Marla Marla FrazeeFrazee

Illustrator Study

BiographyBiographyBorn and raised in Los AngelesEarned Bachelor of Fine Arts from Art Center College of Design Married to photographer Tim BradleyHas three sons and a dog named RocketAfter college worked in toy designIn addition to writing and illustrating, Ms. Frazee teaches illustration at the Art Center College of DesignFirst book illustrated in 1990World Famous Muriel and the Magic Mystery

Frazee works from a cottage in her back yard. She knew from the time she was in third grade she wanted

to be an illustrator. Where The Wild Things Are and Blueberries for Sal have been great inspirations for

her.

Interview with Marla frazeeInterview with Marla frazee

Advice to Aspiring Young Advice to Aspiring Young IllustratorsIllustrators

“Get to know your characters, inside and out. Do not be afraid to dig deep, because that is where you are going to find the beating heart of what you are trying to do. Revise, revise, revise. Each revision brings you closer to your true intention. Stay open to surprises. Feel it. If you aren't communicating in an emotional way, then you aren't communicating.”

A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week EverA Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever

Ms. Frazee wrote and illustrated A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever. She earned a Caldecott Honor Award as well as a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor for her work. The style is similar to that of a

comic book which gives the book visual appeal.

All the WorldAll the World

Ms. Frazee also won a Caldecott Honor Award for All the World. Written by LizGarton Scanlon, All the World also was a New York Times Best Illustrated book.

Clementine SeriesClementine Series

“I wanted the Clementine books to reflect the same period of time when Louis Darling was illustrating the Beverly Cleary books. I have been very inspired by his work and the work of other great pen-and-ink illustrators, too, like Robert Lawson, Ernest Shepard, Doris Burns, and Chris Riddell. 

As for the character of Clementine, I have long been infatuated with Little Sal, the protagonist in Robert McCloskey's Blueberries for Sal, and, it goes without saying, Cleary's Ramona.”

Frazee equates the pen-and-ink drawings required for Clementine to walking a tightrope. She finds it scary because one little mistakeand you have to start all over.

The Seven Silly EatersThe Seven Silly Eaters

“Using color and composition, the illustrator can create emotional impact that may or may not be in the text. As with cinema, the

combination of words and pictures create a more complete sensory experience. Somber or cheery tones, oppressive or minute forms,

frenetic or calming imagery all greatly affect the story itself.”

Santa Claus the World’s Number One Toy ExpertSanta Claus the World’s Number One Toy Expert

“Whether our characters are cartooned, stylized, or realistic, they have to be TRUE. If we want our

readers to feel deeply about our characters,

we need to use everything we’ve discovered about

ourselves and others, and show their

humanity. We will know much more about them then we will ultimately show in the book, and

that will give them depth. Plus, we’ve got

to draw them consistently.”

Roller CoasterRoller Coaster

“Illustrators create a

visual world the reader

enters into. We turn the light on, and

hopefully allow the

reader to SEE the story

being told.”

BibliographyBibliographyAs IllustratorWorld Famous Muriel and the Magic MysteryThat Kookoory!The Seven Silly EatersOn the Morn of MayfestHarriet, You’ll Drive Me Wild!Everywhere BabiesMrs. BiddleboxNew Baby TrainClementine SeriesAll the World

As Author and IllustratorRoller CoasterSanta Claus, The World’s Number One Toy ExpertWalk On, a Guide for Babies of All AgesA Couple of Boys Have the Best Week EverThe Boss Baby

SourcesSourcesMarla Frazee website http://www.marlafrazee.com/MaryAnn Hoberman website http://www.maryannhoberman.com/books/sevenSillyEaters.htmlTitlewave http://flr.follett.com

Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marla_Frazee

YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Us_950egH0E