Monday, November 7, 2011

Illustration Friday: Stripes...and Selznick!


Every  now and then I need to take a break from my drawings of botanicals and everyday objects, and after doing that turban squash, it was time! For this week's Illustration Friday topic, stripes, I decided to do another in my series of little trompe l'oeil drawings, using mostly white pencil on black paper. It's a complete departure for me, and a fun mental exercise, figuring out what's white and what's black. Here are the three together, you can see the original posts here and here):

But while were chatting about black and white drawings, I'm dying to tell you about my amazing evening a couple of weeks ago: Brian Selznick was in town talking about and signing his incredible new book, Wonderstruck, which is two stories intertwined, one told in words, one told in pictures. I've written about him before, especially my love for his book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret. If you ever get a chance to hear Brian speak, you have to go—he's an amazing speaker and storyteller; everyone in the school auditorium was enthralled. While he spoke, we were treated to a fabulous screening of images from the book, his writing and drawing process, and the trailer for Martin Scorcese's new film, "Hugo". Brian answered tons of questions, and shared some fascinating things: 

There are hundreds of pencil drawings in these two books. He works really small (about 4 x 5 ) with a mechanical pencil on watercolor paper, and then the drawings are enlarged for the books. (He has an exquisite way of cross-hatching...I try not to drool on the pages.)

He decided to tell one story in pictures after watching a documentary about deaf people. (He has learned to sign really well; there was a deaf student in the audience and he chatted with her afterward.)

As a child, he was obsessed with the wolf diorama at NYC's Museum of Natural History. The wolves and the museum are important parts of Wonderstruck

He said that Martin Scorcese was unbelievably faithful to his book, and that the movie uses 3D technology in a new, sophisticated, artful way. When he visited the movie set, he saw that Scorcese, as well as most of the cast and crew kept his book with them  throughout the filming.

As he toured the set, built to look like a Parisian train station, Brian noticed how perfect a certain wall grate looked. He asked the production designer, the talented Dante Ferretti, where they found the grate, saying, "It looks just like the one I drew!" Ferretti answered, "It is the one you drew!" He was amazed that they had literally brought the smallest details of his drawings to life.
It was such fun meeting him as he signed my books.
(He had on the coolest silver leather shoes.)
I could go on and on, but I'll let you experience the genius of Brian Selznick firsthand. Check out his website here and the movie trailer here. It opens November 23...I can't wait!!

25 comments:

  1. Wow, I just watched the Hugo trailer. Absolutely amazing. See, this is why being a hermit isn't the best thing (well, I have an office job, but otherwise I'm a hermit). I hadn't even heard of it!

    Love your drawings, so beautifully done!

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  2. Ooh, I love your botanicals, but I love this too! Beautifully graphic.

    And I'm a big Selznick fan too. It would be amazing to hear him speak-- you lucky duck!

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  3. What incredibly sharp pencils!

    This is a lovely series, very clever. And the pencil work makes it rather less stark that other mediums might.

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  4. Love your illustration Sarah. I will definitely have to read The Invention Of Hugo Cabret, been over to Brian's website, love his work, how exciting to have your illustrations brought to life in 3D.

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  5. Great sketch! Admiring your skills and patience!

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  6. Hi Sarah

    Another lovely drawing. Simple but sophisticated.

    I'm glad you had a great time meeting Brian Selznick.

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  7. I really like your occasional breaks, I can see they are fun to do!

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  8. Wow Sarah, that is such a clever drawing....beautiful work. I had not heard of Brian but it looks like you had a great time meeting him.
    Jane x

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  9. The 3 look lovely together, well done! Brian Selznick! How lucky are you and judging from the movie trailer it looks like a good film....

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  10. I don't know where to start, Sarah! WoW!!! First, your stripes illo is fabulous. So clever and well executed--downright Escher-esque! Second... LUCKY YOU for getting to meet BZ. So fun and interesting to read about it. Great picture, too--that sure is a keeper!!!

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  11. Love the black and white drawings. It's always fun to deviate from the norm now and then :)

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  12. I greatly enjoy is series and it's wonderful to see another addition :)

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  13. WOW - these drawings are stunning, very clever too.

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  14. This is amazingly wonderful!!!
    The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a
    favorite of mine too! Fantastic work!

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  15. This is so simple, clever and beautifully executed.
    I plan on going to see Hugo after Thanksgiving dinner. I can't wait!

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  16. Sarah,
    Your new drawing is so wonderful. The black on white and vice versa is a treat for the eyes. There is a visual perception aspect that I find irresistible. When the three drawings are presented as a group, the effect is quite powerful.
    Thanks again for allowing eye and brain to work as a team.
    As far as Brian is concerned, how is he related to David O?
    Loop

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  17. I love your drawings. And now I have to get my hands on a copy of Wonderstruck.

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  18. These are absolutely gorgeous! Such perfect stripes!

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  19. Oh Sarah, these illustrations are absolutely gorgeous. I have never seen stripes and crumpled paper look so special!

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  20. Great post and beautiful drawing, as always! :)

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  21. I just saw this book/movie in my Costco magazine! I like your review and think I'll have to look into getting this book for the grandkids.

    I love your black and white series. It would look so neat framed and hung all together in a grouping.

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  22. Oh! Oh! This is amazing...I can't wait to find his book... you do the coolest stuff!

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  23. Love this illustration, and the whole series. I just finished Wonderstruck (took me less than a day) and it is indeed wonderful.

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