Marc Simont
One of my all time favorite illustrators, Marc Simont, died recently. He was 97. Margalit Fox wrote a very useful obit for the New York Times which is worth a look. As she notes, Mr Simont�s career was bracketed by a 1949 Caldecott Honor for THE HAPPY DAY, written by Ruth Krauss, and a 2001 Caldecott Honor for THE STRAY DOG, based on a story by Rieko Sassa. In 1957, he received the Caldecott Medal for A TREE IS NICE, written by Janice May Udry.
For me, Mr Simont�s body of illustration is remarkable for both the amazing range of subjects he successfully took on and for the consistent freshness of his style. Like all the greats, Mr Simont created a drawing style that was out of time. It never looked old-fashioned. It never looked retro. It was simply, and wonderfully, his own.
Also, like all the greats, Mr Simont found truly creative solutions to some perplexing illustrative problems. Here, I have posted a drawing from THE STRAY DOG that made my jaw hit the drawing board. Somehow, he�s managed to convey the immediate impression of night while relying on a bright, all-white background. Brilliant, simply brilliant. A very apt description of Mr Simont�s legacy.
For me, Mr Simont�s body of illustration is remarkable for both the amazing range of subjects he successfully took on and for the consistent freshness of his style. Like all the greats, Mr Simont created a drawing style that was out of time. It never looked old-fashioned. It never looked retro. It was simply, and wonderfully, his own.
Also, like all the greats, Mr Simont found truly creative solutions to some perplexing illustrative problems. Here, I have posted a drawing from THE STRAY DOG that made my jaw hit the drawing board. Somehow, he�s managed to convey the immediate impression of night while relying on a bright, all-white background. Brilliant, simply brilliant. A very apt description of Mr Simont�s legacy.
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