Rafael López's Blog, page 11
April 9, 2016
Coming Soon! A new book Maybe Something Beautiful and a new mural
Vertical Spread from MAYBE SOMETHING BEAUTIFULOn Monday Maybe Something Beautiful hits the shelves. It combines the talents of F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell and tells the story of Mira who together with a muralist and the community bring color and joy to her gray city. You can follow the action on facebook as murals inspired this book which has inspired an upcoming mural.
Looking forward to creating a new mural with children and families in Barrio Logan, San Diego on April 30, 2016. Details on the way.
Beginnings and Endings
On Sunday I leave for Santiago, Chile and really look forward to discovering a new part of the planet and connecting with children there about books and murals. Over dinner, our son, Santiago asked what I am most looking forward to. I told him the beginning as there is much to explore and the ending as I get to tell him all about my adventure.
As a children's book illustrator I spend a great deal of time thinking about beginnings and endings.
Endpapers for MAYBE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL due out on April 12, 2016.
Maybe Something Beautiful tells the story of a young girl and muralist who transform a gray neighborhood bringing their community together using art. The story is based on my own work creating the Urban Art Trail in the East Village of San Diego. I wanted to begin with actual buildings in the neighborhood and developed a technique that blended original photographs of local facades that morph into colorful endpapers. To finish the story the main character Mira’s painted bird is flying free up in the sky.
Endpapers for BOOK FIESTA! 2010
Book Fiesta! celebrates Children’s Day/Book Day and so the day begins and ends with a good book.
Endpapers are the start and finish line of a book. Vintage endpapers display an array of fascinating patterns that include marbled paper, geometric shapes and whimsical patterns. When I get a book deal I plead with the publisher to give me the chance to do a bit of extra storytelling to young readers as they open and close a book. If I can't convince them on the first round I will create sketches and even full paintings to plead my case. Many of my favorite endpaper designs never made it to print but I keep them in a flat file and open that drawer from time to time. The images on endpapers get closer to personal paintings. As there is no text you it can be a place to express your own visual take on a story.
You can find plenty of unique and beautiful endpapers online at places like Pinterest from innovative illustrators. Patterns, textures, compelling imagery…what a way to start and end the day.
As a children's book illustrator I spend a great deal of time thinking about beginnings and endings.
Endpapers for MAYBE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL due out on April 12, 2016.
Maybe Something Beautiful tells the story of a young girl and muralist who transform a gray neighborhood bringing their community together using art. The story is based on my own work creating the Urban Art Trail in the East Village of San Diego. I wanted to begin with actual buildings in the neighborhood and developed a technique that blended original photographs of local facades that morph into colorful endpapers. To finish the story the main character Mira’s painted bird is flying free up in the sky.
Endpapers for BOOK FIESTA! 2010Book Fiesta! celebrates Children’s Day/Book Day and so the day begins and ends with a good book.
Endpapers are the start and finish line of a book. Vintage endpapers display an array of fascinating patterns that include marbled paper, geometric shapes and whimsical patterns. When I get a book deal I plead with the publisher to give me the chance to do a bit of extra storytelling to young readers as they open and close a book. If I can't convince them on the first round I will create sketches and even full paintings to plead my case. Many of my favorite endpaper designs never made it to print but I keep them in a flat file and open that drawer from time to time. The images on endpapers get closer to personal paintings. As there is no text you it can be a place to express your own visual take on a story.
You can find plenty of unique and beautiful endpapers online at places like Pinterest from innovative illustrators. Patterns, textures, compelling imagery…what a way to start and end the day.
March 16, 2016
Sneak Peek: Behind the Scenes of Creating Art for Maybe Something Beautiful
Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Young Readers for their recent post about the process of creating art for Maybe Something Beautiful.
March 10, 2016
Tips from Literary Agents representing Latino authors
2016 was an incredible year for diverse books. I'm often contacted by aspiring Latino writers and illustrators and wanted to share these tips from five leading Literary Agents that might be useful.
February 1, 2016
Drum Dream Girl Thank you Video
Wanted to share this thank you video I was asked to make for the American Library Association: Youth Media Awards. GRATEFUL that Drum Dream Girl written by Margarita Engle received the 2016 Pura Belpré Medal for Illustration in this the 20th anniversary of the award. Thanks to readers, teachers and librarians for their support of our book.
December 11, 2015
December 7, 2015
December
Ice skating beside the beach at the Hotel Del this past weekend
Robot in Balboa Park
Steampunk inspiration
Cracking contraptionsSan Diego State of Mind
Ice skating beside the beach at the Hotel Del this past weekend
Makers Fair in Balboa Park
Amazingly creative Steampunkers
Cracking contraptionsDrum Dream Girl: Literary Stroll around the neighborhood in Boston
From beauty salons to Cuban restaurants and health centers, the Drum Dream girl took a literary stroll around the neighborhood thanks to the Boston Public Library and an innovative idea that was the brainchild of Sujei Lugo. Read: Drum Dream Girl Story Walk in Latin@s in Kid Lit.
What a great way to have fun and integrate the community bringing families to the library.
December 5, 2015
diversions
A week I ago I dreamt about this tiger from India and had to wake up early in the morning to paint him.
His face blushing in shame. The temptation proved too strong for Ferdinand the Bull as he munches away at the last flower that bloomed on his hilltop.
After learning that Little Red Riding Hood and Grandma haven't spoken in years, the wolf goes for Plan B. Red however is very clever and decides to shop online.
