It's a wonderful novel by Rosemary Wells dealing with the close loving relationship that Lincoln had with his sons, Willie and Tad.
I learned a lot from Rosemary's story, and from all the research I did into the subject. And the more I read about Lincoln, the more I liked and admired him.
Rosemary and I even took a trip together to Springfield, Illinois to visit Lincoln's home and the Presidential Museum and Library there.
It was great to see the exact carpet or curtains or wallpaper that Lincoln and his family knew. Unfortunately the fashion then was for very garish colours and extravagant patterning.
I was able to do lots of other really useful research, including a visit to the Railway Depot that has been preserved as it was the day that Lincoln and his family departed Springfield for Washington.
Too much research can be a bad thing though. It can get in the way of making a good simple and striking illustration.
When you have read all those books and photographed all those settings, it can be very hard to choose to leave a lot of extraneous stuff out. I'm too close to the book to tell how successful or otherwise I was with my pictures. In ten years time I'll be able to decide.
I only had to do fifteen or so plates for this book, but I had enough material for fifty pictures, and there were so many scenes that I really wanted to show.
I suspect I will have to revisit the fascinating subject of Abraham Lincoln in some way in the future.
Rosemary is best known for writing and illustrating for younger children, but this book shows her tremendous talent as a novelist.
The book is published in the USA in January 2009.
8 comments:
Powerful tenderness captured here.
I've just watched your youtubes and I'm off to buy the Bee keeper, it's stunning. brilliant to see the process, so inspiring.
The Boy in the blue baseball hat is gorgeous, the old masterpiece with the modern slant works beautifully . I think Vermeer's probably up there somewhere enjoying the homage:)
Anyway I have a new hero, consider yourself worshiped from afar:)
Hi Janie
Thanks so much for the kind comment and for the post on your blog. I'm blushing under my beard!
I like your bat.
Best wishes
PJ
Mr. Lynch,
Really nice! I really like the design and color of this image.
I have a question about your art again. You may have went over this before...but how did you get into drawing and painting children's books? I am wanting to get into that area of art and publishing but I have no idea where to start. Is there any direction or advice you could give me?
Thanks again,
Mike
Hi Mike
I had another look at your blog. As I said your illustrations are top notch. You are doing everything right there.
You've got to find or write a story. Look at Kevin Hawkes work. He has done some books with a uniquely American flavour. I think that is the way for you to go.
Find a Tom Sawyer or Paul Bunyon or Johnny Appleseed type story that deserves to be a classic. Maybe rewrite it to make it your own. Or invent your own story.
Then do some sample finished pictures( a cover and two others is enough) and a pencil rough showing how the book will look.
Base your dummy book on a book that you like, so that you don't go too far wrong on the number of words( inexperienced writers always overdo it) and so that you don't get the number of pages wrong.
Then you need a list of publishers and some agents to send it to.
In the UK the Artists and Writers Yearbook is good for this, don't know about the US. But you can simply check out the address of the good publishers from the inside of the good books. Phone them up to find the art director's name to whom you should send the dummy.
Make up a bunch of beautifully presented dummies (computers and home printers make this a cinch these days) and send them off with a short cover letter( don't try to explain your story, the dummy should say it all).
When you stick them in the mail, go and start work on something else, you won't get a reply for a while. And prepare yourself for the inevitable rejections.
Contact other more local illustrators to see how they manage. Again, use the web for this, and develop a good online site or portfolio to refer people to. Your blog is great , but you should keep adding stuff to it.
Very best of luck with it
PJ
Hi Mike
I had another look at your blog. As I said your illustrations are top notch. You are doing everything right there.
You've got to find or write a story. Look at Kevin Hawkes work. He has done some books with a uniquely American flavour. I think that is the way for you to go.
Find a Tom Sawyer or Paul Bunyon or Johnny Appleseed type story that deserves to be a classic. Maybe rewrite it to make it your own. Or invent your own story.
Then do some sample finished pictures( a cover and two others is enough) and a pencil rough showing how the book will look.
Base your dummy book on a book that you like, so that you don't go too far wrong on the number of words( inexperienced writers always overdo it) and so that you don't get the number of pages wrong.
Then you need a list of publishers and some agents to send it to.
In the UK the Artists and Writers Yearbook is good for this, don't know about the US. But you can simply check out the address of the good publishers from the inside of the good books. Phone them up to find the art director's name to whom you should send the dummy.
Make up a bunch of beautifully presented dummies (computers and home printers make this a cinch these days) and send them off with a short cover letter( don't try to explain your story, the dummy should say it all).
When you stick them in the mail, go and start work on something else, you won't get a reply for a while. And prepare yourself for the inevitable rejections.
Contact other more local illustrators to see how they manage. Again, use the web for this, and develop a good online site or portfolio to refer people to. Your blog is great , but you should keep adding stuff to it.
Very best of luck with it
PJ
Mr. Lynch,
Thanks for the reply! I will update my blog in about a week or so.
I will let you know what happens! Or if I have anymore questions.
Thanks again,
Mike
Mr. Lynch,
Can you receive pdf files? I have a story written by someone else but I did the illustrations. We are shopping it around but I would like you input on it if you don't mind.
If you cannot I understand.
Thanks again,
Mike
Hi Mike
Yes I can receive pdfs. I'd be delighted to have a look at the story.
Please send it to info@pjlynchgallery.com
All the best
PJ
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