Current Issue

The theme of this issue is children’s picture books. Valeria Petrone, Anna + Elena Balbusso, and Bill Mayer are our featured artists.

Spotlight features six outstanding examples of picture book illustrators including Andrea D’Aquino, Carey Sookocheff, Carlos Araujo, Ella Cohen, Kelly Murphy, and Marta Madureira.

And we’ll have all the winners of this year’s juried 3x3 Children’s Book Show. As part of our redesign we’ve dropped the separate printed annual in favor of featuring each show in each of our issues. In addition digital copies of each annual will be made available for purchase as well as print-on-demand copies.

ICON: Jerry Pickney

Jerry Pinkney is an illustrator with a trophy chest of awards: In 2010, his book The Lion & The Mouse, based on an Aesop’s fable, won the 2010 Caldecott Medal for US picture book illustration. Then there’s the four New York Times Best Illustrated Awards, five Coretta Scott King Awards, four golds and four silvers from the Society of Illustrators. Most of Pinkney’s work has been in the children’s book realm. Many of his work has dealt with issues about race. As one of the last century’s most successful African American illustrators, his career evolved during a time of great change for both illustration and for black people in this country. We ask him about his five-decade career.

Survey Says: Illustrator Confidence Survey 2013

Each year we poll our audience of illustrators asking specific questions concerning their level of confidence about the upcoming year. This year is a mix of good and bad outlooks.

Profile: Rita Marshall, The Creative Company

The art director and author at The Creative Company, Rita Marshall takes us inside her world of children’s book publishing.

CareerTalk: Making a Lifetime Career in Illustration

Vicki Morgan and Gail Gaynin talk candidly to illustrators who are in their 50s to 80s and discuss longevity in the field.

Op-Art: Our Fragile Planet

Bill Mayer looks at the current state of the environment.

Editorial from Issue 21: Picture This

In this issue we take a look at picture book illustrators and those associated with the field as well as the winners of our 2012 children’s book show. Children’s books have always been a favorite of mine, I still have the copy of The Little Engine That Could my mother would read to me. Repeatedly. She said it was most often my choice for a bedtime read. I was fascinated by the artwork to the point that I scribbled on pages in a vain attempt to make similar marks that the illustrator had made; you can still see the erasures my mother made until she finally gave up. Next to my children it’s my most valued possession; in case of fire it would be one of the things I’d be certain to take with me. The story itself also had an unknowing impact on me that has lasted until this day. “I think I can—I think I can—I think I can” has become my mantra. Certainly at the time I didn’t exactly know what it all meant but the story resonated with me and the art took me to a new land. Read more... >>

Our Next Issue: Issue 22

In our next issue we’ll be featuring Aad Goudappel, Harry Campbell and Beppe Giacobbe plus exhibit the winners of this year’s 3x3 Professional Show.