{"id":2414,"date":"2012-08-27T20:01:45","date_gmt":"2012-08-28T02:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2414"},"modified":"2012-08-27T20:26:01","modified_gmt":"2012-08-28T02:26:01","slug":"seven-questions-over-breakfastwith-christian-robinson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=2414","title":{"rendered":"Seven Questions Over
a Late-Night Breakfast with Christian Robinson"},"content":{"rendered":"

Get out the veggies, eggs, and coffee mugs. Illustrator Christian Robinson<\/a><\/strong> is visiting for a late-night breakfast. (Why not? Breakfast for dinner! I say.) Given that he’s a vegetarian—though he admits he kinda misses his bacon—he enjoys “a really good veggie omelette in the morning, usually with avocado, tomato, spinach, and cheddar. Pancakes or toast on the side. A tall glass of fresh-squeezed OJ is a must.” This is all more than good with me, though of course we’re going to have it at night, not to mention I’m bringing some strong coffee to the table, too. (Yes, it’s late, but decaf is just wrong all wrong.)<\/p>\n

Christian, who is also an animator<\/a><\/strong>, will soon see the release (October of this year) of Ren\u00e9e Watson’s<\/a><\/strong> Harlem’s Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, published by Random House. This is the picture book biography of the African-American cabaret singer and dancer, the daughter of former slaves who faced bigotry herself during her rise to fame at the time of the Harlem Renaissance, yet sang of civil rights and ultimately used her fame and talent to give back to the community. (“After her performances,” Watson writes, “Florence disguised herself so no one would recognize her. She went to hospitals to deliver flowers to patients. And she walked along the Thames River giving money and food to beggars.”)<\/p>\n

Robinson’s mixed media illustrations convey emotion with a child-like clarity and seeming simplicity; they are a striking accompaniment to Watson’s words. Today, Christian shares art from this book, as well as lots of other art, and I thank him for visiting. <\/p>\n

So, let’s get right to it. <\/p>\n

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

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

Christian<\/font><\/strong>: Illustrator for now. Aspiring to be both. <\/p>\n


\n

Sister Girl<\/a><\/strong>: “[Birthday] gift for my grandma.
I was trying to channel an Ezra Jack Keats<\/a><\/strong> feel in this collage.”<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

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

<\/p>\n

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