Drawing from Memory by Allen Say
Drawing from Memory
by Allen Say
I picked this up because it was on the FCPS shelves at my local library and looked like a short and interesting read--which it was. This is the autobiography of caldecott medal winner Allen Say, a writer and artist. He was born in Japan and, at an early age, realized he wanted to be a cartoonist; his father was not supportive of this decision. Because of the war and his parents eventually separating, he got bounced around until his grandmother gave him his own apartment when he was just a kid. He was in heaven, having his own studio. And then he managed to become an apprentice of Japan's leading cartoonist. It was a great story, watching him refine his talent over the years. But, more than that, it was beautiful to see him pursuing his dream, unrealistic that it is, and making it happen for himself.
This was my favorite part (Kiyoi is Allen Say, Tokida is another apprentice, and their sensei/teacher is Noro Shinpei):
And I had my first dinner with Sensei.
"Tokida's got the Van Gogh fever," Sensei said. Tokida had not told Sensei about the demonstration.
"He painted everything in the same way, with the same strokes--trees, faces, everything," I said.
"Good point, Kiyoi. With Van Gogh, each brushstroke is like a word in a book. Painting is a kind of writing, and writing is a kind of painting--they are both about seeing."
This narrative personal history is told in words and, of course, many pictures. There are also some photographs as well. It made me feel like I was right in there with him, experiencing the ups & downs with him. It was beautiful and inspiring.