Friday, July 16, 2010

Day 5: Friday, July 16, 2010

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

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Day 4: Thursday, July 15, 2010















Brandon Dorman






Brandon is from Washington. He’s blessed with a wonderful family--wife and 3 sons (as of Friday).


Road to illustration: He thought he could mimic his professor (do everything he’s done, he’ll make it).

He does lots of digital illustrations now.

His parents let him paint on his bedroom walls.

He earned a fine arts degree from a university in Idaho.


A book job: He gets a phone call from art director or publisher. He always asks when they need it. They write up a contract. Then, he gets a manuscript. Reads over the manuscript.

He has done about 30 covers for Goosebumps books. But he’s never read one of these books.

Some of his books include: Wells on Stilts, Palace of Laughter, Fablehaven (one of his first gigs out of school), The Wizard, Halloween Night, Be Glad Your Nose is on Your Face, Pingo, Santa’s Stowaway (first book he did). There's a missing "the" in Santa's Stowaway

When Jack Prelutsky met him he said "I’ve got pimples older than you."Jack had never had any artist (that he’s worked with) bring his mom to a book signing

Brandon is currently writing A Pirate’s Life for Me

He’s going to do a book about a girl who teaches giants to dance.

He used to scan his sketches into the computer, but now he draws using Photoshop.

He makes the background a beige color and then uses brushes that’s created on the program. Then, he begins to sketch and feel out what he’s trying to do. He uses a stylus when sketching. He hates when people say his drawings look “computery.”

He ate a slug once when he was in the Caribbean.

Brandon likes his images to be uplifting

He created art for 4 books within the last year--must faster to create on the computer.

He likes to put dimples on his characters’ chins.

His father-in-law says his mind feels like scrambled eggs watching him sketch on the computer. He dedicated a book to his in-laws and now he’s in!


He likes to draw eyeballs. Funky teeth are fun -- it’s so much easier to draw a funky guy than a cute girl!


Can add texture with various brushes; also makes the surface textured because it makes him feel better about using the computer

People expect artists to be able to draw anything--eg. Tasmanian Devil




Jackie Urbanovic

Jackie has always been fascinated with passage of time, time travel, Jules Verne, wrestles with concept of time, why am I always late? constant reminders to finish projects..

Practical jokesters in her family; cultivated her sense of humor

Grandfather entranced neighbor kids with stories told in Lithuanian language
Immigrated from Lithuania in early 20th cent.--door to another world

Mother tried out for Vaudeville acts, father in motorcycle gang in 20’s and flew bi-plan

Mother loved movies on TV; urban background of 30s and 40s

Animal lovers; lived on narrow peninsula jutting into Lake Erie; Lonely life so she made up stories and escaped from angry and disapproving father

Absorbed other author’s stories--Uncle Scrooge

Hyperventilated when bookmobile came around because she was so anxious to borrow different books.

Tried hand at comic strips;told her jokes and stories on paper since she was shy.

Max the duck resulted from friend Susan sharing stories about Irene’s menagerie.

Duck at the Door appeared--rescue, compassion and humor are her theme

Art does not happen overnight; process similar to dog lying down, trying to find right spot; gestation not procrastination--pacing, pouring coffee

Ideas ruminating in back of her mind; deadlines create anxiety--renewable resource; eg. solar energy; Go with the flow, light up!

Writing process allows ideas to deepen or resonate

Artists capture moments in time--what was funny and important; cultural footprints for the future.

The alligator loves to eat and Max loves to cook--those are her alter egos because she likes to do both.

She added Julia Child in her book as the chef on tv.

The detective came out of Dragnet.

Her book Duck Soup borrows its name from the Marx Brothers.

Memories from babysitting ran through her mind while she was doing Duck Soup.

Stories tell us where we belong, where we’ve been and where we might go. They represent our ability that does not exist and make it into magic.

One of her favorite books is The Tale of Despereaux.

We need stories to understand and live through the darkness we face. We need them to inspire us throughout the future




Carol Heyer


Carol's mother was an amazing artist.

One of her favorite books is Once Upon a Motorcycle Dude. Carol did the princess part of it. She thinks Kevin O’Malley is brilliant.
Scott Dodo did the motorcycle part of the book. The contrasting styles worked!

August 31: sequel comes out--Once Upon a Royal Superbaby.

Princess is now a queen and she has a baby.

The baby’s super power is that he can talk to birds--the baby is from a picture of her nephew.

She uses models for her book.

Carol loves to paint faces. Problem is that bald men want hair, old ladies want to look young. So doing it for a book works b/c she can make it how she wants the character to look.

The night before the photo shoot, they ordered pizza and they didn’t have a Robinhood so the pizza man was perfect and agreed to do it! She tells everyone that Robinhood is her pizza delivery guy

She’s done a lot of retelling of stories. Humphrey is very special to her.

She loves to paint camels. She went to Jungleland to sketch camels so since she knew how to previously draw them so well, she got the job. None of the camels ever spit on her!

Humphrey comes out this fall.

She gets started with books by doing a book map. Then, she sends to the publisher and if they don’t like the layout she re-does it. Then, she sketches each layout and adds the text

She paints with her dogs right in front of her because they don’t want to be away from her--Peanut and Cashew. Cashew is the intelligent one who watches her paint. Her friend told her she’s a nuthouse for allowing her dogs beside her while she paints and types. She clips their bed to her easel.

She’s done books with Henry Winkler.

In a year she does 2-3 picture books, around 50 angels for collector cards and creates puzzles.

She does a lot of sci fi and fantasy--online magazine covers, baby book covers, mystery covers.

She paints on a watercolor canvas and mounts it to the board because most publishers like them flexible so it can be scanned.

She uses acrylic paint because it dries faster, layer by layer goes from dark to light and blends. It’s similar to an airbrush technique look.

*My Mother the Detective

Sometimes the publisher typecasts and they don’t always want to change their formula.

She started with cartoons and now she’s going back to them again.

She used to teach art which she really misses--had students still come to her house.

Something Fishy Down on the Farm--project she’s working on.

She drew a man in the moon so she’s keeping it for a future project.

She’s working on a retelling of the African Folktale--How the Frog Lost His Tail.

As a reminder never to be horrible people, frogs grow up and lose their tails.

She started an illustration group--so it’s not so isolated they work in a room together. She brings in other artists and talk and give each other critiques.

Wag more, bark less--her motto that she found in dog food.

At the end of the day, take the time to devour a book!


She’s dedicated many books to her parents becaus they always stood behind her and loved her unconditionally.






Day 3: Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Patricia Polacco


She’s in love with Jerry; Ben could be her boy toy! Ice Cream Co.

Teachers are our last standing heroes; homage to her mother, who taught 42 years

Babushka--Grandmother wore one every day, Ana arrived with her family at Ellis Island

wearing a red babushka. Lived in New York City; child learned English in one year

Ana’s mother created a quilt with clothes from relatives back home in Georgia.

Moved to Union City, Michigan. Patricia’s mother was born there.

Her mother went to college--taking the quilt with her; met Patricia’s father

Rotten red-headed brother, Richie left bull out of the pen

Father of 8 children--all red-headed; Patricia has 2 children--one with red hair

All of her books have red-headed characters

Quilt symbolizes life and death of her family members--will eventually find its home at the Mazza Museum, along with entire drawing project of the book

Her mother’s people were Russian Jews, father’s family was Irish--he became a born-again Christian--all serve the same God; Patricia is all of the above

Proximity to the Light is what we have in common

Grandmother and Patricia picked violets and pulled petals to see “little yellow man”

Collected Monarchs to watch chrysalis open; fireflies; appreciated the miracles of life

Kept a vial of Vanilla above stove and would dab on herself and Patricia

Stars are holes in the sky letting the light of Heaven shine through

Following her grandmother’s death, they moved to Oakland, California, where Patricia met Stewart who became her lifelong friend--she also discovered feelings of racism

Her mother kept art supplies on the table in the kitchen--Patricia and Stewart spent time together; Patricia wanted a sign from her deceased grandmother. Upon meeting Stewart’s grandmother, she dabbed vanilla on Patricia--that was the sign!

Most revered time of the year is the new year--honey on the cover of a book; taste it to see if it is sweet--so is knowledge

Patricia started school, where she felt stupid because she could not read; she could draw--English teacher in junior high discovered her dyslexia--Mr. Falker asked Patricia to stay after school to wash blackboards. He asked her to put letters and numbers on the board--she couldn’t do it. He hired a specialist to work with her. Sees the space around letters--learned to read which changed her life dramatically!

Teachers provide the wind--students need to use their wings to fly!

She encountered Mr. Falker years later and they had a tearful reunion, where she told him she makes books for children, because of his support

Visits 200-300 schools each year; more than any legislators ever do

If she were queen, she would pour the money designated to No Child Left Behind mandate into art, music and drama; the at-risk damaged children outnumber those who are not

Challenged audience to continue making changes in lives of children

Her teachers are indelibly sewn into her quilt. Thank God that she walked this earth with

so many inspirational people--the beauty of making memories!


Robert Sabuda


Tomie dePaola is one of his heroes; he wanted to be Tomie when he was a student at Pratt Institute; met him on the Board of the Society for Illustrators of Children’s Books.

Wanted to collaborate on a project--Strega Nona reminds him of his Polish roots--his grandmother, who profoundly affected him--from a family who works with their hands

Had never worked with some one of Tomie’s caliber; decided on Strega Nona

With pop-ups, the shapes make the difference to set the stage and let the magic begin.

Faked a Tomie-lookig bird complete with a heart; 6 spreads in the book

Affirmation of Strega Nona’s life; family tree on first spread; element of time is a factor in creating a pop-up book; Strega Nona is on a swing at the bottom of the tree; second spread is a feast--explodes from the pages; magically unfurls

Tomie did a few pop-up books in the 80s; included a village--doors that open and movable parts; not created specifically for children--created for “the child in me”

Some woman suggested he create a pop-up book on Toledo, Ohio.

Pop-ups books often take a year to complete

Pasta moment did not work initially--was just a mess! Unknown and uncertainty is the scariest part of being an artist--blank sheet of paper

Decided to do a pop-down with the pasta--Robert sketched the pasta as Tomie would

Robert is not a delicate fine-artist; prefers the big and bold; loves the feel of paper in his hands; decorated the bulletin boards in school

Wanted to make something no one had ever seen before--The Christmas Alphabet started him on a different path in his life; publisher loved the project, but had no idea how to do it; manufacturer had completely disassembled the book; different publisher made it happen! Librarians were reluctant to add pop-up books to their collections.

Teachers wanted books for their classrooms--students electronically over-loaded; needed something to connect to subject matter

At end of Strega Nona, Tomie wanted a big celebration--wanted a fountain...Robert thought it would not happen; Tomie wanted a big love scene--intrigued by the technical work involved in the creation of a pop-up book; pieces have to work together

Sent the book to Tomie and he approved! Everything worked, so Tomie came to the studio in New York for a week. Collaboration was very profound for Robert

Tomie was the consummate professional--all products of the Pratt Institute

Had prepared every single pop-up in advance--he sketched on all the pieces

Worked with show tunes until the designers would change the channel...

Huge production--lived for the moment to see the finished product! Tomie would ask Robert for approval; included his self-portrait with magnifying glass

Loves being a children’s book illustrator/creator is that all colleagues want to see each other succeed--all enamored with each other. Illustrators are just kids--closely connected to who they were as a child

Books are assembled in China--one person does one thing on each book

Tomie fascinated with technical aspects of creating the book; presented him with a real ruler!

15,000 books made each week

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Day 2: Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Calef Brown

He started out reciting several poems that he’s written.

He shared his new book, Hallowilloween.

He’s got a very dry, sarcastic sense of humor.

Kid drawings of Thanksgiving foods--Pumpkin pie or a stinky football...

He and his 7 year old nephew envisioned drivers--house drivers, tv drivers, surfer driver, swingset driver, etc.

He does free lance work for magazines and book covers.

He found himself always illustrating for other people and decided to write something himself--Eleven Personal Things.

He got mugged by monkeys in India; They stole a mango from him.

He began drawing elephant/people and writing poems about them.

He’s very comfortable with nonsense verse.

Highwire 66--inspired by traffic in L.A.

The bathtub driver came up in his first book.

I’d like to take this time for questions--Don’t you ever wonder if clouds get jealous during storms and steal each others’ thunder? The book is called Boy Wonders.

Grandpa’s Mustache--about his nose hair--it makes him snore but Grandma doesn’t care b/c she can’t hear--too much ear hair.

He thinks he has dyslexia but was never diagnosed--Tattlesnake, he owes his dyslexia to his transposing of letters and a lot of his work.

Walking by ice cream and transposed letters--alphabet soup

Tv Taxi--based on tv driver--if you watch tv too much you’ll be come a couch potater.

He loves mythological monsters.

His pets inspire him(2 cats and 1 dog)--flat cat poem, Sphinx poem about dog.

He memorized other authors’ verses--Dr. Seuss. He did write Invasion of Pogies when he was younger.

He looks up to Edward Lear, Lewis Carol, Dr. Seuss. He was mainly inspired by song lyrics--pop music--Beatles and the Kinks.

Color schemes were inspired by his travels to India--in art school he etched with black and white and that helped him get a feel for a color aesthetic. He works with color paint whereas he sands down the surface and puts another color--refining and correcting process.

He asked his wrestler friend to pose with an origami canoe--gentle giant.

Flamingos on the Roof--1st and 2nd grade friendly--his favorite book.

He’s surprised by the musicality of words and that inspires his crazy word choices and style.


Brian Lies

Bat dropping from ceiling for intro.


His childhood experiences inspired his books.

He’s from Princeton, NJ (60s-70s)--lived in a remote area.

He grew up in a white house. His neighbor always was the ring leader for games/tag. One day she stopped playing and Brian eventually heard car engines pull up their driveway--she had grown up and he was bound and determined not to let that happen to him!

He went to the library a lot growing up--The Knobby Boys to the Rescue--picture of a boy staring up at a tree, imagining a castle treehouse.

He loved the fact that things ran off the pages in Richard Scary’s illustrations--Best Word Book Ever.

He liked the idea of building things--gold mine picture with secret door.

He read the first story he ever created (in 2nd grade); eventually wrote comics in 3rd grade.

When he was in 5th grade Harry Develin came to visit. He loved The Dinosaur.

He created stained glass, alabaster.

He studied psychology in college. He drew drawings in college newspaper--went to Brown University.

He changed his major to political cartooning and he failed. He sent out portfolio and got 141 rejections. They liked his ideas but drawings weren’t up to par so he went to art school.

He referenced Edgar Allen Poe with some of his illustrations--the raven.

A miracle occurred---director of Houghton Mifflin was standing in front of him in line. She asked to see work and the rest is history. First book was ... and it’s still in print.

He’s gone through 3 distinct styles--scratchboard, water colors (weren’t enough lights and darks) so tried acrylics.

Bats was inspired by his daughter when she was in 2nd grade. She dragged him down the hall into the guest room and there was a bat shape dewed on the window. Bats at the Beach came out and he used the cover to thank his daughter by doing that same bat shape image.

He included a sense that the adventure has to end at some point--not all happy and unrealistic.

He had a lady email him about her husband being deployed to Iraq and she and her daughter were having a bad day until they sat down and read one of his books--”that to me is beyond words.”

When he sees a library he randomly goes inside and wonders around--loves architecture.

His dad grew up in Riverside, IL. He went back to that library to use it for Bats at the Library. He spent 3 days at this library taking photos and exploring.

Sometimes a bad pun won’t leave you alone--baseball bats. Bats at the Ball Game--next book. The umpire is the vampire bat. He compared this sentence to Calef’s work.

He’s making books that he might have really liked as a little kid.

”Who needs another children’s book? Well, the world is not static and is constantly reinventing itself. Quiet has become an endangered species and this is one reason we need new children’s books. We need books that explain the ever-changing now.”

His next book after the Bats at the Ball Game will not be a bat book--”We’ve all seen series that go on too long.” He’s known as the bat man...

If he did a chapter book it would not be illustrated--paint with words.

He goes into independent bookstores and set up a carnival and has made good friendships with some of these people.


Suzanne Bloom

Born in Portland, OR.

Her work is about color--she likes to draw kids, families, big, round things.

Her roots are from Iowa City, Iowa.

She struggled in spelling b/c of the “R.”

Her grandfather was a cowboy.

By 4th grade she had discovered narrative drawing--she drew pictures to tell a story.

She has a theory that 10 is a pivotal age-- Mrs. Wineburg gave her books on poetry.

She took a stab at writing in 7th grade--Aggravation has a runny nose.

Things that inspire her: big, old trucks, old haunted houses, polar bears.

Her grandson sang her a tune he’d learned and she changed in and used it for a book.

Many pieces of her life end up in her books and paintings.

She relies on teachers to tell her what they need--give their curriculum lists.

She changed the “bus stop” sign to other words that you can make from “stop.” Didn’t get an award b/c it was distracting but she loves kids’ responses so that’s her prize.

Two of her characters are doing signs in the book--turtle, what? A deaf fan came up and was very glad to see sign language incorporated.

She got one of her ideas from her kindergartener’s teacher--”Class, mind your manners!”

Kids don’t mind their manners and turn into pigs. They change back into kids when the librarian sees they are minding their manners. She incorporates her own children’s artwork and hers, when she was in Kindergarten, into this book.

She illustrated a book for Eve Bunting, which forced her to step up.

She makes grids to make sure her books are balanced so all ethnicities, etc. are represented.

She hides things in her drawings--her kids’ names, used her mother’s desk, loves to make spaces look like you’re in them.

She usually adds in a redheaded person.

She used her brother’s kitchen on E 84th in Manhattan, but he noticed that she made his phone red and he didn’t have a red phone...

She did a project in a school on endangered species so used that idea in her book.

She likes to use anagrams.

She’s had her share of disappointments--”We cannot take you on. You are not an author.” She kept on going!

She has a nice studio, but works on a ping pong table. She’s easily amused--stops to blow bubbles.

Illustrator gator--she and her son in the book.

Dare to Read--I’m your sweet little baby child and I was born to learn. I want to say what you ay and do what you do. So show me colors, sing me songs. Dance and laugh and lead me to read. I can already read your smile. It says, I love you!

Day 1: Monday, July 12, 2010

Guy Porfirio

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!


Judith Caseley

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.