5.21.2009

Steve Jenkins, more

那天看完書後,一直興起,就想為什麼要自己猜測,不如直接問作者,於是發了一篇e-amil給 Steve Jenkins,如下:

Dear Mr. Jenkins,
My picture-book sharing circle started with your books this morning.
The topic was brought up because our book club talked about David Wisniewsky last week.
We are a group of picture book lovers and readers, gather some college teachers, moms, English tutors, and book shop owner at the SilexBooks <http://www.silexbooks.com.tw/silexbooks/> in Taipei.

I have few questions:

* Do you make certain kind of the paper by yourself? The wings of
dragonfly confused us.(Prehistoric Actual Size)
* How do you find your material (I mean paper)?
* Do you use X-acto knifes?

There's a paper culture museum <http://www.suhopaper.org.tw/english/default.htm> in Taipei. The owner also runs a store with great collection of paper next to the museum. Visitors can make their own sheet of paper by using ready-made paper pulp in museum. If you are interested in this. I can take pictures for you.
Last, your books are amazing. Do you keep all the original manuscripts? Is there any exhibition?

Best regards,
Charlene Lai

幾天之後(5/20)收到他的回信,太棒啦!
Hi Charlene,

I'm glad you're sharing the books -- thanks!

Here are a few answers:

Those dragonfly wings are actually maple tree seeds. I'm not sure if those trees grow where you are. I don't usually use things that aren't paper, but in the US every kid is familiar with maple tree seeds -- they call them 'helicopter seeds', because if they are dropped from a height they spin around as they fall. It's sort of a visual joke...

I use mostly handmade papers, many of which come from Asia. I do make a few paste papers - basically painting the surface of the paper.

Most of my paper comes from a single art store in New York City. They have a big handmade paper section, and I travel there twice a year or so to shop for paper (New York Central).

I do use X-acto knives. The only time I don't is when I want a rough edge, and tear the paper. It takes several hundred knife blades to illustrate a book, because the blade's points snap off and I have to replace them so they cut cleanly.

If you know of a good art supply store that sells paper (on the internet) in Taipei, let me know, and I'll check them out. I'd love to see the pictures of the museum store.

I keep most of the original art. Perhaps someday there will be an big exhibit... There is an exhibit that includes some of my work in Korea right now -- that's the only one I know of.

Thanks for writing,

Steve Jenkins

他回答了那隻蜻蜓的翅膀是楓葉樹種籽,果然,如大家所料,是紙之外的材質。其他的等我到樹火紙博物館回來再整理。

5.18.2009

Nancy Elizabeth Wallace



這也是一位用剪紙做圖的童書創作者,Nancy Elizabeth Wallace 的書,著重在知性的如回收、蜂蜜採成、蘋果豐收、節日、藝術作品的賞析;其他在網站看到的還有蝴蝶、種子、拼布,共有20本,還有DVD,每一本都有特殊主題。

5.17.2009

Petra Mathers


與其他作者合作的作品

自己的創作

因為她的畫很適合獨立欣賞,所以容易與詩集搭配。

5.13.2009

Steve Jenkins


1995-2000的作品,



2000以後-


他的特別在用collage做non-fiction,而且是很"強"的知識類書籍,從太陽系、昆蟲、恐龍、鳥、到靈長類。我們猜想他是不是有特殊紙來源,因為使用的紙張種類越來越多種,有些甚至有昆蟲的翅膀紋路、深淺如蜥蜴的身體、諸多情形,不可思議。這是5/13/09 sharing circle的主題作家。

The Heroine of the Titanic, by Joan W. Blos, illustrated by Tennessee Dixon


5-12-2009新聞: Kate Winslet & Leonardo DeCaprio 幫助Tatanic 最後一位生還者的安養院費用。
這位目前97歲的Millvina Dean女士當年沈船時只有9周大,她的父親為了救得妻女,與船上其他1500多人一起遇難。她想要用她僅剩與鐵達尼號有關的新聞、相片、簽名等等東西拍賣籌款付安養院的費用。

在2009- Seattle Library Book Sale 中購得一本The Heroine of the Titanic。以Molly-Margaret-Maggie-Tobin-Brown為主角,她喜歡交朋友、旅行;雖然在正史上找不到她的名字,但是當時新聞讀的確報導過。她在船漸漸下沈時,踏上救生艇,用外套讓大家輪流取暖、負責看著大家不停地划,離開危險區,上岸後,被稱為Unsinkable Molly。她的故事也成為一齣百老匯音樂劇。

5.12.2009

DUCK!RABBIT! by Amy Krouse Resonthal & illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld


The New York Times書評才剛出來,Amy是很有趣的女孩,可以寫書、寫曲、拍短片、做活動…相信她一定還有很多很多點子要繼續發生。
她先舉例了生活中所做的17件事,拍成短片,放到youtube上,並邀請看到的人參加她在2008年8月8日晚上8點08分芝加哥千禧公園雕塑前的聚會,當時她會拿一把黃色與大家相認,與大家一起做第18件事,當天現場來了比估計多了10倍以上的人,不一定認識,但是大家都確想要有個不同的晚上。
今年到目前,已經發行出版了4本書了,2007的The OK Book,一定還記得吧?就是她的作品,驚豓吧?那年,她並將另一本給大人看的書The Encyclopedia of An Ordinary Life,放到各個地方,主演了一場Lost and Found。林林總總,她還有為媽媽寫的、為幼兒寫的。

覺得這兩本書有點神似嗎?Tom Lichtenheld在版權頁上特別感謝My Friend Rabbit的作、繪者Eric Rohmann在"Duck!Rabbit!"製作過程中的指導與協助。
Tom Lichtenheld也是一位多面型的藝術家,拍廣告片、畫圖、童書。

5.04.2009

Eleanor Roosevelt



二次世界大戰經過半世紀之後,美國人懷念的竟然是總統夫人而不是總統先生。
著名傳記作家Russell Freedman、後起之秀Candace Fleming,新銳Coreen Rappaport相繼為Eleanor做傳,閱讀她的傳記同時也慶幸現代世人有這樣的人物為典範。

Anastasia's Album, by Hugh Brewster

這位小公主最後如謎的人生,在這本也無法提供答案,但是她用父親送她的相機留下的影像卻為世人留下珍貴歷史。