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A working knowledge of anatomy will give any illustrator a solid foundation upon which to hone one’s drawing skills. The possibilities are infinite, as along as you begin with the basic skills first.

Case-in-point:  Check out this interview with multi-talented artist Edel Rodriguez here. Then check out his portfolios and blog here.

Note the variety of moves he applies to his character, Sergio, a penguin who loves soccer!

 All illustrations © Edel Rodriguez

Remember our wonderful art series, My Favorite Artist? In this series we asked accomplished, well respected artists working today, the people we admire, who their favorite artists are and why. The first artist we approached in our series was illustrator, Laura Smith. We certainly hope to pick this up again right where we left off.

If you have any artists in mind that you would like us to contact for this series just list them out in the comments section below. In the meantime please enjoy the interviews conducted so far with the talented artists below.

Today we continue our new series, My Favorite Artist, where we ask accomplished, well respected artists working today, the people we admire, who their favorite artists are and why. As you might recall, illustrator Laura Smith was the first artist interviewed for this series. We recently asked illustrator Edel Rodriguez who it is that he has drawn inspiration from. Edel was kind enough to break from his busy schedule and explain what it is about the work of printmaker and sculptor, Kiki Smith that inspires him.

I first came across the work of Kiki Smith in the early '90s while I was studying at Pratt Institute. Her emphasis on the human anatomy, process, and telling personal stories through one’s art caught my attention when much of what I was being taught were ideas about minimalism and abstract expressionism.

Her delicate sculptures, drawings, and etchings, with an emphasis on the handmade, struck a chord with me at a time when I was trying to find a direction in my own work. I continued to follow her work throughout the years as it expanded into full blown gallery and museum installations. I enjoy how she has continued to change and grow, always going in different directions and continuing to experiment.

Choosing a favorite living artist is very difficult because I like looking at such a wide variety of work. I chose Kiki Smith beca

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Sergio Makes a Splash by Edel Rodriguez
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 40 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (May 1, 2008)
ISBN-10: 0316066168
ISBN-13: 978-0316066167
Source of book: Review copy from publisher



In this adorable picture book, the title character, Sergio, a young penguin has a serious dilemma. He LOVES water--ice, baths, rain, puddles--but he doesn't love the "very deep kind." Why? Because he can't swim. Yep, that's right. Sergio is a penguin who can't swim. When his class goes on a field trip to the ocean, he is naturally frightened. But can a little encouragement from his teacher and classmates plus arm floaties, a snorkel, and life preserver give him the courage to jump in?

Edel Rodriguez's oil-based woodblock ink and digital media illustrations will are fun and charming, and children will be drawn in by the bright aqua blue of the ocean that is the background throughout the book.

This is a very fun book that could help give kids the courage to try something they may be afraid of.