Doug Salati | |
|---|---|
 Doug Salati reading at the 2023 National Book Festival | |
| Born | 1985 New York |
| Occupation | Author and illustrator |
| Nationality | American |
| Genre | Children's picture books |
| Notable works | Hot Dog |
| Notable awards | Caldecott Medal |
Doug Salati (born 1985) is an American author and illustrator of children's picture books. [1] [2] Doug Salati is the creator of the picture book Hot Dog, a New York Times bestseller [3] and recipient of the 2023 Randolph Caldecott Medal and Ezra Jack Keats Award. [4]
Doug Salati was born in 1985 in Oneida, New York, to a family that encouraged his creative pursuits from a young age. Growing up, he showed a keen interest in art and illustration, spending hours drawing and sketching. [5] As a child, Salati was fascinated by the world of children's books and was especially drawn to the works of iconic illustrators like Maurice Sendak and Tomie dePaola. He spent countless hours poring over their books, studying their techniques and dreaming of one day becoming an illustrator himself. [6] [7] Salati's parents, recognizing his passion and talent, encouraged him to pursue his dreams. They enrolled him in art classes and provided him with endless supplies of paper, pencils, and paints.
As he grew older, Salati's interest in illustration only deepened. He began to explore different mediums and techniques, experimenting with watercolors, ink, and digital art. He also developed a love for swimming, becoming a competitive swimmer in his teenage years. [8]
After high school, Salati went on to study illustration at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he honed his skills and developed his unique style. He also continued to swim competitively, balancing his artistic pursuits with his athletic passions. Upon graduating from RIT, Salati moved to New York City to pursue a Master of Fine Arts degree in Illustration as Visual Essay at the School of Visual Arts. It was during this time that he met his mentor, Tomie dePaola, who would become a significant influence on his work. [8] After completing his MFA, Salati began teaching at the School of Visual Arts and started his career as a children's book author and illustrator. He has since become known for his whimsical and imaginative illustrations, which have captivated readers of all ages.
Currently, Salati continues to live and work in New York City, inspiring young artists and writers with his work and teaching. He remains passionate about his craft, always seeking new ways to push the boundaries of illustration and storytelling. [8]
Salati's educational background began with his studies in Illustration at the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he also had a notable career as a collegiate swimmer. After completing his undergraduate studies, Salati pursued a Master of Fine Arts degree in Illustration as Visual Essay at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. He graduated from the program in 2014, equipped with advanced skills and knowledge in illustration. Following his graduation, Salati began teaching at the School of Visual Arts, sharing his expertise and experience with the next generation of illustrators. He has been a member of the faculty at SVA since then, inspiring and guiding students in their own creative journeys. [8]
Through his education and teaching experience, Salati has developed a strong foundation in illustration and visual storytelling, which he has applied to his successful career as a children's book author and illustrator. [8]
Doug Salati was a 2015 Sendak Fellow. [4] While in residence, he met Tomie dePaola, who would later become a mentor. In Salati's 2023 Caldecott Medal acceptance speech, he stated, "Tomie claimed that he couldn’t figure out how to make the pictures for a manuscript he had written and asked if I wanted to give it a try. You know as well as I do that Tomie could have drawn it. He was giving me the generous gift of a direct, tangible opportunity to learn on the job." [9]
The first book Doug Salati illustrated was In a Small Kingdom by Tomie dePaola, and his second, Lawrence in the Fall by his partner, Matthew Farina, was an Ezra Jack Keats Illustrator Award Honoree, a Society of Illustrators Original Art Show selection and Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection. [4]
Doug Salati has cited a variety of illustrators who have influenced his style, many of whom he encountered as a child, including Quentin Blake, Maurice Sendak, Trina Schart Hyman, John Steptoe, and Ed Young. [10] [11]
Salati lives and works in New York City. [12] [13] [5] [14] [15] He works in Gowanus, Brooklyn with other picture book illustrators, including Sophie Blackall, Brian Floca, Rowboat Watkins. [16]
Salati's work is influenced by a range of sources, including Maurice Sendak, whose ability to create fantastical worlds and characters that are both whimsical and grounded in reality has been a significant inspiration. He also draws inspiration from Tomie dePaola, who taught him the importance of simplicity and clarity in illustration, and whose ability to convey complex emotions and stories through simple yet powerful images has been a lasting influence. [10] He is also inspired by classic children's literature, such as the works of Beatrix Potter and A.A. Milne, which he admires for their timeless quality and ability to resonate with readers of all ages. He is drawn to folk art and naive art, which he appreciates for their simplicity, honesty, and emotional directness. [10]
Nature is another significant influence on Salati's work, as he often incorporates elements of the natural world into his illustrations to convey themes and emotions. His own personal experiences and emotions also play a role in shaping his work, as he draws on his own feelings and experiences to create authentic and relatable characters and stories. [4]
Salati is in a relationship with Matthew Farina, who is also a writer and illustrator.
Maurice Bernard Sendak was an American author and illustrator of children's books. He became most widely known for his book Where the Wild Things Are, first published in 1963. Born to Polish-Jewish parents, his childhood was affected by the death of many of his family members during the Holocaust. Sendak also wrote works such as In the Night Kitchen, Outside Over There, and illustrated many works by other authors including the Little Bear books by Else Holmelund Minarik.
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is a museum devoted to the art of the picture book and especially the children's book. It is a member of Museums10 and is adjacent to the campus of Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. The Carle was founded in 2002 by Eric and Barbara Carle, and designed by Juster Pope Frazier Architects.
Ruth Ida Krauss was an American writer of children's books, including The Carrot Seed, and of theatrical poems for adult readers. Many of her books are still in print.
Where the Wild Things Are is a 1963 children's picture book written and illustrated by American writer and illustrator Maurice Sendak, originally published in hardcover by Harper & Row. The book has been adapted into other media several times, including an animated short film in 1973 ; a 1980 opera; and a live-action 2009 feature-film adaptation. The book had sold over 19 million copies worldwide as of 2009, with 10 million of those being in the United States.
Ezra Jack Keats was an American writer and illustrator of children's books. He won the 1963 Caldecott Medal for illustrating The Snowy Day, which he also wrote. Keats wrote A Letter to Amy and Hi, Cat! but he was most famous for The Snowy Day. It is considered one of the most important American books of the 20th century.
Randolph Caldecott was a British artist and illustrator, born in Chester. The Caldecott Medal was named in his honour. He exercised his art chiefly in book illustrations. His abilities as an artist were promptly and generously recognised by the Royal Academy. Caldecott greatly influenced illustration of children's books during the nineteenth century. Two books illustrated by him, priced at a shilling each, were published every Christmas for eight years.
Thomas Anthony "Tomie" dePaola was an American writer and illustrator who created more than 260 children's books, such as Strega Nona. He received the Children's Literature Legacy Award for his lifetime contribution to American children's literature in 2011.
James Edward Marshall was an American illustrator and writer of children's books, probably best known for the George and Martha series of picture books (1972–1988). He illustrated books exclusively as James Marshall; when he created both text and illustrations he sometimes wrote as Edward Marshall. In 2007, the U.S. professional librarians posthumously awarded him the bi-ennial Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal for "substantial and lasting contribution" to American children's literature.
David Wiesner is an American illustrator and writer of children's books, known best for picture books including some that tell stories without words. As an illustrator he has won three Caldecott Medals recognizing the year's "most distinguished American picture book for children" and he was one of five finalists in 2008 for the biennial, international Hans Christian Andersen Award, the highest recognition available for creators of children's books.
Uri Shulevitz is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. He won the 1969 Caldecott Medal for U.S. picture book illustration, recognizing The Fool of the World and the Flying Ship, an Eastern European fairy tale retold by Arthur Ransome in 1916.
The Snowy Day is a 1962 American children's picture book by American author and illustrator Ezra Jack Keats. It features Peter, an African American boy, who explores his neighborhood after the season's first snowfall. Keats’ illustrations helped pave the way for more inclusive and diverse children's literature. Keats received the 1963 Caldecott Medal for his collage artwork, which made The Snowy Day the first picture book with an African American protagonist to win a major children's award. The book's reception was largely positive, although some critics pointed out subtle stereotypes, such as how Peter's mother was portrayed. Since its publication The Snowy Day has sold millions of copies and has been translated, adapted, and honored leaving a lasting impression on generations of readers.
Bryan Collier is an American writer and illustrator known best for illustrating children's books. He won both the Coretta Scott King Award, as illustrator, and the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award for Uptown, the first book he both wrote and illustrated. He has won six King Awards as illustrator and he is a four-time Caldecott Honor recipient.
Yuko Shimizu (清水裕子) is a Japanese illustrator based in New York City whose work combines Japanese heritage with contemporary reference points. Works by Shimizu address a range of serious issues including sex, race, and cultural identity, but also can be light and whimsical.
A Very Special House, written by Ruth Krauss and illustrated by Maurice Sendak, is a 1953 children's picture book published by HarperCollins. A Very Special House was a Caldecott Medal Honor Book for 1954 and was Sendak's first Caldecott Honor Medal of a total of seven during his career. Sendak later won the Caldecott Medal in 1964 for Where the Wild Things Are, which he both authored and illustrated. A Very Special House was re-issued by HarperCollins in 2001 in hardcover format as part of a project to re-issue 22 Sendak works including several authored by Ruth Krauss.
Leonard S. Marcus is an American author and expert on English language children's literature. Marcus has been a critic for several publications including Horn Book and the New York Times Book review. Born and raised in Mount Vernon, New York, he attended Yale University and was editor of the Yale Literary Magazine.
Christian Robinson is an American illustrator of children's books and an animator. He is based in Sacramento, California and has worked with The Sesame Street Workshop and Pixar Animation Studios. He graduated from the California Institute of the Arts.
Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut is a 2017 picture book by Derrick Barnes, illustrated by Gordon C. James. The book, Barnes' first picture book, is a poem describing a boy's feelings and experience while getting a haircut. James, who was not the first choice to be the illustrator, wanted the oil color illustrations to have the feel of fine art.
Richard Gregory Christie is an American author and illustrator of picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, and album covers best known for his Coretta Scott King Award-winning books No Crystal Stair: A Documentary Novel of the Life and Work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem Bookseller, Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U. S. Marshal, and Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan, Only Passing Through, and the NAACP Image Award-winning Our Children Can Soar: A Celebration of Rosa, Barack, and the Pioneers of Change.
Nora Krug is a German–American author and illustrator. Her graphic memoir Belonging: A German Reckons With History and Home won the 2018 National Book Critics Circle Award in Autobiography, the 2019 Schubart-Literaturpreis, and the 2019 Evangelischer Buchpreis. She is also an associate professor of Illustration at the Parsons School of Design in New York City.
Hyewon Yum is a South Korean author and illustrator of several acclaimed books for children, including Last Night, There Are No Scary Wolves, The Twins' Blanket, and Mom, It's My First Day of Kindergarten!. Yum has received the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award, a Charlotte Zolotow Award commendation, and other awards. Born and raised in South Korea, she currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
