Heroes

Speaking of Heroes, does anyone else watch that show? The season finale was awesome!

I think illustrators should have superpowers too. They don't need to invent new ones, we can just take over those the characters on the show have:

Hiro Nakamura - ability to bend or stop time
Boy howdy, wouldn't that come in handy for deadlines?

Claire Bennet - ability to self heal
Think of all the X-Acto scars and Rapidograph tattoos that could have been avoided!

Matt Parkman - ability to read minds
Very useful for the occasional bit of vague art direction.

Micah Sanders - ability to control technology
What? No more computer/internet/ftp errors?

Peter Petrelli - absorbs other superheroes' powers

Just let me stand next to Mo Willems for a minute.

Ok, fine, I'm a geek.

Heroes

Here is the first book I ever owned. I couldn't yet read, but I could pester. So, I pestered every literate person I could find to read it to me. Over and over and over. Finally I had it memorized. I delighted in every word, rhyme and whimsical character. So Thank you, Dr. Seuss, my hero, for launching my everlasting love of picture books! And to everyone I pestered, a thousand pardons!

Heroes

Heroes are not always the bigger than life people that we admire from far away, the giants of the industry or award winners. Sometimes heroes are those who have the greatest influence on our work. Who go above and beyond to cheer us on or offer thoughtful advice when we are stumped. The artists who will influence you the most, who will be your heroes, are your contemporaries. Heroes are the ones you grow with as artist and see each other's careers take off.

If you are lucky enough to be in a good critique group, you know who your heroes are. Thank you Janee, Roz, Paige, Laura and Patty!

Heroes

My hero is Elaine Garvin.

"Lainey" was a successful children's book illustrator who unexpectedly passed in 2004.

I met Lainey online in an illustrators yahoo group. I was such a "yooge" fan of her work and I couldn't believe it when she took me "under her wing". I had the gift of her friendship for several years and I miss her so very much.

Lainey was a self taught illustrator that worked very hard to get where she was. She was in her 40's when she pursued her illustration career and that was such an inspiration to me. She taught me that self determination and passion can get you where you want to go. And patience...oh how important that is.

I am eternally grateful for her friendship and unwavering support.
My hero.

Here's a taste of her delightful illustration work:

Weekly Theme: "Heroes"

My illustration heroes, in no particular order:

Holly Hobbie, Garth Williams, Anita Jeram, Lisbeth Zwerger, Ana Juan, Mary Grandpre, Giovanni Manna, Mary Blair, Maurice Sendak, Leonard Weisgard, Helen Oxenbury, Janet and Allan Ahlberg, Harry Horse, Virginia Lee Burton, Beatrix Potter, Dick Bruna, Lucy Cousins, LeUyen Pham, Jeanette Winter, Jessie W. Smith, Delana Betolli, Laurence & Catherine Anholt, Melissa Sweet, Richard Scarry, Edward Gorey, Rosemary Wells, Rie Munoz, Oliver Jeffers, and Chris Raschka.

Is that too many? :) I'm sure I've forgotten someone. I LOVE these artists, and their work makes me so happy.

Below are the first books I remember being enamored with as a young child. The wonderful thing is, 30 + years later, they are also two of my son's favorites. They are timeless.