MRS. MARSHALL’S TUFF PROJECT RESEARCH PAPER
When I think about what’s “tuff” in my world, there are many things that come to mind. I tried
to pick a variety of items that represent my interests. For instance, I love many kinds of music, but I
chose a picture of Maroon 5 to represent music for my collage. I also included some of my favorites, like
sunflowers, pizza, Snoopy, chocolate milk, running, and coffee. I really enjoy both nature and the beach,
so I included a picture of a sunset at Hilton Head. The best book I have read recently is Wonder by R.J.
Palacio, and the quote is one that was included in this book and had a great message. For my written
project, I chose the topic of illustration. I find illustration really interesting because I like to draw, and I
am amazed at the many different kinds of illustration. Really every illustrator has his or her own unique
style!
One thing I find fascinating about illustration is that there are several different mediums that
can be used depending on the talents and choices of the illustrator. There are several common
illustration techniques used by book illustrators: collage, pen and ink, watercolor or acrylic paints,
colored pencil, and pastels. Sometimes these are used alone, and sometimes together. For instance,
Eric Carle, the author of The Very Hungry Caterpillar and many other popular children’s books, begins
with plain tissue paper and paints designs on it. He then uses the painted tissue paper to create a
collage for the illustration. Other illustrators, like David Catrow, use combinations of colored pencil and
watercolor. Shel Silverstein’s illutrations were very simple line drawings done with pen and ink. Charles
Schulz’s comic strips were drawn with black ink on white paper. “To indicate his color choices on the
Sunday strips, Schulz would have a copy of the strip produced at a local print shop, then, using a color
chart, he would select colors for each portion and send the syndicate a colored version along with
corresponding color number IDs.” (schulzmuseum.org)
Charles Schulz is one of my favorite book illustrators. Some others are David Catrow and Eric Carle.
Charles Schulz always wanted to be a cartoonist. He and his father would read the cartoons in the
Sunday newspaper when he was young, and he first had a cartoon published nationally when he was
fifteen. Schulz fought in World War II, then returned home to follow his dream to be a professional
cartoonist. The first “Peanuts” comic strip came out nationally in 1950. The characters ended up
becoming very popular, and even though Schulz passed away in 2000, Snoopy and his friends remain
well-known and popular characters.
One reason I like David Catrow is because he lives in my parents’ hometown of Springfield, Ohio,
and sometimes my dad and he have walked their dogs together! David Catrow has held a variety of
jobs, including as an editorial cartoonist. Now, he predominantly illustrates childrens books. He also
helped develop the Horton Hears a Who movie that came out in 2008.
Eric Carle started out as a graphic designer and later became an art director for an advertising
agency. The first book he illustrated was Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? After that, he
decided to try writing and illustrating his own books.
There are a number of careers besides book illustration that require artists who are good
illustrators. “Illustrators may do drawings for printed materials such as books, magazines, and other
publications, or for commercial products such as textiles, packaging, wrapping paper, greeting cards,
calendars, stationary, and more.” (adigitaldreamer.com) With the increased focus on technology,
illustrators are also needed for website development, digital animation, and a variety of other technical
creative projects. Illustrators might also be talented in the area of design, whether it be for home
interiors, product development, or fashion.
In conclusion, illustration appears in all kinds of places in our everyday lives if we are only
attuned to seeing it. We are often introduced to illustrators when we are small children through picture
books. Picture book authors are my favorite kind of illustrator. However, we also see the work of
illustrators when we pick out a special greeting card or are interested in an advertisement. Illustrators
are also responsible for creating the concepts that turn into many of the products we use. All of these
are reasons that I find illustration to be such an interesting topic.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
http://www.adigitaldreamer.com/articles/illustration-jobs.htm
Schuman, Michael. Charles M. Schulz: Cartoonist and Creator of Peanuts. Berkeley Heights,
NJ: Enslow Publishers, 2002.
www.catrow.com
www.eric-carle.com/slideshow_collage.html
www. schulzmuseum.org