MASTER’S SHOWCASE

Master’s Showcase: Gustaf Tenggren September 14, 2017

Gustaf Tenggren earns his place in our Master’s Showcase series with ease. The Swedish-American illustrator is surely an inspiration to anyone who appreciates modern design and art, with his trademark fairy-tale style illustration, and bright and detailed characters.

Born in Sweden in 1896, Tenggren received a scholarship in 1910 to the School for Arts and Crafts in Gothenburg, Slöjdföreningens skola, at only 13 years old. Afterward, he began illustrating submissions as a youth, painted decorations for the town theatre, and produced portrait commissions. He eventually sailed for the United States in 1920, and worked in farming until accepting a job offer to work as an art director for Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, beginning a stealthy contribution to the the Golden Age of American animation at Walt Disney’s Studios in Los Angeles. From there, he went on create inspirational artwork for many Disney films, and eventually illustrated many children’s books (many Golden Books), such as The Poky Little Puppy, The Shy Little Kitten, Tawny Scrawny Lion and more.

Look below for some of our favorite illustration and artwork by one of our favorite Masters…

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Master’s Showcase: Leonard Weisgard March 24, 2017

His art was not modern for the sake of modern. [It] could be a kind of very distilled visual language that could be understood by just about anyone, from a 2-year-old to an illiterate peasant in Russia.” – Leonard Marcus, children’s literature scholar and curator.

With Spring in the air, there is not a more perfect, classic artist to showcase than Leonard Weisgard. Known mainly for his collaborations with Margaret Wise Brown, Weisgard’s illustrated works are staples in the libraries of children’s literature enthusiasts. (Read this fantastic article about how Margaret Wise Brown and Leonard Weisgard’s collaborations revolutionized children’s literature!)

Bursting with color and fine detail, Weisgard’s work was honored with the Caldecott Medal in 1947 for The Little Island, written by Brown. The beauty in his depictions promote such a slow contemplation of the world around us. According to the article linked above, Brown actually sought out Weisgard because she felt that there “weren’t enough wildflowers in children’s books.” In 1970, Weisgard moved to Denmark the protest the Vietnam war. He died there in 2000. Look below for a (very) small sampling of his contribution to the art and literature worlds. Happy Spring!

Red Cap Cards Artist Spotlight: Leonard Weisgard

Red Cap Cards Artist Spotlight: Leonard Weisgard

Red Cap Cards Artist Spotlight: Leonard Weisgard

Red Cap Cards Artist Spotlight: Leonard Weisgard

Red Cap Cards Artist Spotlight: Leonard Weisgard

Red Cap Cards Artist Spotlight: Leonard Weisgard

Red Cap Cards Artist Spotlight: Leonard Weisgard

Red Cap Cards Artist Spotlight: Leonard Weisgard

Red Cap Cards Artist Spotlight: Leonard Weisgard

Red Cap Cards Artist Spotlight: Leonard Weisgard

Red Cap Cards Artist Spotlight: Leonard Weisgard

Red Cap Cards Artist Spotlight: Leonard Weisgard

Red Cap Cards Artist Spotlight: Leonard Weisgard

Red Cap Cards Artist Spotlight: Leonard Weisgard

Red Cap Cards Artist Spotlight: Leonard Weisgard

Red Cap Cards Artist Spotlight: Leonard Weisgard

Red Cap Cards Artist Spotlight: Leonard Weisgard

Red Cap Cards Artist Spotlight: Leonard Weisgard

Red Cap Cards Artist Spotlight: Leonard Weisgard

Master's Showcase: Barbara Cooney March 18, 2016

It's been a bit since we've posted a Master's Showcase (or past posts have included looks at Leo Lionni, the Provensens and Mary Blair) but with Spring just around the corner, we were reminded of the great Barbara Cooney, who brought us Miss Rumphius. If you haven't read the story about a woman who spreads flower seeds across the land in order to make the Earth more beautiful, do yourself a favor and high-tail it to the children's section at your library.

Master's Showcase of Barbara Cooney by Red Cap Cards

Barbara Cooney (1917-2000) was an American Caldecott medal-winning illustrator, who wrote and/or created the artwork for countless classic children's books, such as Ox-Cart Man, The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree: An Appalachian Story, Little Women, Eleanor and Chanticleer and the Fox. Some of her work (particularly that from Ox-Cart Man and Louhi, The Witch of the North Farm), is sometimes reminiscent of beautiful scenes or landscapes from the middle ages, with similar color and detail. We even spy a style reminiscent of our own Red Cap artists, Becca Stadtlander and Anna Emilia Laitinen. Have fun mulling through some of our favorite photos below, and do some digging on your own as well to see more of a master at work!

Master's Showcase of Barbara Cooney by Red Cap Cards

Master's Showcase of Barbara Cooney by Red Cap Cards

Master's Showcase of Barbara Cooney by Red Cap Cards

Master's Showcase of Barbara Cooney by Red Cap Cards

Master's Showcase of Barbara Cooney by Red Cap Cards

Master's Showcase of Barbara Cooney by Red Cap Cards

Master's Showcase of Barbara Cooney by Red Cap Cards

Master's Showcase of Barbara Cooney by Red Cap Cards

Master's Showcase of Barbara Cooney by Red Cap Cards

Master's Showcase of Barbara Cooney by Red Cap Cards

Master's Showcase of Barbara Cooney by Red Cap Cards

Master's Showcase of Barbara Cooney by Red Cap Cards

Master's Showcase of Barbara Cooney by Red Cap Cards

Master's Showcase of Barbara Cooney by Red Cap Cards

Master's Showcase of Barbara Cooney by Red Cap Cards

Master's Showcase of Barbara Cooney by Red Cap Cards

Master's Showcase of Barbara Cooney by Red Cap Cards

Master's Showcase of Barbara Cooney by Red Cap Cards

Master's Showcase of Barbara Cooney by Red Cap Cards

Master's Showcase: Leo Lionni August 10, 2015

We hope you're up for another Master's Showcase, because today we are covering master illustrator and children's book author, Leo Lionni. No children's library is complete without one of the countless titles written or illustrated by Leo Lionni (we highly recommend Swimmy, Fish is Fish , or A Color of His Own!)

Leo Lionni was a writer and illustrator of Italian descent who grew up in the Netherlands. His first job was as an advertising art director, working with companies such as Chrysler and Ford, and eventually became the art director at Fortune magazine. Later in life, his personal paintings began to attract attention in shows across the world, and he began his illustration and writing career, winning the Caldecott medal a record four times, for Inch by Inch (1961), Swimmy (1964), Frederick (1968), and Alexander and the Wind-Up Mouse (Pinwheel Books) (1970). He died at his home in Tuscany in 1999.

His illustrations are vibrant and colorful, always centering around a character who is different, but special. We absolutely adore the reading and animation for Swimmy, below. Take a look and pick up some of his books–you won't be disappointed!

Master's Showcase: Leo Lionni
Master's Showcase: Leo Lionni
Master's Showcase: Leo Lionni
Master's Showcase: Leo Lionni
Master's Showcase: Leo Lionni
Master's Showcase: Leo Lionni
Master's Showcase: Leo Lionni

Master's Showcase: Alice and Martin Provensen May 29, 2015

Oh how we heart our Master's Showcase series! It's so fun to flip through the vintage illustrations of legendary artists, illustrators and animators that offer inspiration to all.

This week we're highlighting Alice and Martin Provensen: a married couple who illustrated over forty children's book together, and wrote nineteen between the 1940s and 1970s. They even won the Caldecott Medal for their artistic work in the book, The Glorious Flight. Martin Provensen illustrated the first ever depiction of Tony the Tiger for Kellogg's Frosted Flakes. Some of their most popular published works include The Color Kittens by Margaret Wise Brown, The Animal Fair and The Provensen Book of Fairy Tales. Their distinctive, playful illustration style is an inspiration to many modern artists and is recognizable as a classic. Martin passed away in 1987, survived by his wife, Alice, who is still creating beautiful work today.

Master's Showcase: Alice and Martin Provensen, by Red Cap Cards @redcapcards
Master's Showcase: Alice and Martin Provensen, by Red Cap Cards @redcapcards
Master's Showcase: Alice and Martin Provensen, by Red Cap Cards @redcapcards
Master's Showcase: Alice and Martin Provensen, by Red Cap Cards @redcapcards
Master's Showcase: Alice and Martin Provensen, by Red Cap Cards @redcapcards
Master's Showcase: Alice and Martin Provensen, by Red Cap Cards @redcapcards
Master's Showcase: Alice and Martin Provensen, by Red Cap Cards @redcapcards
Master's Showcase: Alice and Martin Provensen, by Red Cap Cards @redcapcards
Master's Showcase: Alice and Martin Provensen, by Red Cap Cards @redcapcards
Master's Showcase: Alice and Martin Provensen, by Red Cap Cards @redcapcards
Master's Showcase: Alice and Martin Provensen, by Red Cap Cards @redcapcards

Master's Showcase: Mary Blair April 23, 2015

We are starting a brand new series on our blog, called Master's Showcase! There is a list of illustrators who have paved the way for artists today that we wanted to honor with a special place on our blog and in our hearts. From children's books to animations, these artists influenced and inspired us with our own work! First up in the series, the late, great Mary Blair.

Mary Blair is best known for her work with Disney–she worked on a huge amount of concept and animation art on early Disney films like Dumbo, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland and Lady and the Tramp. Afterward, she had a successful career as a freelance graphic designer and illustrator, working in advertising with companies like Nabisco and Maxwell House and illustrating many children's books. She even designed a few attractions at Disneyland, such as the It's a Small World ride. Her work is colorful and fanciful and absolutely inspirational. We love her work and gathered a few fun pieces below:

Masters Showcase - Mary Blair by @redcapcards Red Cap Cards

Masters Showcase - Mary Blair by @redcapcards Red Cap Cards

Masters Showcase - Mary Blair by @redcapcards Red Cap Cards

Masters Showcase - Mary Blair by @redcapcards Red Cap Cards

Masters Showcase - Mary Blair by @redcapcards Red Cap Cards

Masters Showcase - Mary Blair by @redcapcards Red Cap Cards

Masters Showcase - Mary Blair by @redcapcards Red Cap Cards

Masters Showcase - Mary Blair by @redcapcards Red Cap Cards

Masters Showcase - Mary Blair by @redcapcards Red Cap Cards

Masters Showcase - Mary Blair by @redcapcards Red Cap Cards

Masters Showcase - Mary Blair by @redcapcards Red Cap Cards

Masters Showcase - Mary Blair by @redcapcards Red Cap Cards

And don't forget this weekend we have our big show happening at Gallery Nucleus! Come see Greetings and Salutations: A Collaboration with Red Cap Cards, opening on April 25th from 7-10. Check out the Facebook invite here.