We began by giving Guy a standing ovation. He wanted us to do the wave.... Good sense of humor.
He grew up in Chicago and attended the American Academy of Art in Chicago. He moved to Tuscan. He considers himself a visual storyteller.
Defining moment #1: on Santa’s lap. He’s done 5 Christmas picture books. He did Christmas cards.
The Thrilling Adventures of Danny the Kid--photo of him dressed as a cowboy
Painting for National Parks book--photo as a Boy Scout
Defining moment #2: photos as a teen
Drawing of Mic Jager--photo playing the guitar
Defining moment #3: hit the streets with his portfolio
He was asked if he could draw animals--ended up doing advertisements
Defining moment #4: photo of his wife
Defining moment #5 and #6: kids
He did beer advertisements, shoes, poster of Carlos Santana, St. Lewis Blues
Defining moment #7: began doing pictures books
Hardest thing he ever had to do: picture books. He thought it wouldn’t be that difficult.
A friend told him to go to the library and look through picture books.
He loves telling a story through artwork--he feels like a director. He wants kids to discover different aspects of artwork as they go through the book.
He tries to think about a scene as a kid would. He tends to work until 1 or 2 am so he was wondering who would know he was still working--a cat in a tree outside his window would know.
Story called Laxaty, detox poster, Midnight Summer’s Symphony poster
He illustrated books called Silver, The Far Journey.
He loves thumbnail sketches b/c he knows exactly what he’s drawing and then gets to paint.
He used his daughter as the main character in Papa’s Gift.
He loves to draw snow--the window is his window from when he was growing up.
Immigration book--the streets are paved with gold in America; Anna looks for gold.
He loves wood floors, has them in his studio, draws them a lot in his books.
His wife poses for his books. He jokingly said they had kids so they could pose for them instead. He made her sit on their grill and look out.
He dabbles in digital art, too.
Defining moment #8: Grandpa’s Little One, written by Billy Crystal
Billy was going to call him b/c conference call didn’t work. He wondered if he should get dressed... Billy went on The Late Show and referred to the artwork on page 9 where the grandfather changes the diaper.
His favorite pieces: Honda ad--used his son, didn’t want to show Grandpa sick in Papa’s Gift so he thought it made more of an impact showing her at his door, Doesn’t show Santa (same principle as monster movie). He loves doing end sheets. In kid’s mind, “my house with Santa on his way.”
He uses the computer a lot more: Grandma Zorroni, Clouds for Christmas, Easter Wings, The Thrilling Adventures of Danny the Kid
Defining moment #9: Mazza Summer Tour, took pictures of people taking pictures of his house.
Begin each day like it was on purpose. Alex Hitch
all you ahve to do is know where you’re going. The answers will come...
Defining moment #10: you just saw it. Thank you for the opportunity!
She thinks she’s been here 3 times in 10 years. Her boyfriend of 11 years is written in In Style with Grandma Antoinette. “Georgio” is her hairdressor and he takes her paintings and sells them at his salon.
She’s going to write about her experiences as a traveling companion.
Students think she grew up with Abe Lincoln since she’s written about him.
She is a violist. She was all-state. Wrote about it in the book, Kisses. Her music teacher, Mr. Kelber, tried to molest her when she was 10, but she’s in good spirits about it.
She knew she wouldn’t be a musician b/c she didn’t like to practice. She wanted to be a singer, but she got terrible stage fright.
She went to Syracuse University and took painting classes b/c there weren’t any illustrating classes. She believes you’re good at what you’re interested in.
She was in England and her visa ran out so she married an Englishman. She loved Beatrix Potter--loved the color she used. She drew little pictures of flowers that became cards. She got a job drawing animals so had to learn fast! She went to the zoo and library to learn how to draw these animals.
Became close to her father through letters. He was in many of her books. She moved back from England to the United States and left her husband.
She got a job at a skin clinic and met her 2nd husband.
Her father encouraged her to write since she wrote such great letters so she started writing picture books.
Susan asked her if she had any good stories so she told her of one about herself getting stage fright.
Her favorite character growing up was Marilyn Monroe. She based Molly on Marilyn and Shirley Temple.
A student wrote her and said 15 bald men in pictures--loves Jerry! Really after her dad.
She fell in love with doing borders.
She did a mural at a hospital.
She worked as a part-time receptionist and then George let her off if she got a school-visit.
She’s trying to get away from the stereotypes of grandmas and librarians.
A lot of her work is cut paper.
She uses alliteration in In Style with Grandma Antoinette.
Everything in Mama, Coming and Going happened to her in real-life, like the trunk open.
She loved watching her father and daughter gardening.
She thinks there’s something special in letter-writing. Dear Annie is based on her father’s letters.
She grew up in a town that was an army development and houses were only allowed to be painted white.
Mr. Green Peas is about a lizard named Arthur and there was a book out called Arthur so that’s how it got its title.
Her mother had twins when she was 3 but in those days you couldn’t tell they were having twins until they were born. Her brother slept in a drawer and her sister got the crib.
Her most rewarding experience was sitting in a bookstore while kids with limbs came in--meant her book was authentic and that’s her goal.
She loves painting with patterns.
In her book, Field Day Friday, she put a medal on the cover to sell more books.
Her dad used to be a bully so she used a line in the book, Bully, that was really used in real life.
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