{"id":3703,"date":"2015-03-22T00:01:22","date_gmt":"2015-03-22T06:01:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=3703"},"modified":"2015-03-22T08:44:22","modified_gmt":"2015-03-22T14:44:22","slug":"7-imps-7-kicks-424-featuring-c-g-esperanza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blaine.org\/sevenimpossiblethings\/?p=3703","title":{"rendered":"7-Imp\u2019s 7 Kicks #424: Featuring C. G. Esperanza"},"content":{"rendered":"


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“With her trunk she grabbed a brush and joined my little game.”<\/em><\/center>
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\nThis morning at 7-Imp, I welcome artist C. G. Esperanza<\/a><\/strong> (Charles, pictured right), whose newest book is from Sky Pony Press. Red, Yellow, Blue (And a Dash of White, Too!)<\/a><\/strong><\/em>, a promising author-illustrator debut, was released this month. Charles has previously illustrated Tania Grossinger’s<\/a><\/strong> Jackie and Me: A Very Special Friendship<\/a><\/em><\/strong> (Sky Pony Press, 2013), a story that is partly about famed baseball player Jackie Robinson, and he lives in the South Bronx. He tells me and 7-Imp readers more about himself below, and we get to take a look at some more art from Red, Yellow, Blue (And a Dash of White, Too!)<\/em>, as well as some early sketches from the book and a few of his other portfolio pieces. <\/p>\n

For those who want to see even more of Charles’ work, his Instagram\/Twitter handles are both @CGEsperanza. <\/p>\n

I thank him for visiting. <\/p>\n

P.S. If you want to read Charles’ thoughts on why picture books are the new Hip Hop, head over to his piece at Afropunk<\/a><\/em><\/strong>. <\/p>\n


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Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Can you talk about the seeds of this story, Red, Yellow, Blue …<\/em> and how the story came to you?<\/font><\/p>\n

Charles<\/font><\/strong>: I actually thought of the story back in my art school days, when I realized a lot of my non-artistic friends didn’t know the primary colors and how to make secondary colors. So I decided to make a picture book about the primary colors that would be cool enough for adults to read and would perhaps inspire people to express themselves artistically. I decided to design the main character after my sister Crystal, who was seven years old at the time, after I saw her running around the house with her gigantic afro and writing her name on everything in crayon. For the first version I created in Eric Velasquez\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> picture book class, I used her as a model. Since then, I’ve revised the story multiple times — and added her big blue elephant friend, Elebooyah.<\/p>\n

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(Click to see spread in its entirety)<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

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“Like a PINK dinosaur that can bite!”<\/em>
(Click to enlarge spread)<\/center><\/p>\n

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“BLOOO BLOB BLUB! This mix made a muddy GREENISH GRAY
Like an ugly mud monster! <\/em>GRAAAAH is all he could say.”<\/em>
(Click to enlarge spread)<\/center><\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: You live in the South Bronx, yes? How do you think the Bronx has influenced your work, if at all?<\/font><\/p>\n

Charles<\/font><\/strong>: I do live in the South Bronx. So does most of my family. For a long time I was ashamed of being from there. I didn’t learn to appreciate it till I met people in college from around the world, who had never been there before and were fascinated that I was from there. I became more interested in the history of these neighborhoods. They were once filled with beautiful mansions owned by the famous Tiffany heirs — and meadows that were demolished, burned, vandalized, and now rebuilt. I couldn’t help but let it all inspire me! My art is influenced by the hand-painted Bodega signs; the beautiful, vintage, abandoned architecture covered with colorful burners; the colorful bottles that sit on top of the old Puerto Rican dude’s Piragua cart; and all of the other untold stories waiting to be told.<\/p>\n

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Early sketches from <\/em>Red, Yellow, Blue …
(Click each to enlarge)<\/center>
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Early cover<\/em>
(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Who are some artists\/illustrators who inspire you?<\/font><\/p>\n

Charles<\/font><\/strong>: Jerry Pinkney’s<\/a><\/strong> amazing drawings full of imagination and color; Kadir Nelson’s<\/a><\/strong> stylized, powerful expression; Adam Rex’s<\/a><\/strong> edgy, whimsical characters; and Ezra Jack Keats’<\/a><\/strong> gritty, simplistic, yet complex execution and ability to see the world through a different perspective all inspired and shaped my voice as a picture book illustrator.<\/p>\n

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Nelson Mandela<\/a><\/strong>, a 2012 piece<\/a><\/strong> from the Paint It Black series<\/em>
(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: What else inspires you?<\/font><\/p>\n

Charles<\/font><\/strong>: There’s something inspirational about things like a dirty ice cream truck loudly playing a slightly warped, melodic tune, as children chase it down the street, or a beautifully sculpted statue, decorated with bird droppings, that really gets me going. The undiscovered beauty of something that is ugly or imperfect. I like to see the potential and emphasize its beauty.<\/p>\n

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

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Explain how you’re a “Visual Emcee,” as mentioned in the AfroPunk<\/em> piece<\/a><\/strong>.<\/font><\/p>\n

Charles<\/font><\/strong>: I once had a vision of Sam I am and Will I am eating green eggs and ham and then BAM! Hip Hop and street art were the fists of a Bronx-born spawn; with one fist the message was shouted and with the other it was drawn. Nothing Gold can stay, especially when it turns Green. So Hip Hop and Street art parted ways at the seams. Or at least that\u2019s how it seems, until you take another look! I\u2019ve brought Rhythmic poetry and Art back together in Picture Books!<\/p>\n

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Jules<\/font><\/strong>: I see at your blog<\/a><\/strong> that your father is West Indian and your mother is Puerto Rican. Do you think that (or they) influence your work in any way?<\/font><\/p>\n

Charles<\/font><\/strong>: My parents are very Americanized, so they never really introduced me to their native cultures. But Heriberta, my grandmother who grew up in Borinquen, definitely inspires me. Her chairs are decorated with the finest wood-carved rococo designs and floral patterns on the cushions. Her wardrobe is filled with art nouveau textiles and pastel colors. She’s always loved collecting dolls and listening to Celia Cruz. She\u2019s also very funny!<\/p>\n

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Percy Julian<\/a><\/strong>, a 2012 piece<\/a><\/strong> from the Paint It Black series<\/em>
(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: When did you know you wanted to illustrate picture books? What are the biggest joys of it for you? The biggest challenges?<\/font><\/p>\n

Charles<\/font><\/strong>: Fortunately, I met Eric Velasquez<\/a><\/strong> while taking his Picture Book Illustration class. He reintroduced (or, in some cases, introduced) many of the students in his class to Jerry Pinkney’s<\/a><\/strong>, Shel Silverstein<\/a><\/strong>, David Wiesner<\/a><\/strong>, and E.B. Lewis<\/a><\/strong>. But it was after I saw Eric\u2019s work in the book The Rain Stomper<\/a><\/em><\/strong> [by Addie Boswell<\/a><\/strong>] that I knew this was something I wanted to pursue.
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\nThe greatest joy of making picture books is making books that change people’s perspectives on what a children\u2019s book should be. Also, being able to tell stories is great. The biggest challenge I’ve faced is trying to do things the way I want, while still pleasing my mentors, editors, peers etc. Thankfully, they all seem to love what I’ve done so far!<\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Any new projects you can talk about and\/or anything you’re really<\/em> eager to do next?<\/font><\/p>\n

Charles<\/font><\/strong>: The boom bap beat in my head continues to loop, just waiting for a new rhythmic stanza that tells a story everyone can enjoy. I am having discussions with a couple of popular rappers about possibly collaborating on a fun story, using hip hop style rhymes that speak to the new generation of kids who love hip hop — and the older generation that loved Dr. Seuss<\/a><\/strong> and Slick Rick<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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— From Tania Grossinger’s<\/a><\/strong>
<\/em>Jackie and Me: A Very Special Friendship<\/a><\/strong>
(Sky Pony Press, 2013)<\/em>
(Click to enlarge)<\/center><\/p>\n

Jules<\/font><\/strong>: Anything else you want to add? What’d I forget to ask you?<\/font><\/p>\n

Charles<\/font><\/strong>: I am very honored to contribute my voice to the amazing culture of picture books and to be talking about my work on Seven Imp! I consider this blog to be the best for discovering how awesome picture books can be. I hope to inspire everyone, especially people in the Bronx, where few are exposed to the visual arts. Also, I would love to adapt Red, Yellow, Blue (And a Dash of White, Too!)<\/em> into a film. So, if Alejandro Jodorowsky<\/a><\/strong> or Ben Zeitlin<\/a><\/strong> are reading this, call me! <\/p>\n

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(Click to enlarge photo of Charles)<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n

RED, YELLOW, BLUE (AND A DASH OF WHITE, TOO!) Copyright \u00a9 2015 by Charles George Esperanza. Published by Sky Pony Press, New York. All images here reproduced by permission of Charles.<\/em><\/p>\n

Photos of Charles taken by Manny Sy and used by Charles’ permission.<\/em> <\/p>\n

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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>
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1)<\/strong><\/font> I appreciate Charles’ kind words, and his art woke me RIGHT UP before I even had coffee. <\/p>\n

2)<\/strong><\/font> Starting a project I should have started a good while ago. <\/p>\n

3)<\/strong><\/font> My girls and I are reading Alice Hoffman’s<\/a><\/strong> Nightbird<\/a><\/strong><\/em>. We are enjoying it, and check out the beautiful cover art from Sophie Blackall<\/a><\/strong>:<\/p>\n

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4)<\/strong><\/font> Laura Marling’s South X lullaby<\/a><\/strong> at NPR. <\/p>\n

5)<\/strong><\/font> Laura’s new CD is playing in its entirety here<\/a><\/strong>, and it’s good stuff. <\/p>\n

6)<\/strong><\/font> We saw Song of the Sea<\/a><\/strong><\/em> on the big screen. Holy WOW, such beautiful animation.<\/p>\n