.
Tim Davis is an author, illustrator, and a teacher here at AnAuthor World. As the coordinator of the Children’s Illustrators Exhibit, I welcome you! This past summer I began cajoling and convincing my friends in the children’s publishing business to share with me (and you) their precious treasures: their illustrations. After publication, these treasures often lie buried in drawers, in file cabinets, or under the bed. But now they’re out, framed and on display for your enjoyment! Most works are for sale. If you are interested in a purchase, please see Jim Hargis or me. Some prices are even negotiable. Regardless, we hope you enjoy seeing these original works and prints created for children’s publications by some terrific illustrators (and good friends). www.timdaviscreations.com
Eric Rohmann won the Caldecott medal in 2003 for his picture book, My Friend Rabbit. I met Eric this past summer at Chautauqua, NY, and found him to be not only talented and knowledgeable, but a lot of fun! He has contributed an illustration from Prairie Train and three prints from his book Pumpkinhead. Eric lives in Chicago.
Sid Couchey is an cartoonist best-known for his illustration work on the Harvey Comics characters Richie Rich, Little Lotta, and Little Dot. At ninety, Sid is still drawing. I was privleged to see him working in his mobile studio set in his son Brian’s guest room in Spartanburg.
Linda Weller, an illustrator for Highlights magazine, is best known for her work in the monthly series, The Bear Family. Longtime friends, we share a love for creating Hidden Pictures. Linda lives in rural Pennsylvania.
Jeyanthi Manokaran is a prolific illustrator, working in diverse styles. We met at Chautauqua, NY, and I was struck with her artwork done in the Warli tribal style, for which she received a UNESCO award. Jeyanthi lives in India. www.sunbeam4kids.com
Mark Corcoran is a popular cover artist for Highlights. He’s known for detailed scenes which showcase his extensive drawing and font design skills. Like many other Highlights artists, Mark and I met at the company’s annual illustrator’s party in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. He’s a lifetime New Yorker.
Ken Stetz has illustrated for Boyds Mills Press, the trade book branch of Highlights. As a fine artist, Ken’s watercolor paintings have been exhibited and sold at juried shows and numerous galleries in New Jersey. www.kenstetz.com
Del Thompson, an illustrator for Bob Jones University Press, is a former classmate, former co-worker, and longtime friend. Besides his educational work, he’s done work for Disney and illustrated comic book hero series. I think I’ve learned as much from watching him apply his awesome artistic skills as I have from anyone.
Kristin Sorra won the Association of Educational Publishers 2008 Distinguished Achievement Award in the K-5 reading group for the illustrations on display here. She has been illustrating children’s books for publishers like Atheneum, Putnam, Houghton Mifflin, and of course, Highlights. We met in Honesdale, where I discovered she’s a pretty good square dancer too. www.kristinsorra.com
Judy Moffatt loves to cut paper. In fact, she’s illustrated over fifty books for children in the cut-paper style. Judy’s won many awards for her work and often lends her unique style to the pages of Highlights magazine. She lives in a farmhouse in Massachusetts. www.judithmoffatt.com
Layne Johnson, a native Texan, is well-known for his horses, including those which appear in Boyds Mills’ books. We met at Honesdale, where I found out that this Houston illustrator is old friends with AnAuthor World’s very own Pam Zollman. Texas may be big, but it’s still a small world! www.laynejohnson.com
Jim Hargis is a lifetime illustrator, longtime friend, former co-worker, and the founder of Hargis Art Services, Studios and Gallery. We used to work side by side at Bob Jones University Press. There, he was the go-to guy for anything nobody else could do. Now he’s the gracious host for all our ventures here at AnAuthor World.
Kelley Cunningham is an illustrator, and the art director at Highlights High Five magazine, the new publication for kids five and under. In her secret life, she’s also a humor writer for adults. And, yes, she’s funny (but don’t tell).
Rocky Fuller is an illustrator who can really do cute! Beyond that, her whimsical illustrations show a great sense of design that seems natural and unlabored (though I know how hard she works at that). She’s a regular contributor to Highlights. www.rockyfuller.com
Nancy Cote read thousands of books to her children and was convinced that she wanted to express herself through this medium. Her paintings seem to maintain something of the spirit of childhood. Nancy has won numerous awards for her work. Through the magic of Facebook, Nancy and I were friends before we even met at the Highlights Illustrator’s Party. www.nancycote.com
Cory Godbey illustrates, animates, and writes for Portland Studios. I met Cory while touring those studios, when he confessed he had enjoyed one of my stories as a child and wanted to shake my hand. Recently, he was accepted in the acclaimed Society of Illustrators Annual. Cory seeks to tell stories with his work. He also likes drawing monsters. www.corygodbey.com
Sharon Vargo is an illustrator for Highlights and various children’s book publishers. We met this fall in Honesdale. As someone who always wanted to be an illustrator, she’s living the dream (in Indianapolis)! www.sharonvargo.com
Sherry Neidigh specializes in educational, trade, and mass-market publishing. Her colorful wildlife illustrations have been published by the National Wildlife Federation, Sylvan Dell Publishers, Northland Publishers, and Highlights. We became friends in Honesdale. She now lives in Simpsonville. www.sherryneidigh.com
Meryl Henderson Learnihan excels at any medium she atempts, from watercolor, to oil, to the etchings on display here. She’s illustrated over forty books, and exhibits her landscape work in various galleries. We met in Honesdale, when she was recovering from cancer treatment. At that time we were living in Catskill, NY, and I found out that she was a neighbor–living less than a mile away!
Laura Jacobsen is an illustrator for Boyds Mills Press, and has been an enthusiastic supporter of this exhibit from the beginning. We met in Honesdale, but really became friends through Facebook–which provides a good platform for her wit. Laura lives in Arizona. www.laurajacobsen.com
Justin Gerard, of Portland Studios, is as driven to pursue excellence as any artist I’ve ever known. His work, a crafted mix of Rennaisance techniques and modern technology, has been featured in Spectrum and Society of Illustrators. Beowulf, a self-published work, won Justin an IPPY award. For a full interview with Justin, check the archives of our website, or see his work at www.portlandstudios.com
(the following illustrators not shown above)
Jim Harris is best known for his light-hearted and whimsical picture book characters. He’s received numerous publishing and illustration awards, including the merit award from Communication Arts magazine and the Silver Medal from the New York Society of Illustrators. In college, Jim (not an art major) showed me some of his work, and asked me (an art major) what I thought. I was impressed then, and I still am. Later, we worked together at Bob Jones University Press. Jim now lives on the South Island of New Zealand. http://jimharrisillustrator.com
Logan Kline was an art teacher in Albany, NY when we met. He was taking a class from me, and brought in his portfolio for my review. I told him he had the talent to become a successful illustrator. We met again five years later at the Highlights Illustrator’s Party–very cool! Logan is a regular illustrator for the magazine now, and he still teaches art. www.loganskline.com
Lyn Martin is an illustrator for Highlights magazine who specializes fanciful, well-designed illustration. She lives in Tennessee.
Dana Thompson is a longtime friend, former co-worker, and an illustrator for Smilemakers. I was his art director at Bob Jones University Press years ago. Now he has the opportunity for payback when he directs work I do for his company. Dana has a great sense of humor and that shows in his illustrations done for children. Always fun and lively!
David Helton is a cartoonist and regular illustrator for Highlights magazine. He’s known for his lively line and scenes full of fun. His hand-painted signs displayed here are another manifestation of his talents. www.davidheltonillustration.com
Sharon Holm has illustrated over seventy books for children, many for Boyds Mills Press. We met in Honesdale at the Illustrator’s Party this fall. Sharon makes her home in Connecticut. www.sharonholm.com
David Leonard’s soft watercolors have appeared frequently in both Highlights and The New Yorker magazine. Some of his small pieces for Christian and educational publishers are offered here for a nominal price! www.davidleonard.com