Blog Post #7 Jerry Pinkney

Jerry Pinkney is a prolific children’s book illustrator who has illustrated for over a hundred titles and is the first solo African American to win a Caldecott Medal for picture book illustration. His childhood was a noteworthy one as the storytelling done by family was done orally in southern folk tale tradition but he soon realized he could do the same with his passion in drawing and make a living from it. He is also well rounded in other different areas, having created illustrations for historic sites, greeting cards and product ads. I admire him especially because of his master of watercolour which I hope to master one day as well in my own right and for the messages he sends in his illustrations. Pinkney was said to be a warm and passionate person with his community and I think it shows itself in his art. He brought attention to people of colour, portraying them in a very expressive manner and bringing their stories to life in a colourful way. His way around watercolour is also noteworthy and fitting for children’s books because of how he brings out the saturation and brightness of the colours but not overly so. I also found it interesting how the line thickness in his work varies from piece to piece. Of his 5 decades in illustration, Jerry Pinkney says “I am a storyteller at heart” and reveals that there’s is something special about knowing that stories can alter the way people see the world and their place in it. This is no doubt referring to his interest in children illustration and people of colour who sometimes lack a voice.

The Jungle Book Cover
The Jungle Book (Cover)

You Show Your Little Light
Albidaro and the Mischievious Dream
Through The Rook (Study)
MC Higgins The Great Jacket
Greeting The Sun

sources: https://www.illustrationhistory.org/artists/jerry-pinkney http://www.rmichelson.com/illustration/jerry-pinkney/the-little-red-hen/tlrh-greeting-the-sun-10×21-2/

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