I recently read “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of
Everything” by Maira Kalman. It’s basically a short picture book biography of
Thomas Jefferson, but with Maira’s wonderful paintings and focus on unique details. This made me wonder,
what else has Maira been up to? So I checked out her book, “The Principles of
Uncertainty.” This is a great book, based on a column she did by the same name
for the New Yorker. It’s essentially a journal and not really a children’s
book. With Maira, however, her children’s books have an air of sophistication
and her adult books are kooky so it all blends together ultimately.
I remember having read a few of Maira’s children’s books
before (The Max series: “Ooh-la-la” etc) but not really liking them that much. Sure,
she had a few quirky illustrations, but a lot of it didn’t hang together for
me. Her book from 2003, “What Pete Ate from A to Z” I remember as being more
cohesive (because it had a format: the alphabet?) Anyway, her artwork has, for
me, now reached an amazing level!
Coincidentally, I was flipping through "Mary Blair Treasury of Golden Books" and was almost as jazzed-up about her work. I kept thinking , how could I like and be inspired by two artists that are so different? But alas, dear Sherlock, they're not that different. Both of them exude joy and slight zaniness (Maira a bit more perhaps). Also, their color choices are out of this world. Look at the skin tones and lack of blending on Maira's people and the odd color choices for objects (moons, trees etc.) with Mary. Both women, separated by decades and backgrounds have a similar zest for life.
How inspiring!
In tribute, I thought I’d paint a portrait of Mary Blair if Maira Kalman were to do it.
An exercise, hopefully not in futility!
Here's a bonus: Maira Kalman giving a TED talk.
