Tomi Ungerer…creator of absurd and delicious picture books and more…
I found this poster many years ago in a gallery in NYC.
I love it.
Now faded and wrinkly…it hangs in my studio.
Always has. Always will.
The Beast and Monsiur Racine is on top of my pile of Tomi’s books.
When I was a studying with Sendak in the mid-70’s, Maurice introduced me to Tomi’s work .
This book is dedicated to Maurice and designed by Jane Byers Bierhorst (amazing book designer who taught with Maurice).
This is the book that made me want to make picture books.
Tomi was a master of the form. It is truly a book that can be read again and again….while always discovering something new in the art. Joyful and absurd. The crowd scenes are wild and wonderful.
It’s because of Tomi, Maurice and Jane that I discovered my passion for this process of creating picture books.
It is a joy spending time with Tomi’s work. All of it. No matter how absurd…and because it is so…
Tomi’s quote is over my drawing table: “ Far out isn’t far enough”.
I imagine Tomi, Maurice and Jane…together…somewhere…”Outside Over There”…filling the “empty space” with something wonderful.
You are missed…thank you…tcp
The documentary: Far Out Isn’t Far Enough, The Tomi Ungerer (2012) is fabulous…but NOT for children!
However, the animated version of The Three Robbers IS for kids and it’s great!
