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Robert's Snow: Please Look After Snowflake Artist R.W. Alley
Happy November! So glad you're here. Have you ever seen such beautiful snow?
Today, my beary special guest is the one and only children's book illustrator and Paddington Bear portraitist, R.W. Alley!
Can you believe it? I am so delighted, thrilled, and honored that he agreed to drop by, talk about his 2007 Robert's Snow: For Cancer's Cure snowflake, and let us in on what he's been up to lately. The 28 resident Paddingtons even brushed their fur to welcome the talented illustrator who was born right here in Virginia, gained international recognition for his Paddington pictures, and who, admittedly, has never stopped being ten years old.
(three of R.W. Alley's PB picture books, stories by Michael Bond)
You are probably familiar with Michael Bond's thirteen novels documenting the endearing ursine who came to live with the Brown family at 32 Windsor Gardens, London. You may also know that Peggy Fortnum was the first to draw Paddington's likeness, and that there have been at least four other artists who have followed suit. But in 1997, R.W. Alley was selected to carry on Paddington's legacy by illustrating a series of PB picture books. As an avid bear collector and diehard Paddington fan, I must say that no one else has drawn Paddington quite as well as he does.
Paddington greets the Browns at Paddington Station
Why? Because it's a lot more than a duffle coat, floppy hat, black ears and Wellington boots. The real challenge lies in infusing the pictures with energy, capturing facial expressions which really nail Paddington's personality, and pinning down a much beloved bear long enough to allow his readers to truly internalize him. Hats off to Robert Whitlock Alley! Thanks to his pictures, Paddington has never been more loveable, move mischievous, more irresistible.
Though Paddington usually takes center stage, Bob Alley has illustrated over one hundred picture books, easy readers, chapter books and poetry collections for other authors, such as Larry Dane Brimner, Andrew Clements, Jean Van Leeuwen, Claudia Mills, and Susan Katz. He has also self-illustrated about a dozen other titles: The Clever Carpenter (Random House, 1988) and There Once Was a Witch (HarperFestival, 2003), to name just two. Such is the prodigious output of the former Haverford art history student who spent class time "doodling in the margins and dreaming up stories."
(some of R.W. Alley's Easy Readers)
(some of R.W. Alley's recent picture books)
These days, Bob Alley lives in Barrington, Rhode Island, with his lovely wife, Zoe, and their two children, Cassie and Max. He can usually be found in his garage studio, happily working in his slippers.
Mr. Robert Alley Mr. Paddington Brown
Jama: Welcome, Bob! Let's begin by talking about your snowflake. Where does the drawing come from?
"Paddington at Paddington Station, London," will be featured in Auction 3, December 3-7, 2007.
Bob: This drawing is from the title page of the newest Paddington picture book. The book is in full color, but since Paddington was first illustrated in pen and ink, and since his 50th anniversary is being celebrated with a new novel decorated with pen and ink drawings by me, I thought this was an appropriate image for the snowflake. Sort of retro. Very popular these days.
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