Over the years, I’ve found Valeri Gorbachev’s picture books (both ones he’s written and illustrated, as well as those written by others that he’s illustrated) to be a breath of fresh air. To be sure, I think he has a contemporary Richard-Scarry vibe—more than any other illustrator working today—but his artwork still possesses, at the same time, a style that is all his own.
(Pictured left is his self-portrait, which won me over right away.)
As I’ve written previously here at 7-Imp, when Valeri, who immigrated to the United States from the Ukraine in 1991, illustrates a new children’s title, I always go running to get a copy. (If you do the same, you stay busy, huh? He’s illustrated over fifty books in his career. Well over that number, I would bet. And I should have clarified this, but let’s carry on.) What do I love about his work? His pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations are terrifically kid-friendly — without being condescending to child readers. His colors are always cozy and warm. His expressive, detailed character work—always anthropomorphized animals who are endearing, yet never saccharine—always wins me over, and there’s a subtle humor in his work as well. There’s also usually a real sense of community that pervades his titles, and he creates original cumulative tales that really work.
With the recent release of a new title he both penned and illustrated, Catty Jane Who Hated the Rain (Boyds Mill Press, April 2012), I invited Valeri over for a 7-Imp cyber-breakfast. I’ve wanted to do this for years, and I’m pleased he’s here. “I’m not very creative in my breakfast,” he told me. “Usually, I like sausage. In my life, I’ve probably eaten enough sausages at breakfast that they can be looped around the world a few times. And, of course, I have to have my cup of coffee. Or two. Or three.”
Three cups of coffee always works in my kitchen, so let’s get right to it. I thank Valeri for stopping by. (more…)
What a feast! Really enjoyed reading this, and looking at those wonderful expressive animal faces. Specially love the rabbit on a pogo stick in the snow…
I love his statement about looking at picture books as theater. His artwork is glorious, playful and full of life. Thank you both for this wonderful interview.
Some illustrators who are mostly pen-and-ink and watercolors tend to have a very ethereal, floaty palette and it tends toward pastels. Not so here! The darkness - wide, frightened eyes, bedazzled-by-the-moon, dismayed, gleeful, and shy faces are rendered in the most brilliant and wonderful colors.
This has been a wonderful read. There’s no way we’d get sick of this gentleman! No way! ☺
His characters are so wonderfully expressive! Thanks for featuring Valeri — so much art to pour over. There are books herre I didn’t know of.
I love his work! Thanks for interviewing him!
“Who Will Tuck Me in Tonight?” was a bedtime staple for years in our house. I was delighted when my daughter quickly ‘recognized’ Wooly, Mrs. Cat, Mrs. Horse, and Mrs. Goose in other books illustrated and/or written by Mr. Gorbachev! His singular style of anthropomorphic animals is delightful, and although I had not considered his work similar to Richard Scarry’s, I will go back through our books and ponder it. Thank you for the interview with this talented illustrator!
Like the little glow of white light.
What a great interview with so much amazing art work. And how fun that Valeri does not have a website… So rare these days…
Terrific interview! No disrespect to Richard Scarry, and kudos to him for a very successful career, but if you compare Gorbachev and Scarry side-by-side you may notice that there really is no comparison. Valeri’s work is alive, his characters move on the page and express heartfelt emotion. They live and breathe and make me want to hug them! And now that I’ve seen Catty Jane, I can add her to my list of favorite Valeri Gorbachev characters! One of my favorite things to do when I get one of Valeri’s books in hand is to look at the small details that make his work so kid-friendly and homey, such as the bedroom slippers or glasses on older characters, or the well-loved stuffed animals clutched by the anthropomorphic characters (note Catty Jane clutching a stuffed bunny on the cover of that book). Wow! Those touches are a big part of why I love this highly-accomplished illustrator’s work.
Great timing! My 5yo checked out all the Valeri Gorbachev books from our library last week and we really enjoyed them - I caught that Richard Scarry vibe, too.
Thanks for this interview Jules. And a thank you too to Valeri Gorbachev for being so generous with his time and his artwork. I found his self-deprecating modesty endearing and quite funny!
I love Valeri’s art, and I think “It’s hard for me to describe my studio, because it’s such a mess that words fail me when I try to explain it ” may be my new favorite answer to the work space question.