Thought behind the thought:
Every generation feels that the generation preceding theirs was narrow minded and the generation following theirs is arrogant and has attitude problems. Well the truth really lies in what we got from our parents and what we are giving to our kids as our legacy. Attitude is not a garment we slip on but it the skin we live in. A couple of days back a colleague of mine was very concerned about the “attitude” of today’s students. I am quite certain I have heard the same thing said about us when we were studying. Who decides if attitude is right or wrong? Ones attitude is a vehicle in which the person travels towards his destination. Better the vehicle better are the chances of getting there. Also the vehicle needs to be suitable to the kind of journey one wants to embark on.
About the art:
Any children’s illustrated book is successful if the attitude of the character and the illustration match. While reading any such book we have a mental picture of the character. When we have an illustration that portrays the right attitude, an instant connection is made with the character.
Some examples of famous children’s book characters and their illustrations.
Captain Haddock is known for his alcoholism and temperamental nature. His character is portrayed to be weak, short-tempered, given to emotional expletive-ridden outbursts and capable of infuriating behavior. In illustrating this character Herge was inspired by the fiery temper of Tintin colourist E.P. Jacobs and the bluffness of Tintin artist Bob de Moor.
When Quentin Blake was illustrating Matilda, the most challenging character was Miss Trunchbull. The dreadful headmistress was really exaggerated by Roald Dahl, the author and the first drawings that Blake made had Miss Trunchbull wearing a shirt, collar and tie, belt and boots which made her look like a dictator. He was then given a picture of a person Dahl had in mind while creating the character. This led to the boots becoming shoes; her hair was tied in a fancy French hairdo. Her image of a former Olympic athlete who could now hold little girls by their pigtails and throw them into middle distance started becoming a plausible vision.
When Uderzo's first started sketching Asterix he somehow felt the need to portray him as a huge and strong traditional Gaulish warrior. Goscinny, the author, had visualized him differently. His vision of Asterix was that of a shrewd small sized warrior who would prefer intelligence over strength. Hence Uderzo pointed out that that perhaps a small sized hero needed a strong but dim companion to which Goscinny agreed. This was how the portrayal of Obelix was structured.
The characters of Archie Comics were created by publisher/editor John L. Goldwater, written by Vic Bloom, and drawn by Bob Montana. Montana was inspired by his friends, Skinny Linehan and Arnold Daggett while portraying Jughead Jones and Moose Mason respectively. School librarian Elizabeth Tuck inspired Miss Grundy and Principal Earl McLeod was the model for Mr. Weatherbee. Montana knew the Boston Brahmin political family the Lodges, because he had once painted a mural for them; he combined their family name with actress Veronica Lake to create Veronica Lodge. Betty Cooper was based on Montana's girlfriend in New York. Pop Tate's Chocklit Shoppe, a soda shop where Archie's Gang hang out, was based on Crown Confectionery and the Chocolate Shop on Merrimack Street and the Tuscarora on Winter Street in Haverhill.
Simply loved the quote and the research
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