Steve Bjorkman
Steve currently resides in Irvine, CA.
He was born in the front seat of a ’49 convertible.
Steve's very first kids’ book was entitled Aliens for Breakfast. A movie for television resulted from this book.
Steve has illustrated over 85 kids’ books. He learned that the text is key. Make the artwork a style that fits the text.
The books become your “children.” You become protective of them and it can be emotionally difficult.
He’s spoken with author/comedian Jeff Foxworthy more than any other author because Jeff wanted to be more involved in the entire process. Jeff was delightful to work with because he was so respectful of Steve's talent.
His job is to take that “child” and raise it up, being faithful to the characteristics of the “child” and then return to the author. The author has to give up the “child” and not really know how it’s going to turn out.
Give your students tools to convey the emotion of the character--eyebrows.
His favorite drawing that he’s done is of chickens that look surprised. Steve used different expressions and body language to convey their mood.
He came across an envelope that said, “Stevie’s Art” from 1957. It has a sun--he was a happy kid, a swingset--he liked to play, a church was the dominant building just as his faith is dominant, then fighter planes because he’s a boy. The planes are bombing the most elaborate house.
He would sit on a counter and draw while his mom was grocery shopping--something that would never happen in today's world.
He drew his 6th grade teacher, pointing at him. She told him to quit drawing in class because, in her words "that will never get you anywhere."
His 7th grade teacher also took his paper away when he drew during class time. However, he gave it back with an A on it.
This was his history teacher--even though that grade didn’t go into the gradebook, it went into Steve’s heart. It goes to show teachers make an impact on their kids.
Photography that he took in high school led him to taking over a position as an art director. He still wanted to be an English teacher. He decided to pursue job as art director and then he would teach later. He wound up becoming a graphic designer and then he realized he wanted to be an illustrator. Then, he got a call from Andrea Costcardi. She asked him if he ever thought of doing a children’s book. He sent some ideas and even though she didn’t give him a job, but she planted the idea.
His first picture book was I Hate English. Then, he illustrated Flat Stanley.
His most fun book was the divorce book. It’s silly, spans emotions, deals with emotional trauma of divorce on a young child. Went from goofy to very serious--huge pond to swim in as an illustrator.
He doesn't use digital media--If the power goes out he can still work!
His brushes are made of weasel hairs,squirrel hair, and sable..
Steve's philosophy is that the artist doesn’t just repeat the words in the book, he adds something to the illustration to enhance the text.
His parents did get divorced so he could relate to the book. He’s holding his blanket tight and his stuffed animal and dog are bringing him comfort.
His face takes on the expression of the character he’s drawing.
Steve was driving and reading the manuscript for Dirt on My Shirt and discovered it wasn’t funny. He initally didn’t understand the book but discovered that it is about gentle, sweet things and funny things about growing up.
The book was supposed to show the exuberance of being a kid so the cover worked well. He said if you came home covered with dirt it was a good day.
For poem Friends, he chose doing animals--cat and dog--and adding them sharing a treasure as pirates.
He put a fish with no tail at the bottom and it got cut off the page of the book in Wishing and Fishing. He’s donating that work of art to Mazza.
He added everything that he would want to do in The Biggest Tree House Ever.
Changed the hat from a cowboy hat to a birthday hat so he made it a cowboy hat with birthday decorations. Then, he gets a message, “Whatever Steve says is fine.” Every sheriff should have a gun so he added a water gun.
He takes a sketch book wherever he goes--even on vacation.
He is constantly trying to draw people so he can get a sense of how people interact.
He can’t stand going to baseball games but his wife loves it so he brings supplies and paints.
Books about the Revolutionary War don’t usually have kids in the pictures, but kids were alive then, so he incorporated them!
At the end of the day, his job as an illustrator is to invest himself in the project, to add something to the text and to do it so it encourages a child to pick it up and read it again and again and again!
Matthew Reinhart
Currently resides in New York City. His studio is in the TriBeca area of New York. Matthew has two assistants, Jessica and Kyle.
Matthew wasn't a big reader as a child--he preferred looking at the pictures in books.
He Collaborated with the world-renowned Robert Sabuda; Also collaborated with Maurice Sendak--Mommy and with
Tomie dePaola -- Strega Nona.
DC Comics Super Heroes coming out this fall
Matthew's uncle was a famous painter--he told him "you’re not an artist until you’re dead." (he’s an artist now)
Matthew always enjoyed making things--used shoeboxes
The only pop-up book he ever owned as a child was about dinosaurs--his sister removed the heads of the dinosaurs
Loved Richard Scary’s work; as well as Mercer Mayer’s monsters; Peter Spier inspired him with his stunning work
Parents encouraged him to be a doctor; attended Clemson as a pre-med student; accepted at a medical school--took a year off and went to NYC; enrolled in Pratt Institute in a toy-designer course
Collects transformers and Star War Action figures
Worked on Blues Clues for Nickelodean
Met Robert and served as an apprentice; began collaborating about 10 years ago
Tools of the trade--scissors, glue, tape, Exacto knife, knitting needle, measuring tools, tweezers, and cutting mat
When starting a book, everything starts white
Does research in libraries; uses books for references
Has a rough script--just what the image will be; eg. dinosaur head
Gets an idea what the features will be for the pop; sends prototype to editor
Pop-up--an illustration in 3 dimensions
After the initial white dummy has been approved, he traces and makes die lines
Originally done by hand--and Adobe illustrator; now done directly in computer
Gold fish tail in shark’s throat--little winks at the reader
Jungle Book has white mice--most of Robert’s books have a white mouse
Matthew has a cameo in Star Wars (represents the humans).
Gods and Heroes was difficult to make because of all the research in mythology
Had to write a synopsis of each myth for the book. Medusa has 27 snake heads in her hair--the snakes unfurl.
Many languages in book; Hieroglyphics message says something about the pop-up studio
Read the Runes to be able to download info to create the pop
Uses red lines to indicate changes for his assistants to make
Artwork is “the frosting on the cake”--paper collage, watercolors, washes
Jessica Theis makes paper with textures, which Matthew uses for the background in the artwork.
Uses clear acetate as a guide; Xeroxed papers are cut with exacto knife and transferred to the paper--prefers to make images to size
Eyes are difficult to make--it took 2 hours to make Princess Leia’s
“Fairy roadkill” is his way of describing the pieces of artwork
Hand-made books are manufactured in China or Thailand; takes about a year to complete.
During the course of the year, progress is shown to Matthew for his approval
Flutter movements are difficult to create--mechanism same as cyclone for Wizard of Oz.
Never know how it’s going to work, but somehow it does
Fairies has been translated into at least 9 languages
Dinosaurs translated into 27 languages
Matthew is thankful to share his love of what he does with people all over the world!
For the Star Wars book--he went to Lucas Film archives to do research
Corrected the name of one of the creatures in the warehouse
He didn’t stop smiling for weeks...
Became “Darth Matthew” through entire process of making Star Wars book
To promote the book, did a blad--basic layout and design
Once he mastered the Darth Vader pop, he knew he could do the entire book
Working on a sequel, coming out in Fall
Super Heroes book preview--6 different artists contributed
Wonder Woman twirls her golden lariat and she kicks out at the reader to engage the reader
Made skeletons of what characters would do--artists would draw according to these
Amazing collaborative process--pop is first and drawing follows
Notes are overwhelming for artists to follow
The Ultimate Battle has 47 different characters
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