{"id":1592,"date":"2009-03-02T00:01:19","date_gmt":"2009-03-02T06:01:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=1592"},"modified":"2009-05-02T10:10:25","modified_gmt":"2009-05-02T16:10:25","slug":"seven-questions-over-breakfast-with-stefano-vitale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=1592","title":{"rendered":"Seven Questions Over Breakfast with Stefano Vitale"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"StefanoHere’s one of the best things about blogging: I get to chat with book-creators whose work I have admired for a long time. Illustrator Stefano Vitale<\/strong><\/a> is one of those people. His art work is a force of nature, and whenever I see that he’s illustrated a new title, I run to find a copy. <\/p>\n

Even though I didn’t get to chat with him directly—this was one of those interviews conducted via his publicist (I’m sure he’s a very busy guy, so this is hardly a complaint)—I’m still thrilled that I was two degrees away from someone whose art work has brought me so much joy. Better yet, I get to either share it with fellow fans today OR<\/em> introduce the uninitiated to his books and show you what his paintbrush can produce. Both things are big kicks, indeed. <\/p>\n


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A random Moment of Beauty from Stefano Vitale (entitled <\/em>Ginny Grows Up)<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

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Stefano, born in Italy, started out studying Economics and Social Sciences. And, while I have no doubt he excelled at those fields of study, I admit I’m glad he turned to the arts after that. Or we wouldn’t have the dazzling art you see below. While studying at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, he quickly became known, as his bio<\/strong><\/a> states, “for always painting the same thing for every assignment — a madonna with one eye.” While living in California, Stefano traveled extensively throughout Mexico and Central America; the results of these travels can be seen in his vibrant signature folk-art style today. After graduating and looking for work in New York, he ended back up in Italy, and…well, you can read more about that below in his answer to the stompin’-grounds question. <\/p>\n

Now, there are the children’s titles he’s illustrated. Does it get any better than this for sheer drama and an illustrator getting right to the very center—and the inherent (and exhilarating) fright—of a piece?<\/p>\n


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From “Jean and Jeannette” (a <\/em>Hansel-and-Gretel-esque tale from France) in
Judy Sierra’s<\/strong><\/a> <\/em>Can You Guess My Name?: Traditional Tales Around the World<\/strong><\/a>; Clarion Books; 2002<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

…But at his site’s bio<\/strong><\/a>, he also lists his clients in both the editorial<\/strong><\/a> and advertising<\/strong><\/a> worlds, as well as the many awards and honors received over the years. (Incidentally, I think Stefano inadvertently skipped the question about his medium-of-choice, but I would venture it can best be summarized as mixed media on board.) Click on those links I just threw in (“editorial” and “advertising”), and you just might be surprised, as I was, that he<\/em> painted those<\/em>. (I mean, just when I think I can recognize a piece of work by one of my favorite illustrators, things like that trip me up. In other words, picture me exclaiming, Ohhhhh! I’ve seen those before. That was Stefano Vitale?!<\/em> Throw in the hand-to-forehead slap, and there you have it.) <\/p>\n

I’ve seen a copy of one of his forthcoming illustrated titles, written by the prolific and talented picture book author\/illustrator Teri Sloat<\/a><\/strong>, and to be published this July by Henry Holt: There Was an Old Man Who Painted the Sky<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. This imaginative tale takes the pivotal 1879 discovery of paintings by the young child Maria Marcelino on the ceilings of Altamira Cave<\/strong><\/a> in Spain and hangs it on the frame of the classic cumulative children’s song, “There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly.”<\/strong><\/a> (“There was an old man who painted the sky, But I don’t know how he painted the sky—It’s up so high!”<\/em>) The book’s larger themes, if you will, address the wonder in considering the creation of our world and the discovery of such awesome beauty in the last place you’d expect it, and if anyone<\/em> were going to depict such elemental images and be given the challenge of expressing the wonder and beauty and colors and brilliance of this world we live in—and its very creation—I’m glad it was Vitale. I’d go so far as to say he was the perfect<\/em> choice to illustrate this title. <\/p>\n

Pictured here are also some illustrations from another forthcoming title, which I haven’t yet had the pleasure of seeing but look forward to reading, Betsy Franco’s<\/strong><\/a> Pond Circle<\/strong><\/a><\/em>, to be released this year by Margaret K. McElderry Books:<\/p>\n


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This morning for our cyber-breakfast chat, Stefano has opted for “yoghurt (real one, not factory-made); bread and home-made jam; big cup of coffee with little cold milk and no sugar. Occasionally, some cereal stolen from my kids.”<\/font> As our devoted readers know, “a big cup of coffee” is my favorite answer. Let’s get right to it and get the basics from Stefano while we set the table for some confiscated cereal and coffee. I thank him kindly for taking the time to stop by and chat and share his art work. <\/p>\n

* * * * * * *<\/font><\/center><\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/font><\/strong>: Are you an illustrator or author\/illustrator?<\/font><\/p>\n

Stefano<\/font><\/strong>: Illustrator. <\/p>\n


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Stefano’s <\/em>Venus and Cupid from a calendar for Boehringer Ingelheim<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

7-Imp<\/font><\/strong>: Can you list your books-to-date?<\/font><\/p>\n

Stefano<\/font><\/strong>: <\/p>\n