MRS. MARSHALL’S TUFF PROJECT

WHAT’S TUFF IN MY WORLD

When I think about what’s “tuff” in my world, there are many things that come to mind,

but for my written project, I chose the topic of illustration. I find illustration really

interesting because I like to draw, and I am amazed at the many different kinds of

illustration. Though many people tend to think of pencil drawing first, artists also use paint, mixed media, and computer graphics

programs to create their work.

Really every illustrator has his or her own unique style, and there are several artists who intrigue me. Though I tend to be a fan of picture book artists, there are many careers in which illustration is a key component.

ILLUSTRATION TECHNIQUES

One thing I find fascinating about illustration is that there are several different mediums that can be used depending on the talents and choices of the illustrator. There are several common illustration techniques used by book illustrators: collage, pen and ink, watercolor or acrylic paints, colored pencil, and pastels. Sometimes these are used alone, and sometimes together. For instance, Eric Carle, the author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and many other popular children’s books, begins with plain tissue paper and paints designs on it. He then uses the painted tissue paper to create a collage for the illustration.

ERIC CARLE COLLAGE TECHNIQUE

Other illustrators, like David Catrow, use combinations of colored pencil and watercolor.

Shel Silverstein’s illutrations were very simple line drawings done with pen and ink.

Charles Schulz’s comic strips were drawn with black ink on white paper. “To indicate his color choices on the Sunday strips, Schulz would have a copy of the strip produced at a local print shop, then, using a color chart, he would select colors for each portion and send the syndicate a colored version along with corresponding color number IDs.” (schulzmuseum.org)

FAVORITE ILLUSTRATORS

Charles Schulz is one of my favorite book illustrators. Some others are David Catrow and Eric Carle. Charles Schulz always wanted to be a cartoonist. He and his father would read the cartoons in the Sunday newspaper when he was young, and he first had a cartoon published nationally when he was fifteen. Schulz fought in World War II, then returned home to follow his dream to be a professional cartoonist. The first “Peanuts” comic strip came out nationally in 1950. The characters ended up becoming very popular, and even though Schulz passed away in 2000, Snoopy and his friends remain well-known and popular characters.

One reason I like David Catrow is because he lives in my parents’ hometown of Springfield, Ohio, and sometimes my dad and he have walked their dogs together! David Catrow has held a variety of jobs, including as an editorial cartoonist. Now, he predominantly illustrates childrens books. He also helped develop the Horton Hears a Who movie that came out in 2008.

CATROW ON MOLLY LOU MELON

Eric Carle started out as a graphic designer and later became an art director for an advertising agency. The first book he illustrated was Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? After that, he decided to try writing and illustrating his own books.

USES FOR ILLUSTRATION

There are a number of careers besides book illustration that require artists who are good illustrators. “Illustrators may do drawings for printed materials such as books, magazines, and other publications, or for commercial products such as textiles, packaging, wrapping paper, greeting cards, calendars, stationary, and more.”

With the increased focus on technology, illustrators are also needed for website development, digital animation, and a variety of other technical creative projects. Illustrators might also be talented in the area of design, whether it be for home interiors, product development, or fashion.

In conclusion, illustration appears in all kinds of places in our everyday lives if we are only attuned to seeing it. We are often introduced to illustrators when we are small children through picture books. Picture book authors are my favorite kind of illustrator. However, we also see the work of illustrators when we pick out a special greeting card or are interested in an advertisement. Illustrators are also responsible for creating the concepts that turn into many of the products we use. All of these are reasons that I find illustration to be such an interesting topic.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

http://www.adigitaldreamer.com/articles/illustration-jobs.htm

Schuman, Michael. Charles M. Schulz: Cartoonist and Creator of Peanuts. Berkeley Heights, NJ: Enslow

Publishers, 2002.

www.catrow.com

www.eric-carle.com/slideshow_collage.html

www. schulzmuseum.org