Robin Brickman
Robin Brickman is a picture book artist and sought after workshop leader. In addition to I Am An Artist her unique 3-Dimensional paintings and books have won many awards, including a New York Sate Museum Purchase Prize, Outstanding Science Trade Book, National Science Teachers Association, Children’s Book Council, John Burroughs List of Nature Books, and the Reading Rainbow designation.
Interview
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
Beatrix Potter: The Tale of Peter Rabbit, and The Tale of Timmy Tiptoes.
What’s your favorite line from a book?
I adore the chapter, “Wilbur’s Boast,” from Charlotte’s Web. The explanation by Charlotte on how she spins a web, and Wilbur’s attempt to use string to spin a web: “While the rat and the spider and the little girl watched, Wilbur climbed again to the top of the manure pile, full of energy and hope.” Then, Charlotte explains Wilbur’s place in the world. This book, by E. B. White, is my all time favorite.
Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?
I love the work of Beatrix Potter, Garth Williams, and Dennis Nolan.
Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?
I love to combine art and the exploration of science. Children’s picture books have a very important place in the home, and in school, to present the natural world.
Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?
I try to create work that I love with avenues that are receptive to it. Although publishing is a difficult business, it can be enormously gratifying to combine what you love to do with a career, so persistence is key.
