{"id":3307,"date":"2014-01-26T00:01:49","date_gmt":"2014-01-26T06:01:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=3307"},"modified":"2014-01-25T22:08:15","modified_gmt":"2014-01-26T04:08:15","slug":"7-imps-7-kicks-366-featuring-christian-robinson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=3307","title":{"rendered":"7-Imp\u2019s 7 Kicks #366: Featuring Christian Robinson"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

This past week, a review I wrote for the wonderful folks at BookPage<\/em> was included in a round-up of theirs, which you can read here<\/a><\/strong>. My contribution was a review of Patricia Hruby Powell’s<\/a><\/strong> Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker<\/em> (Chronicle Books, January 2014), illustrated by Christian Robinson<\/a><\/strong>. What an excellent book this is. So, you can read all about it here<\/a><\/strong>, and today Christian, whose artwork gives me hope for the future of illustration, visits to share early cover designs, storyboards, and photos of some of his original art from the book. I thank him for sharing. <\/p>\n

(As a reminder, Christian visited 7-Imp in 2012<\/a><\/strong>, and it’s still one of my favorite interviews.)<\/p>\n

Enjoy! <\/p>\n


 

\n

Exploring Cover Designs:<\/font><\/strong><\/center>
\n
 

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
 

\n
Final Cover:<\/font><\/strong><\/center>
\n
 

\n
\n
 

\n
Exploring Character:<\/font><\/strong><\/center>
\n
 

\n
\n
\n
\n
 

\n
Process and Storyboards:<\/font><\/strong><\/center>
\n
 

\n
\n<\/a>
\n
(Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/center>
\n
 

\n
What Your Studio Looks Like When You’re
Working on a Book About Josephine Baker:<\/font><\/strong><\/center>
\n
 

\n<\/a>
\n
(Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/center>
\n
 

\n
Original Art from the Book:<\/font><\/strong><\/center>
\n
 

\n<\/a>
\n
“She flung her arms, she flung her legs. Like she flung her heart and her soul.
‘Cause DANCIN’<\/font> makes you HAPPY<\/font> when nothin’ else will.”<\/em>
(Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n

“Josephine’s VOLCANIC CORE<\/font> heated, but the comic in her got funnier,
like a hot steam release. POOF.<\/font> The chorus kicked forward, she kicked backward. POP.<\/font> They strutted, Josephine shimmied instead.”<\/em>
(Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n

“She awoke DAZZLED<\/font> by the big city and filled with hope, walked straight to the theater, BOLD<\/font> as a SHOUT<\/font> and auditioned for Mr. Sissle, the producer:
‘Sorry, too small, too thin, too dark.’
‘Wasn’t there any place in the world where color didn’t matter?'”<\/em>
(Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n


\n

“She shimmied. She shook. She swiveled and kicked. Sparks flew.<\/em>
C’EST MAGNIFIQUE!<\/font>“<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n


\n

“…The Austrians called her an ANGEL.<\/font> Another victory for Josephine.
SHE GLOWED.<\/font>“<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

<\/a>
\n

“She married JO BOUILLON,<\/font> her orchestra leader, and started to
ADOPT CHILDREN<\/font> of different races and from different countries …”<\/em>
(Click to enlarge)<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

JOSEPHINE. Copyright \u00a9 2014 by Patricia Hruby Powell. Illustrations copyright \u00a9 2014 by Christian Robinson. Published by Chronicle Books, San Francisco. All images here reproduced by permission of Christian Robinson.<\/em><\/p>\n

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

Note for any new readers: 7-Imp\u2019s 7 Kicks is a weekly meeting ground for taking some time to reflect on Seven(ish) Exceptionally Fabulous, Beautiful, Interesting, Hilarious, or Otherwise Positive Noteworthy Things from the past week, whether book-related or not, that happened to you. New kickers are always welcome. <\/p>\n

* * * Jules’ Kicks * * *<\/strong><\/font>
<\/center><\/p>\n

1)<\/strong><\/font> You all know what the 90-Second Newbery Film Festival is, yes? If not, here’s<\/a><\/strong> all the information you need. It’s an annual video contest in which child filmmakers create movies that tell the stories of Newbery award-winning books in 90 seconds or less. Well, it’s time for the third annual festival, and in celebration, the founder of the entire endeavor, James Kennedy<\/a><\/strong>, is sharing this version of “Charlotte’s Web,” done by author-illustrator Aaron Zenz<\/a><\/strong> and his family. This is so much fun:<\/p>\n