From: Meghan McCarthy <meghanmccarthy007>
Date: Thu, 1 Feb 2007 09:27:38 -0800 (PST)

Sometimes I hate being an author/illustrator because I feel that I can?t participate in these conversations. After all, I wouldn?t like it if someone criticized one of my books on a listserve!

I?m going to make an exception since Wiesner is quite successful and my comments surely won?t do any harm.

What did I think about his book? I liked it. The artwork is colorful and fun and the full-page bleeds at the end are especially exciting. However, would I have picked his as the BEST-illustrated book of the year? No. The thing that I think is lacking in his work is emotion and depth. His artwork is very flat and I find his watercolors to be too planned out and not layered or luscious enough. Furthermore, this year?s winner is just like his past winners?same concept, nothing new. Should an artist be applauded for recreating the same concept over and over again? I guess a lot of people think so. Maybe they have a valid point?why should a lesser artist win just because so-and-so already won the year before?

This is not to say that Wiesner isn?t an amazing artist because he is! I went to a very rigorous art school for 4 years. In class the most talented students? work was often the most analyzed. This is because there can always be improvements. No one wanted to pick on the student who clearly didn?t have the talent. So I hope you all know that I think Wiesner is a great artist and I?m only pointing out a few flaws because he is so! We both went to RISD so maybe he'd understand!

meghan (author/illustrator who is a bit ashamed to vocalize her true feelings)



 
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Received on Thu 01 Feb 2007 11:27:38 AM CST