Appletree Books: Illustrator Meet & Greet
Save the date Cleveland friends! : )
Remember the feeling!?
An Open Book Foundation
We recently had the opportunity to share Gordon Parks' story with third and fourth graders at two schools in Washington D.C, made possible by An Open Book Foundation. I'll never forget this amazing experience!
Signed copies of our book were given to third and fourth graders at two schools in Washington D.C. thanks to An Open Book Foundation.
Carole reading our book to Mrs. Grahm's third grade class, Malcom X Elementary, Washington D.C.
Q & A "How much money do you make as an illustrator?" : )
Impromptu drawing demo with the kids!
More drawing! I had gotten a request to add a dog bone to the picture. : )
Copes of Gordon Parks being handed out by our event's very generous sponsors.
D.C. Hopscotch
Make a statement and show some love for the teachers that have inspired you and helped you to shine. I designed this a few years back while watching the coverage of striking teachers in Wisconsin and Chicago. I wanted to create something positive that spoke to the dedicated teachers I knew growing up. T-shirts, coffee mugs, and more with the design are now available in time for Teacher Appreciation Week May 4-8, at Cafepress and Society6. A portion of each purchase will go to art education at the International Child Art Foundation (ICAF) in memory of my mom Connie Christoph, an elementary school art teacher of 30 years. She taught from a motorized wheel chair when ALS took her ability to stand and continued to make art with her students the last months of her life. Please share your own inspiring teacher stories. Thanks!
www.cafepress.com/TheTeachersApple
www.society6.com/jameychristoph
Happy 126th Charlie Chaplin!
To say I idolized Charlie Chaplin growing up doesn't quite capture the feeling, I wanted to be Charlie Chaplin! Happy Birthday old friend-
Communication Arts 2015
Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black and White America, By Carole Boston Weatherford
Just received great news! I am a competition winner in the 2015 Communication Arts Illustration Annual. My favorite spread from our new children's book about Gordon Parks will appear in the magazines’ March/April issue. Happy and so appreciative for the great exposure!
Gordon Parks
About a year ago, I received an email inquiry about a job, a children’s book about the pioneer 20th century photographer Gordon Parks. Regrettably I knew very little about the man, but a quick google search revealed his remarkable story. His still birth and miraculous resuscitation by the family physician Dr. Gordon, his humble beginnings in a segregated school room in Kansas, the tragic loss of his mom at age 15, and finally the racism he encountered all along the way. And then there were his beautiful photos, glamorous, vintage, and provocative, each so powerful, spanning his accomplished 75-year career. An inspired and poetic manuscript written by Caldecott Medal Honoree Carole Boston Weatherford arrived later that afternoon along with a contract– I had the night to think everything over. I knew this was an incredible opportunity, but it came with a few tough questions. Did I have the time to take this on? It was shaping up to be a very busy January and I had just signed on to illustrate four children’s books for another publisher. Could I complete it in time? It had a very tight schedule. ...and most importantly, did I have the chops for something like this, could I do Gordon’s story justice? Needless to say, I didn't get much sleep that night. Fellow freelancers, I’m sure you know the feeling.
At the time we were living Annapolis, Maryland and our days often began at the City Dock Starbucks, located at the town’s picturesque harbor. I’ll never forget that morning, I was walking along the shoreline tired and lost in thought and soon found myself at the Alex Haley Memorial, a group of bronze statues with the esteemed novelist of Roots seated on a bench and reading to children. I was familiar with the arrangement, but something special caught my eye that morning, a nearby plaque that concludes with these words, “Take time to share heritage stories with children so they can pass on their proud heritage and learn respect for the heritage of others.” At that moment, I knew I had to take time to help tell Gordon's story, I’m grateful for the opportunity.
You can purchase copies of the book from the publisher, Albert Whitman & Company here.
I wanted to share my favorite spread from the book along with a few sketches showing my process. Carole's words and Gordon's actual Washington D.C. photographs were my inspiration for this scene.
Gordon Parks: How the Photographer captured Black and White America, by Carole Boston Weatherford
You Can't Take It With You 2014
Longacre Theatre Marquee
Me at West 48th Street and Broadway
Show's about to start!
Autographed Playbill Christmas gift from Brad :)
Special thanks to Serino/Cone and the You Can't Take It With You Production Manager for the amazing job and an awesome night in NYC!
New and Fun Kitanai Children's Books!
First look at our new children's books coming out in early 2015! You can even pre-order them on Amazon!
December Santa
December has arrived and with the holidays right around the corner, I'm doubtful I'll get the chance to take this jolly guy to finish. But maybe that's okay, there's something about this sketch that seems more magical anyhow– Happy Holidays!
little kid sketches
I recently had the chance to play around a bit, in between jobs, and came up with this little guy. Let's call him Andy.
Make your own Kitanai!
With work officially ‘all wrapped up’ on my latest children’s book series, featuring Kitanai the Origami Dog. I wanted to send out little thank you notes to those individuals that made these books possible. These guys are shipping out today! I also wanted to share instructions for making your own origami puppy. Please send any pics of your creations, I would love to be able to post your submissions!
Vote Today!
Happy Halloween 2014!
an unlikely, though welcome homecoming :)
Our new house in Cleveland Heights, about half way in between Cedar Lee & Coventry.
Spirited Fall hiking at nearby Chagrin Falls, with lots of muddy paws.
Brad and the Boys along the trail at Chagrin Falls.
The Cedar Lee Marquee, my favorite place in town.
Halloween 2014
Well we've packed up the circus and moved back to Ohio! My partner Brad is going to med school in the area and I came along for the ride. We've been away for a few years, but something about this place feels like coming home– always surprising for this native Floridan. We have a history in Cleveland, we both started out here after school, met in '03 (had coffee at Stone Oven on our first date), and welcomed the crazy dogs into our lives a few years later. Thankfully, very little has changed in the neighborhood and I suspect you'll be hearing more about it in future posts. In the meantime, it's been a fun couple of months catching up with friends and visiting the old favorite spots. Hope your Fall is a colorful one too.
You Can't Take It With You (odds & ends)
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Fallon introducing Rose Byrne.
Jimmy and Rose Byrne talking about the production.
You Can't Take It With You Playbill
The coolest thing to happen in a long time.
I just about fell out of my bed tonight when Jimmy Fallon held up the You Can't Take It With You Playbill! As kids, I can still remember sneaking out to watch the Tonight Show with my sister Sarah and my cousin Josh. Never in a million years would that little 6-year-old me expect to see his illustrations grace the Tonight Show desk. This business isn't always easy and these moments don't happen very often, but I'm almost tearful tonight, feeling so lucky and thankful.
You Can't Take It With You *first preview tonight!
My poster is up on it's Broadway Marquee and the line is stretched around the block for the show's first preview! Wishing I could be there. BIG thanks to Pat & Piper at Lindgren & Smith for this one!
ALS ice bucket challenge
My ALS Ice bucket challenge video in memory of my Mom, Connie Christoph.
Please join me in making a donation to the ALS Association at www.alsa.org
More importantly, please call your member of congress and ask that they vote to restore critical research funding to the National Institutes of Health. It's our only hope for a cure.