Favorite Children's Book Illustrators and why?

Bobby Aquitania · 8 Dec 2015, 01:59

I'm really knew to this genre, my son is 28, and I met him when he was 15, so I missed out on those years when he was a kid. Now I did take care of my 3 nieces when they were under 10, but I let them watch TV which they were not supposed to do as much as I had let them. Lastly I have read books upside down to my first graders, but that is the extent of my knowledge of CBI's...

I just went through all the artists Brooke Boynton (an artist I discovered while watching one of Will Terry's courses) had on her blog that she follows. And found some incredible styles I really admire like:

Maple Lam and Linda Dorn

I like their whimsy, their use of color and mostly how they all simplify to tell a story, and yet include so much detail with their process.

Do any of you have people you regularly follow or enjoy? And if so, could you recommend what you like... I didn't open this up to every artist under the sky, because I think CBI is a genre that's done so well by a select few.

Anyway I hope you've got some gems to share...

Stephanie Hider · 8 Dec 2015, 02:03

I have a long list and I have only been researching this question with this as a career in mind for a very short time. I read a lot to my daughter when she was younger and some I really remember but others are just a blur. For me personally as a kid I always remembered "Where the Wild Things Are" not sure why as I didn't like Max but the artwork thrilled me.

This list are artists I plan on trying to copy their artwork to learn.

http://www.illustrationweb.us/artists/AlexandraBall/view
Love the clean graphic colorful look

http://www.brookeboyntonhughes.com/nq14e5omn2lcgmda5zlsnoyuz6mgl0
Like the simple look of these and some of my doodles are a beginning unpolished phase 1 of these I think.

http://www.ashleyspires.com/books.html
Love the color vs monochromatic in some of her work

http://cartergoodrich.com/books/say-hello-to-zorro/Say-Hello-to-Zorro-5/
Love his color use, textures, overly exaggerated characters and expressions

http://www.polybernatene.com/#!books/cyuu
Love how he draws and his lack of line work (I don't care for lines and was searching for a way to draw without it effectively which I think he does)

http://ajhar.com/Brian_Ajhar_Studio/Home.html
His character designs are just hilarious

Paulina Orellana · 8 Dec 2015, 17:02

when i was a kid my favorites are

Paul durand

http://www.pauldurandillustrateur.fr/

because he do anything very well, expressive and beatiful

Ziraldo

http://www.ziraldo.com/

¨El Polilla¨ was my absolutely favorite when i was a kid, i read like hundred times, its still my favorite one

Appelealing characters, sweet story

Now, i know i missing many but i love oliver jeffers and leo espinoza

Bobby Aquitania · 8 Dec 2015, 17:38

Also found these links:

Children's Book Illustration .com

The 20 Most Beautiful Children's Books of All Time - includes Sendak!!

Illustration Web . US - Really nice division of styles..., doy I see this was already linked!

The 13 Best Children's Books of 2013

mattramsey · 8 Dec 2015, 21:45

I have several favorites. I tend to enjoy the more painterly styles (as opposed to say, vector or woodcut or line art or manga styles).

Will Terry is definitely one of the top. Another is Adam Rex (Chu's Day, Frankenstein Makes a Sandwich, Psst!, etc.).http://www.adamrex.com/

Bobby Aquitania · 9 Dec 2015, 00:18

I would love to take a course on dissecting some of these styles, and what makes them so enamored.

amberwingart · 29 Jan 2016, 01:09

My favorite illustrators are from the period between 1880-1939.

• Arthur Rackham: http://www.artpassions.net/rackham/
• Edmund Dulac: http://www.artpassions.net/dulac/
• Anne Anderson: http://www.artpassions.net/anderson/
• Maxfield Parrish: http://www.artpassions.net/parrish/

But I also really love some modern illustrators. Some of my favorites are:

• Jean-Baptiste Monge: https://www.google.com/search?q=jean-baptiste+monge&espv=2&biw=1531&bih=846&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjBh_Lw6M3KAhUEMGMKHSi6AsMQ_AUIBigB&dpr=1.25
• Gary Lippincott: http://www.garylippincott.com/
• Omar Rayyan: http://studiorayyan.com/index.php
• Chris Dunn: https://www.facebook.com/chrisdunnillos/?fref=ts
• Justin Gerard & Annie Stegg Gerard (they're both awesome): http://www.gallerygerard.com

johntatulliart · 26 Jan 2016, 19:48

Well this is an easy question...

Will Terry
Jake Parker
...and I am liking Zac Retz as well.

audrey dowling · 27 Jan 2016, 15:22

my knowledge is quite limited but here are a few illustrators I discovered by reading books to / buying books for my kids, that I really liked:
birgitta sif http://www.birgittasif.com/
lee wildish http://www.leewildish.com/lee_wildish/PORTFOLIO.html
chris mould http://chrismould.blogspot.ie/
I also love @Lee-White 's style ^^

sergio · 26 Jan 2016, 21:38

@Paulina-Orellana, ¿"El Polilla" es O menino maluquiño?

Leontine · 27 Jan 2016, 14:53

Fiep Westendorp, The most famous childrensbook illustrator we have ever had in the Netherlands, she even has her own museum over here! http://www.fiepwestendorp.nl/fiepamsterdam/

Leontine · 29 Jan 2016, 12:58

How about another illustrator, Rien Poortvliet. He was Dutch, died twenty years ago, but what a genius illustrator...! Created a whole wold of gnomes, and how they live. Presented the world of gnomes in two 300 page books, fully illustrated. Its just amazing ![30a5f15ded21c6a13b6a315d6da30dc6.jpg] (/uploads/files/1454072207299-30a5f15ded21c6a13b6a315d6da30dc6.jpg)

audrey dowling · 29 Jan 2016, 14:22

I've definitely seen these gnomes before @Leontine
beautiful work indeed

MOO · 31 Jan 2016, 01:43

@Leontine
Beautiful artwork! Thanks for sharing!

MOO · 31 Jan 2016, 01:46

I always loved the Little Critter Books-can't remember the illustrator right now....yikes! My 2 year old grandson loves Sandra Boynton books. I also enjoyed Helen Oxenbury with my kids, Maurice Sendak, Tomie Depaolo, can't think of anymore right now because I'm rushing off.

Patricia Nicaisse · 29 Aug 2016, 23:02

Rien Poortvliet.was the best Dutch wildlife illustrator, but was an hunter too...! He created a wonderful and realistic world of gnomes specialy for children.. More pictures at: http://rien-poortvliet.emyspot.com/

Rebecca Hirsch · 30 Aug 2016, 05:41

@Marsha-Kay-Ottum-Owen Mercer Mayer - one of my favorites ever!

Brad · 30 Aug 2016, 10:24

Bill Watterson - He is just too good. Best. My introduction to loving comic strips and wanting to draw cartoons.

Sergio Aragones - MAD mag illustrator, such witty drawings and brilliant ink technique.

Uderzo - The illustration excellence and comic appeal of Asterix is pretty much artistic perfection (IMO)

Quentin Blake - It was always so easy to spot a Roald Dahl in the library and Blake's artwork made the stories even more real. So sensitive with linework.