Talking with Artists

Bibliography

Cummings, Pat. 1992. Talking With Artists. New York, NY: Macmillan Publishing Company. ISBN 027242455

Plot Summary

In this book Pat Cummings has asked 14 prolific children’s book artists the questions we are all dying to know. In Talking with Artists, Pat Cummings has conversations with these favorite children’s book illustrators and asks questions such as, “Do you have any pets? Who influenced you?” The result is a wonderful page-turning book filled with personal information, funny anecdotes, and lovely exemplar illustrations from the 14 artists.

Critical Analysis

Cummings does a nice job getting each artist to tell stories about his or her childhood. The reader will probably find they have a lot in common with several, if not most, of the illustrators. For example Jerry Pinkney says, “Probably part of the reason that I focused on my drawing so much was that I felt I wasn’t very strong in other areas. I was able to escape some projects by drawing the assignments.” (p. 61).

Each artist has included a piece of artwork from his or her childhood. The art ranges from simplistic such as Victoria Chess’ Butterfly, done at age six, to Steven Kellog’s impressive painting entitled The Tiger, done at age 12. Student readers will be able to see that the art published in picture books is not the starting place of the artist.

In this book Cummings asks each of the 14 artists the same eight questions which allows for comparison and contrast among the artists. We find out that Lane Smith’s normal day is much like our own, “A normal day is probably a lot like a day for you. I wake up and watch cartoons while eating my cereal. I walk downstairs to my work area and start to draw and paint…” (p. 75).

Other special features of this book include a glossary of art terms that may be unfamiliar such as cross-hatching, gouache, and tempera. Cummings has also included a list of books by the featured artists.

Review Excerpts

From Publishers Weekly
In this wide-ranging survey, 14 talented illustrators talk about their childhoods, their work and their daily routines. The broad cross-section includes Caldecott medalists (Chris Van Allsburg, David Wiesner), women (Amy Schwartz, Victoria Chess, Lois Ehlert) and African Americans (Leo Dillon, Jerry Pinkney). Brief autobiographical statements precede interviews that touch on both personal and professional concerns--working conditions, pets, business associates. Each subject is represented by one or two samples of his or her current work and one childhood piece, usually a real charmer. Unfortunately, the often poignant reminiscences and outstanding talent on display cannot overcome the book's unimaginative layout and distractingly pragmatic text. Some interview topics--how to get that first book contract, for example--seem less suited to children than to parents, who might be reassured to learn that making art can be financially as well as personally rewarding. Ages 9-up.

From School Library Journal
Grade 3-8-- Conversations with Victoria Chess, Leo and Diane Dillon, Richard Egielski, Lois Ehlert, Lisa Campbell Ernst, Tom Feelings, Steven Kellogg, Jerry Pinkney, Amy Schwartz, Lane Smith, Chris Van Allsburg, and David Wiesner form the content of this book. All say that ``practice, practice, practice'' is the key to success. The illustrators that Cummings interviewed and her own comments are primarily aimed at young people who love to draw. They tell about how they got started, and where they get their ideas and techniques. There are chatty bits of information about the artists themselves, examples of their childhood drawings, and beautifully reproduced samples of current work. The same questions are asked of each contributor, but the answers range from serious commentary to lighthearted humor. The cumulative result is a short course in how to succeed in the book business, and general agreement that illustration is a tremendously satisfying and enjoyable occupation. Young artists will learn a lot; teachers and other children will also love it. Well designed and well conceived, this book will be welcomed in all those classrooms in which children's literature has become central to the curriculum. --Shirley Wilton, Ocean County College, Toms River, NJ

Review accessed at: http://www.amazon.com/Talking-Artists-1/dp/0027242455/ref=pd_bbs_2/105-3360499-3115612?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189387503&sr=1-2

Connections

Christelow, Eileen. 1997. What Do Authors Do? Clarion Books. 0395866219

Cummings, Pat. 1999. Talking with Artists, Vol. 3. Clarion Books. 0395891329

Fox, Mem. 1992. Dear Mem Fox, I Have Read All Your Books Even the Pathetic Ones: And Other Incidents in the Life of a Children's Book Author. Harvest Books. 0156586762

Nodelman, Perry. 1990. Words About Pictures: The Narrative Art of Children's Picture Books. University of Georgia Press. 0820312711