Aaron Becker's Blog, page 25

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOURNEY! Time for a special trailer...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOURNEY!  Time for a special trailer release…

There are so few moments in life where we really cross over into...

There are so few moments in life where we really cross over into a better understanding of what the heck we’re doing here.  I had one yesterday.

As many of you know, my debut picture book “Journey” is about to hit the shelves.  Next Tuesday, in fact.  And now I find myself gearing up for the next phase of being a picture book creator: the book tour.  I spent a few days practicing in preparation for a trial run at my three-year-old daughter’s preschool. I got nervous.  What if the kids ran all over the place?  Or worse, what if I ran out of things to do or say?

None of this happened.  Instead, I rediscovered old neural pathways from long ago; memories of working at summer camp, teaching art to children; things I did in my teens and twenties that I had completely erased from my day to day sense of self as a busy professional, husband, and dad.  It was as if the door that the girl draws in my book was one I had drawn for future myself long ago.  “Remember?  You love this.  You love seeing children’s faces light up.  You love inspiring them.  And you love hearing what they offer in return.  What’s more: it feels good and right and purposeful and so full of everything that I’m supposed to be doing with this life.”

I’m afraid it might be time to bust out the guitar and write a sing-a-long.

Best Books for Children and Teens

Best Books for Children and Teens:

Amazon selects ‘Journey’ as Best Children’s Book of the Month for August.

One week before pub. To quote the reviews, the reviews...

One week before pub.  To quote the reviews, the reviews themselves are looking “auspicious"! #Journey @candlewick

"Though Becker has plenty of experience as an artist for films, “Journey” is his first book, and it’s..."

“Though Becker has plenty of experience as an artist for films, “Journey” is his first book, and it’s a masterwork.”

- New York Times Book Review

I’m so thrilled to finally be able to share the book...

I’m so thrilled to finally be able to share the book trailer I’ve put together for Journey, my debut picture book.  Special thanks to the band Branches for the use of their music, and to Candlewick Press for making this all possible.  Enjoy!

And for those interested, Journey is now available for pre-order!  It hits shelves August 6th.

When I’m mixing gouache (an opaque, concentrated...

When I’m mixing gouache (an opaque, concentrated watercolor) I know I’m near the end of a project.  It’s the final touch on paintings that have taken months to prepare and complete; from initial sketches, edits to story, more sketches, research gathering, final drawings, color studies, inking, and watercolor.  The smell of gouache takes me back to art school when a professor, enamored with the stuff, had us mix large quantities for color palettes mostly, I think, to force us to not be so precious with paints that were expensive and came in small tubes.

After the last color had been mixed and applied to the pages, six months of work was finally finished.  I headed to the sink to wash the plastic palette I use for mixing, in what was a mundane, ordinary task.  Suddenly, my mind stopped and my spirit took over.  The sink was filled with vibrant colors; magentas mingled with oranges and purples and yellows.  In a moment, color filled every neuron in my brain, and I remembered ever briefly why I do the work I do.  An immediate, irrational, and physical love of color - it’s power to enchant us, absorb us, and capture our hearts.  My hope is that the work I produced captured some of that and some day a child will open my books and feel that too.

An exciting week at my studio. My very first intern. This...

An exciting week at my studio.  My very first intern.  This seems like a seminal moment for any illustrator; when the hard working veteran can finally outsource the mundane tasks of running errands to the art store, doing research online, or picking up a book at the library to a young, eager busy-body.  Of course, as you’ll notice in this photo, I think mine has already taken over.  It’s one thing to be helpful, another thing altogether to SPEND ALL DAY SITTING AT MY DESK.  To make matters worse, she demands that I raise and lower her in the fancy art chair, as well as “spin her”, get her milk on demand, and “play chase with me.”  

It may be time to reconsider this whole affair.

Journey at Candlewick Press’s booth at this week’s...

Journey at Candlewick Press’s booth at this week’s BEA conference in NYC.  If you stop by the booth (C1575) ask for a free poster!

We bought this flying dragon boat for our daughter’s room...

We bought this flying dragon boat for our daughter’s room before she was even born. As excited parents-to-be it was a bit of a splurge, found in a Brooklyn boutiquey children’s shop.  Recently, she didn’t want it hanging up anymore, so we got to take it into our own bedroom.   One of the best things about having a kid is you get to buy stuff that you really want but would otherwise not!