Module 1: TALKING WITH ARTISTS VOLUME 1

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Cummings, Pat. 1992. TALKING WITH ARTISTS. New York, NY: Bradbury Press. ISBN 0027242455

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Pat Cummings interviews fourteen illustrators. Cummings compiled the interview information into brief autobiographical sketches. Her interviews examine their lives and work. Cummings profiled: Victoria Chess, Pat Cummings, Leo and Diane Dillon, Lois Ehlert, Lisa Campbell Ernst, Tom Feelings, Steven Kellogg, Jerry Pinkney, Amy Schwartz, Lane Smith, Chris Van Allsburg, and David Wiesner. Each illustrator profile begins with “My Story” which is a glimpse into the illustrator’s early life and the path s/he followed on the way to his/her current vocation. Cummings then asked the same series of eight questions. Lastly, a glossary of terminology and an illustrator index are included to provide clarification and additional resources for the reader.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
It seems that Pat Cummings wanted to create a book that would inspire readers, especially children, into artistic endeavors and vocations. TALKING WITH ARTISTS VOLUME 1 meets this goal. This book could have been dull. Many interview books, whether they are picture books or not, are dry, lifeless materials. The interviews could read like an excerpt from the Encyclopedia Britannica.

This is not the case with TALKING WITH ARTISTS VOLUME 1! The upbeat and fascinating technique used in this text brings the readers into the illustrators’ lives and brings these illustrators out of the shadows of the authors they support and onto center stage.

This book contains interviews with fourteen different illustrators. These illustrators were each asked the same series of questions. Those questions were:
1. Where do you get your ideas from?
2. What is a normal day like for you?
3. Where do you work?
4. Do you have any children? Any pets?
5. What do you enjoy drawing the most?
6. Do you ever put people you know in your pictures?
7. What do you use to make your pictures?
8. How did you get to do your first book?

Although these illustrators were all asked the same questions, the range of answers is amazing. Each person has a different tale of how s/he got started in the business. These stories allow the readers to see that there is no one correct way to follow a dream or simply fall into a successful career. One may also note that the questions are simplistic in relation to typical interview questions. These are the types of questions that children would ask if they were directing the interview. Cummings used these questions to further the appeal of this text to children.

In addition to the text, each interview contains its own illustrations and graphics. All illustrator profile consists of a picture of the illustrator as a child and as an adult. The illustrator also provided pictures created when they were only children. Current illustrations are also included. The reader can see how much the illustrator has developed and realize that artists’ childhood drawings can look much like a typical child’s work. They are gifted artists, but that it was cultivated not simply innate talent. Seeing current artistic creation reveals that like the variation in the answers to the interview questions, the same variation exists in artistic style and medium.

Cummings choice in illustrators reflects her desire to appeal to all children. She included male, female, Caucasian, African-American, older, and younger illustrators. The idea that anyone can become an illustrator is promoted.

This book is the first in a series of three interview collections. The fact that there are numerous sequels attests to the popularity of this type of material.


4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Nonfiction

From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Well designed and well conceived, this book will be welcomed in all those classrooms in which children's literature has become central to the curriculum.”


5. CONNECTIONS
*Students could select an author from any of the three volumes of this series. They could become that illustrator for the day. After completing biographical research, present this information to peers or younger classmates.

*Information regarding education required for becoming an illustrator:
Become an Illustrator, How to Become an Illustrator - Education-Portal.com
SchoolFinder.com

*Official website of Caldecott Medal Illustrator
Chris Van Allsburg The Official Chris Van Allsburg Website

*Other books in series
Cummings, Pat. TALKING WITH ARTISTS, VOLUME 2. ISBN 0689803109
Cummings, Pat. TALKING WITH ARTISTS, VOLUME 3. ISBN 0395891329