Timothy Banks
Timothy Banks is an award-winning artist and illustrator from Charleston, South Carolina. He’s created character designs for Nike, Nickelodeon, and Cartoon Network; quirky covers for Paste magazine; and lots of children’s books with titles like There’s A Norseman in My Classroom and The Frankenstein Journals. Also he’s had the honor to be featured in Lurzer’s Archive’s “200 Best Illustrators Worldwide,” and his work has been shown at Gallery Nucleus LA. He also recently wrote and illustrated a monster book opus for his hometown entitled Monsters in Charleston. You can find him most days painting and watching alligators swim by in his backyard.
Interview
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
The Marvelous Land of Oz
What’s your favorite line from a book?
“‘So please, oh please, we beg, we pray, Go throw your TV set away.’”—Oompa Loompas from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?
Maurice Sendak (Where the Wild Things Are—he’s an amazing creator of entire worlds), Arthur Rackham (beautiful Alice in Wonderland pictures from the early 20th century), and Lane Smith (Stinky Cheese Man!)
Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?
I love creating characters and pictures that tell stories.
Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?
Start out by creating work you enjoy, and it will lead to good things.
