Chris Van Allsburg Illustrator Study – LIB 732 Laura Collins November 2009 Illustrator Study – LIB 732 Laura Collins November 2009

Chris Van Allsburg Insights “To puzzle children is more interesting to me than to educate or frighten them. I like to plant a seed that will start a mental process, rather than present my own.” – CVA (Allis) “A story with some ambiguity has a vitality and life that a completely resolved story lacks. If I resolve a story at the end, it’s like turning the light out. That’s it. I like the idea that there’s still a little light flickering, even though the book is closed.” – CVA (Burke) “To puzzle children is more interesting to me than to educate or frighten them. I like to plant a seed that will start a mental process, rather than present my own.” – CVA (Allis) “A story with some ambiguity has a vitality and life that a completely resolved story lacks. If I resolve a story at the end, it’s like turning the light out. That’s it. I like the idea that there’s still a little light flickering, even though the book is closed.” – CVA (Burke)

Chris Van Allsburg Insights “A picture with staying power is one that unlocks a door to others and becomes a logical story.” – CVA (Howe) “Subject matter is only the tiniest part of what a picture is.” – CVA (The Christian Science Monitor) “A picture with staying power is one that unlocks a door to others and becomes a logical story.” – CVA (Howe) “Subject matter is only the tiniest part of what a picture is.” – CVA (The Christian Science Monitor)

Background  Born in 1949 in Grand Rapids, Michigan; son of a dairy farmer  Favorite childhood book: Harold and the Purple Crayon  B.F.A. at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor  M.F.A. in sculpture at Rhode Island School of Design, 1975  Wife: Lisa Morrison  Daughters: Sophia and Anna  Professor of illustration at RISD for many years; resigned to devote time to family  Born in 1949 in Grand Rapids, Michigan; son of a dairy farmer  Favorite childhood book: Harold and the Purple Crayon  B.F.A. at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor  M.F.A. in sculpture at Rhode Island School of Design, 1975  Wife: Lisa Morrison  Daughters: Sophia and Anna  Professor of illustration at RISD for many years; resigned to devote time to family

Praise He has a “gift for adopting unusual vantage points” (Allis). His pictures’ “intensity comes from startling visual incongruities” (Christian Science Monitor). “He’s taken the seemingly ordinary and made you feel a little bit squeamish. He provokes a sense of wonder, mystery, and befuddlement.” – H. Nichols B. Clark, Art Historian (Christian Science Monitor) “Ultimately, though, by publishing works that are admittedly idiosyncratic, quirky, and highly personal– thus exposing his fears and fantasies– he enables his audience to identify with him strongly as well” (Hurwitz). “Magical, ambiguous tales that raise questions without supplying obvious answers, Van Allsburg’s works are perhaps successful because of the questions that remain unanswered– questions that require the reader’s imagination and faith” (Hurwitz). He has a “gift for adopting unusual vantage points” (Allis). His pictures’ “intensity comes from startling visual incongruities” (Christian Science Monitor). “He’s taken the seemingly ordinary and made you feel a little bit squeamish. He provokes a sense of wonder, mystery, and befuddlement.” – H. Nichols B. Clark, Art Historian (Christian Science Monitor) “Ultimately, though, by publishing works that are admittedly idiosyncratic, quirky, and highly personal– thus exposing his fears and fantasies– he enables his audience to identify with him strongly as well” (Hurwitz). “Magical, ambiguous tales that raise questions without supplying obvious answers, Van Allsburg’s works are perhaps successful because of the questions that remain unanswered– questions that require the reader’s imagination and faith” (Hurwitz).

The Beginning Offered a position at RISD as a professor in the illustration department, Van Allsburg felt guilty that he hadn’t actually done illustration (he was primarily a sculptor). Thus, to establish his credibility, he decided to publish a book. His wife, Lisa, a former elementary school and art teacher, is responsible for bringing his work to publishers’ attention (Hurwitz). See his sculptures at: Chris Van Allsburg | Sculpture Offered a position at RISD as a professor in the illustration department, Van Allsburg felt guilty that he hadn’t actually done illustration (he was primarily a sculptor). Thus, to establish his credibility, he decided to publish a book. His wife, Lisa, a former elementary school and art teacher, is responsible for bringing his work to publishers’ attention (Hurwitz). See his sculptures at: Chris Van Allsburg | Sculpture

Inspiration / Creativity “I have the picture in my imagination. Sometimes the words come to me, because I see something, and I see there may be a story somewhere that ties things together. The drawings talk back to the text.” – CVA (Christian Science Monitor) “I lie in bed on my back, without a pen or paper, and use my imagination to find out where a character or a story might go.” – CVA (Burke) “I have the picture in my imagination. Sometimes the words come to me, because I see something, and I see there may be a story somewhere that ties things together. The drawings talk back to the text.” – CVA (Christian Science Monitor) “I lie in bed on my back, without a pen or paper, and use my imagination to find out where a character or a story might go.” – CVA (Burke)

The Process “I sit down and start writing little notes. I try to make an outline. I always have a very clear idea of what the story beats are– the general shape of the story. So I start doing some sketching, and then I go back and work on the text a little bit. For a while, they’re affecting each other.” – CVA (Burke) “I work on a story for two or three weeks, and once I have a pretty good rough draft I start doing sketches. I do a lot of sketches, because for those 15 images I choose to put in a book, in telling that story in my mind there are 10,000 images. The process of trying to pick the ones that will add as much story value as possible to each page is a critical one.” – CVA (Frederick) “I sit down and start writing little notes. I try to make an outline. I always have a very clear idea of what the story beats are– the general shape of the story. So I start doing some sketching, and then I go back and work on the text a little bit. For a while, they’re affecting each other.” – CVA (Burke) “I work on a story for two or three weeks, and once I have a pretty good rough draft I start doing sketches. I do a lot of sketches, because for those 15 images I choose to put in a book, in telling that story in my mind there are 10,000 images. The process of trying to pick the ones that will add as much story value as possible to each page is a critical one.” – CVA (Frederick) “I would probably do all of my books over if I could.” - CVA (Hurwitz)

Stylistic Influences In 1977, Allsburg was primarily a sculptor, earning recognition for “quirky” pieces described as “intricate and extravagantly detailed” with “fastidious craftsmanship” that “reflects a childlike wonder for the way things are made.” NY Times critic Vivien Raynor saw Surrealism and “shades of Magritte” in his works (Hurwitz). Sculpture uses a different part of his brain than illustration does. He finds working with three dimensions easy, while illustrating is “tedious and often tortuous” (Hurwitz). Still, his work as a sculptor influences his illustrations. In 1977, Allsburg was primarily a sculptor, earning recognition for “quirky” pieces described as “intricate and extravagantly detailed” with “fastidious craftsmanship” that “reflects a childlike wonder for the way things are made.” NY Times critic Vivien Raynor saw Surrealism and “shades of Magritte” in his works (Hurwitz). Sculpture uses a different part of his brain than illustration does. He finds working with three dimensions easy, while illustrating is “tedious and often tortuous” (Hurwitz). Still, his work as a sculptor influences his illustrations.

The Garden of Abdul Gasazi

Jumanji – 1981 Caldecott Medal Winner 1982 “As the game begins, the point of view becomes exaggerated– one sees the room and the animals either from the ceiling or from below, so everything seems extraordinary in scale.” (Burke) “14 moody, black-and-white drawings of a brother and sister who become lost in a curious board game– one in which the line between reality and fantasy is blurred but never wholly erased” (Howe) “The book’s story and pictures were inspired by the idea of cognitive dissonance: the security of home juxtaposed with the peril of jungle adventure. The atmosphere and style of the drawings emphasize this quality, producing a combination of authenticity and fantasy. It becomes dreamlike, resembling Surrealist art.” – CVA (Print) Caldecott Medal Winner 1982 “As the game begins, the point of view becomes exaggerated– one sees the room and the animals either from the ceiling or from below, so everything seems extraordinary in scale.” (Burke) “14 moody, black-and-white drawings of a brother and sister who become lost in a curious board game– one in which the line between reality and fantasy is blurred but never wholly erased” (Howe) “The book’s story and pictures were inspired by the idea of cognitive dissonance: the security of home juxtaposed with the peril of jungle adventure. The atmosphere and style of the drawings emphasize this quality, producing a combination of authenticity and fantasy. It becomes dreamlike, resembling Surrealist art.” – CVA (Print) ;

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick “a series of fourteen unrelated, sometimes eerie pictures of compressed charcoal based on captions that the artist claims had been deserted by their author at a publisher’s office” (Burke) “The book embodies the enigmatic, magical, and surrealistic quality of all his work.” (Burke) “a series of fourteen unrelated, sometimes eerie pictures of compressed charcoal based on captions that the artist claims had been deserted by their author at a publisher’s office” (Burke) “The book embodies the enigmatic, magical, and surrealistic quality of all his work.” (Burke)

The Polar Express

The Polar Express (cont’d)

Two Bad Ants

Swan Lake

The Wretched Stone

Zathura – 2002

“I deal with issues from my own psyche. Maybe they are not that different from those of an eight-year-old. Or maybe I have a really good memory of what it is like to be a child.” Chris Van Allsburg “I deal with issues from my own psyche. Maybe they are not that different from those of an eight-year-old. Or maybe I have a really good memory of what it is like to be a child.” Chris Van Allsburg

“Conceiving of something is only part of the creative process. Giving life to the conception is the other half. The struggle to master a medium, whether it's words, notes, paint, or marble, is the heroic part of making art.” -Chris Van Allsburg, Caldecott Medal Acceptance Speech The Polar Express, 1986 “Conceiving of something is only part of the creative process. Giving life to the conception is the other half. The struggle to master a medium, whether it's words, notes, paint, or marble, is the heroic part of making art.” -Chris Van Allsburg, Caldecott Medal Acceptance Speech The Polar Express, 1986

Works Cited Allis, Sam. “Rhinoceroses in the living room: Chris Van Allsburg taps into children’s sense of mystery. (children’s illustrator, author).” Time 13 Nov. 1989: 108. Student Resource Center – Gold. Web. 12 Nov Burke, Lynne T. “AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATORS.” Instructor (2004): Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 3 Nov "Chris Van Allsburg | Home." Chris Van Allsburg | The Official Chris Van Allsburg Website. Web. 15 Nov Frederick, Heather Vogel. “Chris Van Allsburg.” Publishers Weekly 14 Oct. 2002: Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 3 Nov Heller, Steven. “Back Talk: Chris Van Allsburg, Creator, The Polar Express, Interview.” PRINT Nov./Dec. 2004: 50-52, 334. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 3 Nov Howe, Rob. “Drawing power: Chris Van Allsburg’s Jumanji puts him on Hollywood’s hit list.” People Weekly 22 Jan. 1996: 97+. Student Resource Center – Gold. Web. 12 Nov Hurwitz, L.S. “Chris Van Allsburg. (Cover story).” American Artist (VNU eMedia, Inc.) (1990): 58. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 3 Nov “Illustrators get their day in the gallery; For artists such as Chris Van Allsburg, children’s books are anything but child’s play.” Christian Science Monitor 31 Dec. 2004: 17. Student Resource Center – Gold. Web. 12 Nov “MacLachlan Wins ‘86 Newberry Medal: Van Allsburg Wins Caldecott Medal.” School Library Journal Mar. 1986: Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 3 Nov “Van Allsburg ‘Confesses’ on Polar Express Anniversary.” School Library Journal Jan. 1996: 18. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 3 Nov Vernick, Annie. "Time for Kids | News | TFK Talks with Chris Van Allsburg." Time For Kids | Classroom. Time, Inc. Web. 14 Nov Allis, Sam. “Rhinoceroses in the living room: Chris Van Allsburg taps into children’s sense of mystery. (children’s illustrator, author).” Time 13 Nov. 1989: 108. Student Resource Center – Gold. Web. 12 Nov Burke, Lynne T. “AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATORS.” Instructor (2004): Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 3 Nov "Chris Van Allsburg | Home." Chris Van Allsburg | The Official Chris Van Allsburg Website. Web. 15 Nov Frederick, Heather Vogel. “Chris Van Allsburg.” Publishers Weekly 14 Oct. 2002: Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 3 Nov Heller, Steven. “Back Talk: Chris Van Allsburg, Creator, The Polar Express, Interview.” PRINT Nov./Dec. 2004: 50-52, 334. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 3 Nov Howe, Rob. “Drawing power: Chris Van Allsburg’s Jumanji puts him on Hollywood’s hit list.” People Weekly 22 Jan. 1996: 97+. Student Resource Center – Gold. Web. 12 Nov Hurwitz, L.S. “Chris Van Allsburg. (Cover story).” American Artist (VNU eMedia, Inc.) (1990): 58. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 3 Nov “Illustrators get their day in the gallery; For artists such as Chris Van Allsburg, children’s books are anything but child’s play.” Christian Science Monitor 31 Dec. 2004: 17. Student Resource Center – Gold. Web. 12 Nov “MacLachlan Wins ‘86 Newberry Medal: Van Allsburg Wins Caldecott Medal.” School Library Journal Mar. 1986: Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 3 Nov “Van Allsburg ‘Confesses’ on Polar Express Anniversary.” School Library Journal Jan. 1996: 18. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 3 Nov Vernick, Annie. "Time for Kids | News | TFK Talks with Chris Van Allsburg." Time For Kids | Classroom. Time, Inc. Web. 14 Nov