{"id":21359,"date":"2022-04-06T20:49:39","date_gmt":"2022-04-07T00:49:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/?p=21359"},"modified":"2022-04-06T20:50:12","modified_gmt":"2022-04-07T00:50:12","slug":"ed-emberley-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/2022\/04\/06\/ed-emberley-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Ed Emberley: Drawing Made (To Look) Easy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cThis is the whole secret\u2014this is an alphabet,\u201d children\u2019s book creator Ed Emberley has told Cambridge artist and writer Caleb Neelon about the philosophy behind his celebrated how-to-draw books.<\/p>\n

Take a triangle, a circle and rectangle, some letters and numbers, arrange them in various combinations and, Emberley argues, you can draw almost anything.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can write so easily because we have an alphabet with a small number of letters,\u201d Emberley has said. \u201cEverything is made of that small number of letters. The same is true of imaging. If you can reduce things to a simple alphabet, then all you do is take those \u2018letters\u2019 and put them together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Emberley\u2019s ideal of making drawing accessible to anyone is at the heart of the exhibition \u201cI Could Do That! The Picture Book Art of Ed Emberley,\u201d curated by Neelon, on view at the Eric Carle Museum<\/a> in Amherst from Dec.18, 2021, to June 12, 2022. The exhibition features sketches, handmade book dummies, woodcut blocks, color separations and other original art from more than 20 picture books, including his Caldecott Medal-winning 1967 book \u201cDrummer Hoff\u201d; his popular \u201cDrawing Book\u201d series, which began in the 1970s; and his 1992 hit \u201cGo Away, Big Green Monster!\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Book<\/a>
Book dummies from “I Could Do That! The Picture Book Art of Ed Emberley” at the Eric Carle Museum, Amherst, December 18, 2021, to June 12, 2022. *(Courtesy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Emberley, now 90, was born in Malden, Massachusetts, on Oct. 19, 1931, and grew up in Cambridge\u2019s Central Square during the Depression. Beginning in 1950, he studied at Massachusetts School of Art in Boston (now Massachusetts College of Art and Design, where he met a fashion design major named Barbara who would become his wife), then Rhode Island School of Design in Providence. He painted signs and dug ditches in New Jersey and New York State for two years in between as a member of the U.S. Army.<\/p>\n

After college, he became a paste-up artist, then cartoonist at American Mail Advertising in Boston. He launched his own shop on Boston\u2019s Boylston Street with three other designers in 1961 and drew his first children\u2019s book, \u201cThe Wing on a Flea,\u201d a playful introduction to shapes.<\/p>\n

\u201cMr. Emberley does a marvelous job in making sure they [shapes] are seen, setting off, by the use of bright color, each shape from the rest of the page,\u201d George Woods wrote in The New York Times. \u201cOnly a real square would deny that here is a wonderful, lively way to learn.\u201d The book was named one of the 10 \u201cbest illustrated children\u2019s books\u201d of 1961 by The New York Times Book Review (coming in tenth, in case you\u2019re wondering).<\/p>\n

The growing Emberley family moved into a three-century-old house\u2028 overlooking the river in Ipswich, Massachusetts, in 1962. Barbara wrote several books that Ed illustrated. She and later their daughter and son made drawings to fill in the books\u2019 colors. (As the kids became adults, they followed their parents into the children\u2019s book creator business.)<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Emberley family of illustrators. From left, son Michael Emberley and his wife Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, Ed and Barbara Emberley, daughter Rebecca Emberley and her husband, musician Peter Black at “The Wonderful World of Ed Emberley” mural on Exchange Street, Malden, May 23, 2018. (Greg Cook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Emberley\u2019s work ranged from cheery primers (shapes, ABCs) to folk tales (Paul Bunyan, Noah\u2019s ark) to American history (inventions, colonial life, \u201cThe American West,\u201d Yankee Doodle) to science (marine life, ladybugs, birds). His illustration style shifted from rough-hewn woodcuts to blocks of flat color and fine crow quill pen lines in his \u201ccartoon modern\u201d drawings. At the time, publishers would usually only publish one book from him per year\u2014not enough to survive on, considering the modest pay advances. Multiple styles helped him line up more work.<\/p>\n

In 1967, \u201cOne Wide River to Cross\u201d\u2014Barbara\u2019s rendition of the biblical tale of Noah\u2019s Ark animated by Ed\u2019s illustrations\u2014was a runner up for children\u2019s publishing highest honor, the Caldecott Medal. \u201cEmberley puts the verses into illustrative form with masterly woodcuts, inked on brightly colored soft-grained pages that are a perfect mix of idea and image,\u201d Barbara Novak O\u2019Doherty wrote in The New York Times.<\/p>\n

Emberley won the Caldecott the following year for \u201cDrummer Hoff”\u2014a rhyme about readying a cannon to fire (\u201cKahbahblooom\u201d). The book is a tour de force of old time woodcut illustration merging into psychedelia. \u201cBarbara Emberley adapted this old folk verse, and husband Ed produced the stylized full-color illustrations. Irresistible for reading aloud, for memorizing, for pointing out all sorts of jolly details in the drawings,\u201d Eve Merriam wrote in The New York Times.<\/p>\n

\"Ed<\/a>
Ed Emberley, Illustration for Drummer Hoff by Barbara Emberley (Aladdin). Collection of the artist. \u00a9 1967 Ed Emberley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Throughout the 1960s, Emberley produced at a furious pace. \u201cDrummer Hoff\u201d is just the most famed of at least three books he published in 1967. He thought he\u2019d earned the privilege of taking his time on his next book (which would become 1973\u2019s \u201cSuppose You Met A Witch\u201d by Ian Serraillier). But as the project dragged on, his editor nudged him to get back into print, so Emberley quickly drafted a basic how-to book. \u201cEd Emberley\u2019s Drawing Book of Animals\u201d appeared in 1970, followed by \u201cEd Emberley\u2019s Drawing Book of Faces\u201d in 1975, \u201cEd Emberley\u2019s Great Thumbprint Drawing Book\u201d in 1977, and so on\u2014a long line of drawing books that have gone on to sell more than a million copies.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe opening page shows the simple elements\u2014triangles, squares, circles and combinations of the three\u2014from which whole worlds of nature, agriculture, transport and high jinks can be constructed,\u201d Selma Lanes wrote in The New York Times about a 1973 entry in the series. \u201c\u2026They should be snatched up by every child or adult who ever wished he could draw more than a straight line.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt makes kids feel good,\u201d Emberley tells Neelon in an essay for the Carle Museum exhibition. \u201cThe most important thing for me when I made a book is that you, the reader, would succeed, get a habit of success. \u2026 That\u2019s the point, not to turn you into an artist, but to give you the habit of success.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

If this is the kind of coverage of arts, cultures and activisms you appreciate, please support Wonderland by contributing to Wonderland on Patreon<\/a>. And sign up for our free, occasional newsletter<\/a> so that you don’t miss any of our reporting. (All content \u00a9Greg Cook 2022 or the respective creators.)<\/em><\/p>\n

\n
\"Illustrator<\/a>
Illustrator Ed Emberley at “The Wonderful World of Ed Emberley” mural on Exchange Street, Malden, May 23, 2018. (Greg Cook)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Book<\/a>
Book dummies from “I Could Do That! The Picture Book Art of Ed Emberley” at the Eric Carle Museum, Amherst, December 18, 2021, to June 12, 2022. *(Courtesy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Ed<\/a>
Ed Emberley, Illustration for One Wide River to Cross by Barbara Emberley (Ammo Books). Collection of the artist. \u00a9 1966 Ed Emberley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Ed<\/a>
Ed Emberley, Illustration for One Wide River to Cross by Barbara Emberley (Ammo Books). Collection of the artist. \u00a9 1966 Ed Emberley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Ed<\/a>
Ed Emberley, Illustration for London Bridge is Falling Down (Little, Brown & Co.). Collection of the artist. \u00a9 1967 Ed Emberley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\""I<\/a>
“I Could Do That! The Picture Book Art of Ed Emberley” at the Eric Carle Museum, Amherst, December 18, 2021, to June 12, 2022. *(Courtesy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Woodcut<\/a>
Woodcut blocks from “I Could Do That! The Picture Book Art of Ed Emberley” at the Eric Carle Museum, Amherst, December 18, 2021, to June 12, 2022. *(Courtesy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Woodcut<\/a>
Woodcut blocks from “I Could Do That! The Picture Book Art of Ed Emberley” at the Eric Carle Museum, Amherst, December 18, 2021, to June 12, 2022. *(Courtesy)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Ed<\/a>
Ed Emberley, Sketch for Ed Emberley’s Drawing Book of Animals (Little, Brown & Co.). Collection of the artist. \u00a9 1970 Ed Emberley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Ed<\/a>
Ed Emberley, Book dummy for Little Drawing Book of Birds. (Little, Brown & Co.). Collection of the artist. \u00a9 1973 Ed Emberley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Ed<\/a>
Ed Emberley, Illustration for Suppose You Met a Witch by Ian Serraillier (Little, Brown & Co.). Collection of the artist. \u00a9 1973 Ed Emberley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Ed<\/a>
Ed Emberley, Illustration for Suppose You Met a Witch by Ian Serraillier (Little, Brown & Co.). Collection of the artist. \u00a9 1973 Ed Emberley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Ed<\/a>
Ed Emberley, Illustration for The Wizard of Op (Little, Brown & Co.). Collection of the artist. \u00a9 1975 Ed Emberley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Ed<\/a>
Ed Emberley, Illustration for Ed Emberley’s ABC (Little, Brown & Co.). Collection of the artist. \u00a9 1978 Ed Emberley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Ed<\/a>
Ed Emberley, Illustration for Ed Emberley’s ABC (Little, Brown & Co.). Collection of the artist. \u00a9 1978 Ed Emberley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Ed<\/a>
Ed Emberley, Illustration for Picture Pie (Little, Brown & Co.). Collection of the artist. \u00a9 1984 Ed Emberley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Ed<\/a>
Ed Emberley, Illustration for Picture Pie (Little, Brown & Co.). Collection of the artist. \u00a9 1984 Ed Emberley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Ed<\/a>
Ed Emberley, Illustration for Picture Pie (Little, Brown & Co.). Collection of the artist. \u00a9 1984 Ed Emberley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Ed<\/a>
Ed Emberley, Book dummy for Go Away, Big Green Monster (Little, Brown & Co.). Collection of the artist. \u00a9 1993, 2005 Ed Emberley.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n

If this is the kind of coverage of arts, cultures and activisms you appreciate, please support Wonderland by contributing to Wonderland on Patreon<\/a>. And sign up for our free, occasional newsletter<\/a> so that you don’t miss any of our reporting. (All content \u00a9Greg Cook 2022 or the respective creators.)<\/em><\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cThis is the whole secret\u2014this is an alphabet,\u201d children\u2019s book creator Ed Emberley has told Cambridge artist and writer Caleb Neelon about the philosophy behind his celebrated how-to-draw books. Take a triangle, a circle and rectangle, some letters and numbers, arrange them in various combinations and, Emberley argues, you can draw almost anything. \u201cWe can […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21336,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[100,107],"tags":[211,964,635],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21359"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=21359"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21359\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21364,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21359\/revisions\/21364"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=21359"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=21359"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gregcookland.com\/wonderland\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=21359"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}