A Moment with the Art of Chris Sheban
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Last week at Kirkus, I chatted here with author Patricia MacLachlan about several things, and one of those things was her newest picture book, Someone Like Me (Neal Porter/Roaring Brook Press, July 2017). Today, I’ve got some art from the book from illustrator Chris Sheban. He also includes some early sketches.
If you like what you see here, I’ll have more soon. I’ve had Chris’s responses for a 7-Imp “Seven Questions Over Breakfast” interview for an embarrassingly long time. It’s taken me longer than I like to get to that interview. The good news is: This is because it will have so much art in it. But the challenge is that those longer, art-filled interviews take longer to format. Anyway, I hope to have that up soon (and I thank Chris for his everlasting patience).
The final art you see here below from Someone Like Me is sans text.
Enjoy! And thanks to Chris for sharing.
(Click to enlarge final art)
![](http://blaine.org/7pics/2017/09/SLMFullSizeRender copysmall.jpg)
![](http://blaine.org/7pics/2017/09/SLMDigging dog sketchsmall.jpg)
![](http://blaine.org/7pics/2017/09/slmIMG_0148small.jpg)
reading as her mother led her across streets …”
(Click to enlarge final art)
![](http://blaine.org/7pics/2017/09/slmIMG_0149_sRGBsmall.jpg)
of the grown-ups who told secrets and never knew she was there …”
(Click to enlarge final art)
![](http://blaine.org/7pics/2017/09/slmSDC12746 copy 3small.jpg)
watching the sky that flew above her …”
(Click to enlarge final art)
![](http://blaine.org/7pics/2017/09/slmIMG_0143sm.jpg)
(Click to enlarge final art)
![](http://blaine.org/7pics/2017/09/slmSDC12741 copy 3small.jpg)
and their songs and how they laughed …”
(Click to enlarge final art)
![](http://blaine.org/7pics/2017/09/SLMearly sketch abandonedsmall.jpg)
![](http://blaine.org/7pics/2017/09/slmIMG_0146small.jpg)
and ran through the grasses sending the geese on the slough to fly up
around and back again …”
(Click to enlarge final art)
![](http://blaine.org/7pics/2017/09/SLM27 copyuse.jpg)
![](http://blaine.org/7pics/2017/09/slmIMG_0154_sRGBsmall.jpg)
you might be someone like me …”
(Click to enlarge final art)
![](http://blaine.org/7pics/2017/09/Someone Like Me-cover copy 2use.jpg)
SOMEONE LIKE ME. Copyright © 2017 by Patricia MacLachlan. Illustrations© 2017 by Chris Sheban. Published by Neal Porter Books/Roaring Brook Press. All images here reproduced by permission of Chris Sheban.
LOVELY!!!
Huge fan of his work! Chris manages to bring exceptional precision and technique to the page while making it always look relaxed, dreamlike and whimsical. Always a joy to see his art.
Chris is incredibly gifted and unique. Craft beyond measure. He’s both an illustrator and a fine artist. Thrilled to have a book coming out with him.
Any possibility Someone Like Me might be a Caldecott contender? I look forward to reading/seeing more about Chris. This book takes my breath away!
I was lucky enough to do a book with Chris–WHAT TO DO WITH A BOX last year. His imagination soars.
Jane