Illustrator Illustrator StudyStudy

David WiesnerDavid Wiesner

“A regular guy who happens to “A regular guy who happens to be a genius” – Carol be a genius” – Carol

Goldenberg, Art DirectorGoldenberg, Art Director

QuoteQuote "I think early on it was clear that my "I think early on it was clear that my

interest was telling stories with pictures, interest was telling stories with pictures, not just painting a picture. To me, it was not just painting a picture. To me, it was more interesting to actually do a series, more interesting to actually do a series, because if I came up with a character or because if I came up with a character or place that I liked, I wanted to spend more place that I liked, I wanted to spend more time either in that place or with that time either in that place or with that character. So actually, telling stories with character. So actually, telling stories with pictures was very appealing." pictures was very appealing." David WeisnerDavid Weisner

Biography InfoBiography Info

Born: February 5, 1956 of Bridgewater, Born: February 5, 1956 of Bridgewater, New JerseyNew Jersey

The fifth child of the Wiesner familyThe fifth child of the Wiesner family Played outside in the neighborhood and in Played outside in the neighborhood and in

the woods. Creative play fostered an the woods. Creative play fostered an imaginative and role playing worldimaginative and role playing world

Wife: Kim Kahng, surgeon. Wife: Kim Kahng, surgeon. Two children: Son and DaughterTwo children: Son and Daughter

Influences of his Artistic StyleInfluences of his Artistic Style

Television art teacher: John Nagey. As a Television art teacher: John Nagey. As a child, David would watch his shows.child, David would watch his shows.

Comic books created his interest in Comic books created his interest in storytelling through picturesstorytelling through pictures

Classic artists: Da Vinci, Dali, De Chirico, Classic artists: Da Vinci, Dali, De Chirico, Brueghel and Durer from his childhood Brueghel and Durer from his childhood home Time-Life Books of Great Artistshome Time-Life Books of Great Artists

High School Art Teacher: Bob BernabeHigh School Art Teacher: Bob Bernabe Field Trips to Museum of Modern Art, NYCField Trips to Museum of Modern Art, NYC

Influences of his Artistic StyleInfluences of his Artistic Style

1974: Rhode Island School of Design. To 1974: Rhode Island School of Design. To study illustrationstudy illustration

Professor Tom Sgouros helped build his Professor Tom Sgouros helped build his technical and conceptual skills.technical and conceptual skills.

Wordless story books were inspired back when he was in Rhode Island School of Design. He saw Lynd Ward’s Mad Man’s Drum and was amazed by the possibility of the book. While he worked as an illustrator for other author’s books, his goal was to publish wordless picture books of his own. Free Fall was a result of his inspiration.

David focuses on making fewer books but crafted with care. He takes his time to create his award winning books with his blended surreal sense of exact style and humor.

Photorealistic images in a surreal style. Described as Cinematic, symbolic, and gripping and allows readers to use their own imaginative interpretations.

Flying lily pads instead of magic carpets, this amazing book got it’s inspiration from a cover design that Cricket Magazine in 1979 had commissioned David to illustrate.

David doesn’t force his artistic style. He lets it flow naturally to create his unique images that are both life-like yet fantastical.

“…. David Wiesner’s creative journey may not be a straight path, it invariably takes him to the right place…” Dinah Stevenson, David Wiesner’s Editor

Work CitedWork Cited Caldecott acceptance speech." Caldecott acceptance speech." Horn Book MagazineHorn Book Magazine 68.4 (1992): 416. 68.4 (1992): 416.

Academic Search PremierAcademic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. . EBSCO. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. Erbach, Mary M. "Illustration as Art -- Composition." Erbach, Mary M. "Illustration as Art -- Composition." Book LinksBook Links 17.2 17.2

(2007): 41-44. (2007): 41-44. Academic Search PremierAcademic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. . EBSCO. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. Evans, Dilys "An extraordinary vision: Picture books of the nineties." Evans, Dilys "An extraordinary vision: Picture books of the nineties." Horn Horn

Book MagazineBook Magazine 68.6 (1992): 759-764. 68.6 (1992): 759-764. Academic Search PremierAcademic Search Premier. EBSCO. . EBSCO. Web. 15 Oct. 2009.Web. 15 Oct. 2009.

Gralley, Jean "Liftoff: When Books Leave the Page." Gralley, Jean "Liftoff: When Books Leave the Page." Horn Book MagazineHorn Book Magazine 82.1 (2006): 35-39. 82.1 (2006): 35-39. Academic Search PremierAcademic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 15 Oct. . EBSCO. Web. 15 Oct. 2009.2009.

Hancock, Marjorie R. "Art Styles in Picture Books: A Window into Visual Hancock, Marjorie R. "Art Styles in Picture Books: A Window into Visual Literacy." Literacy." Book LinksBook Links 17.1 (2007): 49-52. 17.1 (2007): 49-52. Academic Search PremierAcademic Search Premier. . EBSCO. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. EBSCO. Web. 15 Oct. 2009.

Macaulay, David "David Wiesner." Macaulay, David "David Wiesner." Horn Book MagazineHorn Book Magazine 68.4 (1992): 423. 68.4 (1992): 423. Academic Search PremierAcademic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. . EBSCO. Web. 15 Oct. 2009.

Silvey, Anita. Horn Book Magazine, Jul/Aug2002, Vol. 78 Issue 4, p401-Silvey, Anita. Horn Book Magazine, Jul/Aug2002, Vol. 78 Issue 4, p401-405, 5p. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web 15, Oct 2009. 405, 5p. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web 15, Oct 2009.

Stevenson, Dinah "David Wiesner." Stevenson, Dinah "David Wiesner." Horn Book MagazineHorn Book Magazine 83.4 (2007): 83.4 (2007): 351-353. 351-353. Academic Search PremierAcademic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 15 Oct. 2009. . EBSCO. Web. 15 Oct. 2009.