Talking With Artists, Vol. 3: Conversations with Peter Catalanotto, Raul Colon, Lisa Desimini, Jane Dyer, Kevin Hawkes, G. Brian Karas, Betsy Lewin, Ted Lewin, Keiko Narahashi, Elise Primavera, Anna Rich, Peter Sis and Paul O. Zelinsky [Hardcover]

Pat Cummings (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 22, 1999 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Talking with Artists (Book 3)

Pat Cummings draws out personal stories and practical advice from thirteen talented and popular artists, including Paul O. Zelinsky, winner of the 1998 Caldecott Medal for "Rapunzel" (Dutton), and Peter Sís, author and illustrator of the Caldecott Honor book "The Starry Messenger" (Farrar Straus). Artists answer questions about how they got their first job, what their studios are like, what they do all day, and where they get their inspiration. Though the artists' answers are as unique and varied as their work, all of these remarkably talented people share a great passion for communicating with the world through illustration. Childhood snapshots or each artist, examples of first illustration attempts, a section on secret drawing techniques, and even an introduction to some special pets help make the third volume of "Talking with Artists" as humorous, engaging, and inspirational as its award-winning companions and a must-have for aspiring artists. Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr. 3-8-Thirteen children's book illustrators discuss their lives and how they communicate their ideas. All of the profiles open with personal essays titled "My Story" revealing some biographical details but focusing on childhood dreams and ambitions, training, sources of inspiration, and feelings about their career choices. Following this section, a number of questions are posed-the same as those presented in the first two volumes-that explore the subject's personal and professional life. Then-and-now photos of the illustrators and reproductions of childhood and recent work accompany the narrative. The artists include Ra#l Col?n, Lisa Desimini, G. Brian Karas, Betsy Lewin, Keiko Narahashi, Peter S!s, Paul O. Zelinsky, and others, and they represent a variety of styles and mediums. While many readers will find the artists' tips that conclude the volume useful, all will appreciate these insightful conversations.
Daryl Grabarek, School Library Journal
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

A special treat for budding artists and wonderful for teachers.
Booklist, ALA

Although similar in format and organization, the books in this remarkable series are not simply carbon copies of one another. The introductions alone, succinct and provocative, demonstrate the ways in which the compiler gives added dimension to her project: Volume One presented the idea of illustration as a profession; Volume Two touted the value both of practicing old techniques and trying new ones; Volume Three introduces the concept of illustration as a means of communication. Yet, like any solid series entry, the familiarity of design and content lives up to expectations; it is satisfying and it is good. There are no surprises as to quality; rather, curiosity is piqued by the seemingly infinite variety of possible responses to the same questions. Paul Zelinsky enlivens his autobiography with sly humor, noting "I was born quite young, at about age zero." Peter Catalanotto, like most of the thirteen artists profiled, demonstrated his talent early in life. However, he envisioned that becoming an artist "meant I would move to New York City, spend my entire life drawing and painting, slowly starve to death, and, after I was dead, people would start buying my paintings." Several of the subjects have roots in other cultures: RaLl Col?n, Puerto Rico; Keiko Narahashi, Japan; Peter S?s, Czechoslovakia. Despite differences in background, they have much in common with the other distinguished and distinctive personalities who are included: Lisa Desimini, Jane Dyer, Kevin Hawkes, G. Brian Karas, Betsy and Ted Lewin, Elise Primavera, and Anna Rich. All are passionate, hardworking, anxious to encourage others, and willing to share some secret techniques in an engaging appendix. Informative, enjoyable, and inspirational.
Horn Book

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 96 pages
• Publisher: Clarion Books (March 22, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395891329
• ISBN-13: 978-0395891322
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,299,992 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This book is great!, March 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Talking With Artists, Vol. 3: Conversations with Peter Catalanotto, Raul Colon, Lisa Desimini, Jane Dyer, Kevin Hawkes, G. Brian Karas, Betsy Lewin, Ted Lewin, Keiko Narahashi, Elise Primavera, Anna Rich, Peter Sis and Paul O. Zelinsky (Hardcover)

Talking With Artists volume.3

This book is pretty interesting. It is about artists who share what they like to draw and about their lives. They are asked questions such as, "Do you have any kids or pets?" The illustrators show some of pictures that they drew when they were children. They also show how the children illustrators got their inspiration to draw.

I liked this book because it was neat to see how good some of the kids are at drawing and then to see them draw as they are older. Also that was cool it showed how to draw pictures in the back of the book. I recommend this book to people who are just stating to draw and people that want to read an interesting book.