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Meet
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I am one of five children born into a creative family of artists, writers, scientists, musicians and a pilot in the Air Force. Growing up I was one of those shy, awkward kids, who spent ALL her time riding horses. As a child I struggled painfully with school. Although I was bright, I had difficulty learning in a purely linear or conceptual way. Since that was the method by which information was usually presented, learning was DRUDGERY! From age 12 (until 18 when I escaped) I went to V-E-R-Y strict all girls boarding schools. NO boys which was bad enough, but in addition there were NO art programs. You can imagine how fun this wasn't, Yikes!! No, these schools did not look kindly upon the romantic, NOR heaven forbid those with a creative soul. I decided to become an artist around age 18 or 19, I picked it up naturally, I suppose you might call it a genetic "thing," but whatever it was, it gave my life new meaning. I started out working exclusively in pen and ink because I have always been fascinated by how incredibly expressive a humble little line drawing can be. I love what Saul Steinberg, Aubrey Beardsley, Albert Hirschfeld, James Thurber do with line. |
I started creating children's books about 10 years ago to my complete delight and surprise, and that is when I started working in color -- bright color. I was living in Manhattan where everything was black and gray, so there was something terribly exciting about free falling with such ebullience into bright, primary colors. My first book, C is for Curious was a blind leap into an area I wasn't familiar with, meaning dealing with children's emotions. I wanted to create a book that would make the exploration of emotions for a child a meaningful and nonthreatening experience. I feel strongly that the younger a child can clearly IDENTIFY and articulate what their needs, fears and wants are, the better.
I am keenly aware of the privilege I have, in some small way, to impact the way children learn. I have found through my school visits that young children LEARN and RETAIN the fastest when the tools used are rhythm, rhyme and repetition while encouraging them to use their curiosity and imagination. In my latest book Imaginary Menagerie (written by Layne Longfellow, Chronicle Books) we have used this playful technique. I love being a children's book illustrator; I love teaching language; I love encouraging imagination: I am truly, truly lucky.
WOODLEIGH'S BOOKS
include:
Imaginary Menagerie
Hip Cat
C Is for Curious
2 Is For Dancing
The Friendship Book
The Twelve Days of Christmas