I went to the Baltimore Book Festival yesterday. Gris Grimly, children’s book illustrator, was speaking and signing books. Before he was Gris Grimly, he went to college with Beth, and I went to college with his sister Stephanie, so I went to say “hi”. His pictures are cool. They're kind of victorian-inspired-pale-children-gothic stuff. I ended up buying three of his books.
His presentation was fun to watch. He had kids make requests, then he drew pictures on a big easel, then he gave them the pictures. It reminded me of that segment from Captain Kangaroo where they read a book and some guy drew pictures with a marker. Or was that a separate show? Anyway, Gris Grimly’s pictures were a little different from what you might have seen on Captain Kangaroo. hehe
When I talked with him, he didn’t have many memories of college. Or he wanted to block them away. Perhaps it’s bad for business as a grim illustrator to have gone to college in Nebraska. Nebraska might not be grim enough. (Wasn’t he there in the dead of winter? That’s pretty grim.)
Clearly the face on the Web site is a self-portrait.
Cool!!!!! I think his stuff looks awesome!!! Please bring the books into school.
You know I’m all into fun ghoulish things, but “Cannibal Flesh Riot” ??? Is Mr. Grimly a fun ghoul, or a seriously derranged ghoul…oh wait, I just remembered one of the 1st 45’s I ever bought…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGNdvKvbxYQ
…let it play for a few seconds…would you have preferred a RR?
How fun! Did you pretend to be a kid so you could get a picture?
I vaguely remember Stephanie. She was beautiful, right?
Brad, you should grow your sideburns like his!