-07:002017-06-08T15:15:15.635-07:00MAGINEL WRIGHT ENRIGHT
Though I was very familiar with her visual work, I did not know the name of this American illustrator, Maginel Wright Enright, until doing research for June's illustrator birthday. And I was surprised to learn that she was the sister of the architect Frank Lloyd Wright.
Women's Home Companion
Enright was born on June 19, 1881, and died on April 18, 1966. She was a very productive Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-60896110641105474242017-05-30T16:47:00.000-07:002017-05-30T16:47:18.222-07:00ESSENCE
Out walking recently in this spring weather, I came upon a maple leaf that was lying on the sidewalk. It looked like a soggy bedraggled remnant from the previous fall.
But when I picked it up, I realized it was not a bedraggled and fragile remnant, but a piece of lace as delicate and resilient as a spider's web.
Like this leaf, we are pummeled, blown, washed, thrashed, frozen, and Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-47103700498328180832017-05-23T09:24:00.000-07:002017-05-23T09:24:25.686-07:00LEO LIONNI
Leo Lionni...author, illustrator, designer, art director, multi-talented creator...was born in the Netherlands on May 5, 1910, and died October 11, 1999 in Italy. He studied and worked as a painter and in advertising in Italy; then from about 1939 to 1962 he lived in the US, where he worked as a prominent advertising artist and art director.
Ad art for Container Corporation of America
Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-37712987751603167332017-05-17T13:07:00.000-07:002017-05-17T13:07:08.908-07:00PROMISE
Hope is emerging wherever I look.
Buds, springing from bare branches...
...expand gently, floret by floret...
...into full-blown racemes.
Ideas, too, seem to spontaneously bud...
...open up...
...spread wide their petals into the complete and fragrant vision.
Later will come the fruit.
Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-67525897978625847302017-04-24T10:11:00.002-07:002017-04-24T10:13:27.662-07:00BACK TO THE SOURCE
So much of my work has been inspired by, based on, drawn from, New England---the New England I grew up in, and also lived in for many years as an adult.
The landscapes and life-styles...
... the details of the smallest flowers, fruits, and seeds...
...the inhabitants, large and small---all are part of my very core essence.
After many years Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-71995142971252364752016-09-16T12:05:00.001-07:002016-09-16T12:05:47.911-07:00MEANINGLESS
I keep a small notebook and pencil under my pillow to capture all those brilliant ideas that show up in the middle of the night.
I can pull out the notebook, jot down my inspirations without even opening my eyes or turning on a light, tuck the notebook back under my pillow, and resume sleeping with hardly a moment's interruption. In the morning I open the notebook, remove the inscribed Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-1950116563359596582016-08-23T09:29:00.001-07:002016-09-25T16:35:19.703-07:00AUCTION! PLUM CREEK CHILDREN'S LITERACY FESTIVAL
I have just donated this piece of art from my book Holly's Christmas Eve ...
...plus a signed copy of the book to go with it...
...to the Plum Creek Children's Literacy Festival's online benefit auction of original art. Go to the site https://www.32auctions.com/plumcreek2016
and prepare to salivate over all the wonderful original art from children's books that will be available.Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-48780366243446501852016-08-16T10:54:00.000-07:002016-08-16T10:54:16.523-07:00SOMETHING'S MISSING
This little Oaxacan goat family recently arrived in my mailbox---I ordered them from the National Museum of Mexican Art, in Chicago. My parents had a dairy goat herd when I was a child, and I have a special fondness for those animals, so when I heard of this work of art, I could not resist. But when I unwrapped the figures and set them up...something was missing. I didn't know what.
Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-27655497532295549112016-07-20T20:06:00.000-07:002016-07-20T20:06:39.624-07:00DAD'S STUDIO - PRINTER'S LOUPE
One of the objects I kept when dismantling my Dad's studio was this brass printer's loupe, made in Germany. I quote here Wikipedia's description, for those who may not be familiar with this device:
"A loupe (pronounced 'loop') is a simple, small magnification device used to see small details more closely. Unlike a magnifying glass, a loupe does not have an attached handle, and its focusing Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-9017209535325282832016-07-11T19:52:00.000-07:002016-07-11T20:31:10.148-07:00LISTEN, LOOK
I was recently contacted by Ali Seidabadi, an Iranian editor and author. Seidabadi is promoting a series of picture books that are being published by Tiny Owl, a British publishing house; he would like to bring them to the attention of an American audience. The books will be translations of picture books from around the world, and Seidabadi is involved with a series of Iranian books.
Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-50418425577202149372016-07-06T07:00:00.000-07:002016-07-06T08:16:13.599-07:00MARCIA BROWN
Marcia Brown, American author and illustrator, was born on July 13, 1918, and died in April of 2015---just last year. Brown's work was awarded three Caldecott Medals, and six Caldecott Honors, during her career---more Caldecotts (awards and honors together) than any other illustrator. She also received the prestigious Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal in 1992 for her lifetime contribution to Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-69292380452056367712016-07-04T22:24:00.000-07:002016-07-04T22:24:58.908-07:00JULY 4, 2016
Boiled potatoes, still hot...with skins, or without...
...diced celery...
...lemon juice...
...olive oil...
...mayonnaise...
...all together give you
*Fourth of July Potato Salad*
YUM!
Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-20391087879452798182016-06-20T11:40:00.000-07:002016-06-20T14:07:49.568-07:00ART SALE BENEFIT
Donate to "Thumbelina", receive this art as a reward
Victoria
Dobrushina, teacher extraordinaire in Norwich Vermont, has consistently created
unique end-of-year recitals and productions for her students, who range in age
from 5 to over 70. While these productions always have a classical piano focus,
they also incorporate many other instruments, as well as singing, dance, and theater.
This Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-19478856203162382132016-06-16T16:56:00.000-07:002016-06-16T16:56:58.987-07:00JAMES DAUGHERTY
James Daugherty was born on June 1, 1889. Like many other children's book illustrators, he worked creatively in a variety of styles and genres.
He was one of the first American painters to work with abstract color.
Daugherty sketching in his studio, his son posing for him
Later he began working in more representational styles...
Mural in the Greenwich Public Library
...creating Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-89964666113344967082016-06-06T08:30:00.000-07:002016-06-06T08:30:45.086-07:00DAD'S STUDIO - BRONZE POWDER
When I dismantled my Dad's studio earlier this year, I kept a few objects that had special meaning for me. One of them was this little tin of bronze powder. As a special treat for me when I was a small child, Dad would tip out some of this powder onto a china saucer, add banana oil to the proper consistency---and like magic, there was gold paint, ready for me to brush on as the final Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-37285278008551896172016-05-31T15:41:00.000-07:002016-05-31T15:41:16.825-07:00TRIALS
No, not that kind of trial, involving sweat, tears, blood, and suffering. Rather, trials as in "trying-outs". Experiments. When I am starting on a new book, I often make multiple trials of the media I might use. Sometimes trials will involve ink, pencil, or paints. Sometimes they involve the paper, as in these examples.
For the trials in these photos, I cut samples of 8 different papersAuthor and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-32311193176304685482016-05-25T15:00:00.000-07:002016-05-25T15:00:24.727-07:00TIME MANAGEMENT
Physical messes in my studio don't bother me. It's because I know I can clean it all up if I'm willing to take the time. And in fact I do clean it all up, periodically. I can manage physical space.
Managing my time is something else...akin to struggling through a never-ending jungle of brambles in the middle of a dark night, or hand-to-hand combat with an infinitely-headed hydra.
Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-79158249944602075122016-05-17T08:00:00.000-07:002016-05-17T08:18:32.213-07:00EDWARD LEAR
The British author and illustrator Edward Lear was born on May 12 or 13, 1812. ( I was having trouble finding an American artist with a May birthday whom I had not previously featured.)
I thought I knew all about Lear. He was the creator of those clever limericks
and silly illustrations. Right?
To my amazement, I discovered that Lear was also a very serious artist/Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-53733974065083212412016-05-09T08:43:00.000-07:002016-05-09T08:43:02.617-07:00HIATUS
My last blog post was in January...the dead of winter. Four months later, spring is in full bloom. I've allowed a HIATUS, a time of silence...not something we creative people are supposed to indulge in, these days. The modern world, being of very short memory, demands to hear from us, about us, of us, every day---lest it forget us. Like many of my colleagues, I do my best to comply.&Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-27649336793455159422016-01-13T18:50:00.001-08:002016-01-13T18:50:48.420-08:00CHAOS II
Once again, I am in chaos, a dark and murky jumble, where all is confusion and disorder: I am beginning a new project. The physical chaos mirrors the mental chaos with which I begin any new project, whether as an illustrator or a writer. As encouragement, I frequently remind myself that in many creation myths, even the Great Creator began with chaos.
I try to trust that I, tooAuthor and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-17463675431270411772016-01-11T09:53:00.000-08:002016-01-11T09:53:01.543-08:00AWARD TIME 2016
Today the American Library Association announced its annual "Youth Media Awards", among them the Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children.
This year's winner is "Finding Winnie"---the story of how A. A. Milne's Winnie-The-Pooh came to be.
Sophie Blackall created the award-winning illustrations.
The author was Lindsay Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4717867054789852418.post-59733803313544506992015-12-31T09:15:00.001-08:002017-06-08T15:20:14.916-07:00LEONARD WEISGARD
Leonard Weisgard, born December 13, 1916, was an American-born illustrator and author of children's books.
When he first began working, children's books in this country were still being illustrated with pre-separated, two or three-color art.
The Mouse And The Lion
Today our first thought might be, "Only two colors? How limiting!" But a perusal of the two-color art from the Author and Illustrator of Books for Childrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03794207641219472636noreply@blogger.com8