There is a beautiful documentary called "Tell Them Anything you Want" by Spike Jonze, which came out around the time Jonze's movie adaptation of "Wild Things" was in theaters. In it, Sendak talks about seeing a photo of the dead Lindbergh baby. This would have been when he was 2 years old. He was clearly traumatized by this sight, and throughout his life, people told him that no such photo existed. Only late in his life did someone confirm that there was a photo in a morning paper, which was removed from the news stands after a few hours. Sendak was able to visualize this image throughout his life, and the story line of the "baby made of ice" that appears in "Outside Over There" seems to be based on this memory and its frightening impact. Sendak was the deepest psychological author/illustrator of the century, IMO. Wild Things alone is a treasure trove of emotional insight into the mind of a sensitive child. Jonze's Wild Things movie was not super successful, but it always made me cry. The "lead monster" is voiced by James Gandolfini, making this the second time in his career that he played a weirdly sensitive mob boss ...
Hello and many thanks for your comment and insight. I didn;t know about the Lindbergh photo. But there is always something mournful about Sendak's work, I find, even when he's at his silliest.
@@petebeard I agree. I rewatched the doc last night. It's on Amazon Prime, only 40 minutes long. I was moved by it all over again. He was not exactly a happy guy, but had a great sense of humor about his own disposition.
@@JohannesLabusch Just looked it up on Prime. I'm probably late this viewing - it is no longer available to watch, unless you subscribe to Curiosity Stream. (Keep up the great series Pete Beard!)
Pete, your videos are informative, enjoyable and an inspiration when I, as an artist am feeling blocked. Watching your videos always sparks an idea. And thank you too for giving these past artists some proper, overdue recognition.
Sendak was always searching for the right approach for each of the stories he illustrated, whether it was his own text or some other author. I think that's what made him so creative and popular, not forcing one particular style to the text. Not every one of them worked (in my opinion, at least) but he always a fresh vision to the stories he chose to illustrate. He was always an inspiration. I was fortune enough to have met him a few times and chat. I miss him. Thanks, Pete, for this journey through Sendak's work.
Hi again and thanks a lot for your comment, and I must say I agree wholeheartedly with your evaluation of the man. I cant think of anyone - in any fiels of creativity - who gets it right every time. But some such as Sendak do considerably better than most mortals.
@@petebeard I agree. As an aside, someone whom you might want to take a look at (if you haven't already) is the German artist/illustrator Heinrich Zille (1858-1929). Don't know if Sendak knew Zille's work, but there's a wonderful, everyday, down-to-earth quality to that I think Sendak would have loved; there's a similar feeling to Sendak's early work that reminds me of Zille.. And, if I may be so bold, worth a video exploration of his work. If you don't know him already, Zille is worth looking at. As always, great job, Pete.
@@wemblyfez Hello again, and thanks for the name, but Herr Zille has been patiently awaiting his turn to shine for over a year now, and like quite a few others I just haven't got round to completing wtiting the narration for him. I'm astonishingly disorganised and impulsive about who gets featured when, but appear he surely will. and now you mention it there is a chunkiness about his figures that's similar to Sendak, or rather the other way around. Thanks again for the suggestion, and any others you may have down the line.
Thank you so much, Pete, for making my day!! Almost 50 years ago, I bought 'Wildekanis Eiland' - which is the Afrikaans translation of 'Where the Wild things are', -for my sisters first son. All her children and their friends consequently grew up with it, as did my own children later on. When we left South Africa for Australia, I bought every possible childrens' book illustrated by Maurice Sendak for my children - but not one came close to that 'Wildekanisse' which was so magnificently translated into the most imaginative and joyfully descriptive Afrikaans. To see see your lovely and insightful overview of his illustrations has been the purest joy for me . Sendak always instilled in me a sense of wonder, awe and pure delight, and still speaks so clearly and lovingly to that imaginative little child in me.God bless you!!, and God bless him for still delighting chidren of any ad all ages!!
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of my tribute to Sendak. I too still have the copy I bought in my 20s, and other than Shepard's Winnie the Pooh images (another treasured possession) I can think of nobody else who captured childhood fantasy better.
@@petebeard Oh, you are sooo right, Pete! Winnie the Pooh and specially Eeyore is a very firm favourite of mine as well! The other illustrator I still love incredibly, is Arthur Rackman.
"My favorite" is the phrase that will appear in most of these comments. So why should I be any different? My favorite. His is the career I envy the most, and kind of strive for. Thanks for this review.
Where The Wild Things Are has always been my favorite book. Weirdly, the only other Sendak book I was even aware of was In The Night Kitchen. Thank you for correcting that oversight and introducing me to so many other interesting looking works.
Hello and I tgink that's the case with quite a few others. I must admit that before making the video I was only familiar with about 50% of what's shown.
Thank you for this! In a brief time, you've given a powerful overview of Sendak's work and development as an artist. It's a great tribute to him. One big surprise for me: "A Hole is to Dig" was one of my favorite young children's books, and I had not remembered that he was the illustrator! At the time, he would not have been famous. But I loved the illustrations.
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of this video. I must admit that quite a few of the books I featured in the video were not previously known to me, and I was particularly taken by the charm and innocent appeal of his drawings for A Hole is to Dig. I must see if I can find a copy somewhere.
Thank you Pete Beard for a wonderful, full overview of Maurice Sendak’s illustrative work. There are so many fine illustrator’s of the 20th- 21st century. My view is Sendak’s work is as powerful and imaginative as the work of Arthur Rackham (1867 - 1939). As an aside I read an article years ago that revealed in his earlier years Maurice Sendak lived in a rented an apartment with the illustrator Tomi Ungerer (1931 - 2019).
Hello and I'm pleased you appreciate this video. I hadn't heard that about Ungerer, but a similar video about his work will be uploaded before too long and I hope you enjoy that too.
Certainly Among Your BEST ( And they are All Great ( TY) .. ) I’m Beside Myself About MAURICE 🤔Constantly Trying To figure … How He Made That … LEAP , Then LEAPED AGAIN 🤔I’m Delighted & At Once FLUMMOXED - Thank you For your STUDY as Always ☮️❤️💪🏼💪🏼🎨🌏🌎🌍
As an American I felt embarrassment to hear those innocent illustrations were banned in some states here. A quarter of our country have lost their minds to fearmongers. Beautiful video.
Hello again and thanks for the comment. That book in particular seems to exert a powerful hold on anyone who has read it either as a child or an adult. There is something magical about it I can't (and probably shouldn't) pin down.
I agree with your assessment that Sendak qualifies as one of the greats of illustration. Personally, I prefer his early work and that of his intricate cross hatch style. I am less fond of his horned animals and monsters, but I recognize his considerable skill and talent at all stages of his working life. Thanks for bringing us this.
@@petebeard On a slightly different note, I noticed an article in today's Guardian announcing an upcoming exhibition of work by Edward Lear. Perhaps better known as a nonsense poet (The Owl and the Pussycat), he was also a superb artist. Has he been featured in one of your admirable series? I am not sure how much illustration he did. I know he had aspirations of being a great painter.
@@michaelmontcombroux3413 Hello again, and Lear has made a couple of appearances in at least a couple of videos such as Once Upon a Time and to be honest I forget which others. But I'm a great admirer and his wonderful wildlife paintings and prints will be featured in my wldlife illustration video when/if I finish it. As for a video entirely about him I'm not sure whether the volume of his illustrated work would be enough, but you never know. And I must check out this exhibition so thanks for that.
Hello and yes I must admit that one got under the radar of my research. There were others I left out just to keep the video a watchable length, but the images for this book look stunning and I would have included it had I been aware of it.
Absolutely adore his work and I have very fond memories of Mr Rabbit and the lovely present, Where the Wild Things Are and The Night Kitchen, which I read over and over and was very surprised to hear you say that in a lot of places it was banned. Quite bizarre. His work is stunning. Thank you for reminding me of my childhood books.
Hello and I'm very pleased that you enjoyed this video. He really was a master of children's illustration and is greatly missed by those who grew up with his illustrations woven into the fabric of their childhood.
Thank you for this truly endearing presentation! I remember that " bear book". Also, Where the Wild Things Are, was the first book that made me want to learn to read! Wow, special memories indeed! Thank you, Sir!
Great video as usual. I guess I never really realized until this video how versatile Sendak’s styles were. A few years ago I was lucky enough to see a small exhibit of Sendak’s original work at a local library. It was so interesting to see the rough sketches and the draftsmanship close up. He is a real inspiration. Thank you for the video.
Thank you, Pete Beard, for this video on M Sendak - I remember "Little Bear" the best - I prefer his earlier work, I find it poignant and more relatable, otherwise his work's emotions are 'unsettling' (to use your word) and put his illustrations at a distance. Even as a child I felt the emotions of his pictures unmoored, as though the characters/readers/me might not ever return to their home place ~ I still sense that. Thank you for your thoughtful and respectful elucidation of Sendak's work through his lifetime - an autobiography of sorts in itself ~
Hello and thanks a lot for your observations. As I said in the intro to the video I was a grown -up when I first saw his work and so I rather enjoyed the more surreal atmospheric stories. But I did wonder how some of it would go down with kids raised on Sesame Street and Peanuts.
Sendak's illustrations warmed my little heart as a child. I loved the Little Bear stories, but I loved the illustrations so much more. And Zlateh the Goat, too, it was my introduction to Yiddish folklore and humour, an interest that never faded since. Thank you for these biographies, they are so well done and help me get to know the work of many wonderful artists.
As an elementary school librarian I bought "In the Night Kitchen". Once I was checking in and discovered the baby suddenly had diapers! Talked to the kid, he said, "Yeah" his Mom decided to do that. She did a nice job, but holy mackerel. Told the kid to tell his Mom she'd just ruined the book and never do it again or I'd make her pay for it. I ditched that copy and bought two more. No more problems. Retired, but have my own copy of "Where the wild things are" cherished in a spot on my book shelves. P.S. I love how "Where the wild things are". He's been sent to his room for being naughty, but when he "returns" he finds his supper in his room, and it's "still hot". The child is loved.
Hello and thanks a lot for your comment and insight. I must admit when I read that there had been a puritanical response to the book I was skeptical. But you have confirmed my suspicion with this tale that we are as capable of gross stupidity as we are of great creativity as a species.
I had a copy of *Where the Wild Things Are* that is a once in a lifetime success story for any writer/illustrator/painter ... a dream come true for most of us in this profession in some way ... most people will never get close to a success story like *Sendak* w/ that one book
Hello and thanks for the comment. It was reading the Wild Things that persuaded me to try writing and illustrating a picture book many years ago. Never managed it...
Right, Sendak lucked out w/ *Wild Things* that is incredible what he achieved w/that one book & still in print...that's every dream of a creative person ...I think I'm repeating myself here 😊
I bought Wild Things when i was 10, as a Christmas gift for my younger sister, in hardcover. And when I had children I had to get it again, my sister still has hers
Coming back home after the meditation retreat I was happy to find your new videos. Thank you Pete! It's propably too much to digest right now, but I'll watch this episodes once more (or twice. or more.).
The title of the documentary "Tell Them Anything You Want" summed up Sendaks approach to children's literature and storytelling. I was five when Where The Wild Things Are appeared. I've carried it with me my entire life (literally, as I keep a mini version of the book in my jacket pocket in case I find myself stuck in line somewhere). Thank you for this overview. I'm a little shocked at the number of books I missed and will have to look for.
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciative comment. I must admit I was only familiar with about 50% of the books I featured in the video before beginning my research for the project.
Hi Pete.... I remember, and still have, the book "Where the Wild Things are", as we read it many times to our son in his early years. Thanks for offering up an artist that was more "in my time", I enjoyed it very much.
Hello John, and it does seem that Sendak resonates with many viewers in the USA, either from their own childhood, or their parenting experiences. And I dare say that will continue for a good few years yet.
*Thanks* Pete Interesting to see how his style developed. Not much of a story ... Waited and waited on line at a book signing by Sendak. Finally, when I reached the table he was about to leave. His partner said he was tried. As the book was going to be a gift for my sister, an artist/Illustrator, all I could think of saying was ... "Yea, but I'm from Brooklyn." Sendak laughed. Dedicated the book to my sister. Years later found out she never noticed his dedication. Ha, somewhere, some thrift store the book is sitting.
Hello and I think youre wrong in this instance...it's a very amusing story as far as I'm concerned, and it reveals Sendak to be as human as his work suggests.
@@petebeard As a way of illustrating my sister another story, Waiting to cross an intersection in the upper east side Manhattan with my sister glanced over to my left. Next to me was LeRoy Neiman the Illustrator for Playboy magazine with a foot long cigar and a blonde on his arm. Told my sister who replied: "That AZZHOLE!" Didn't seem to phase him. Light changed. End of story. I'm still amused by that. Moral: Not easy to be an illustrator/artist in NYC if not connected.
@@vincentgoupil180 I must admit I'd never heard of him, but having googled him he does rather look like your sister's pithy assessment could well be accurate. You can't trust a man with such a self-important moustache.
Up until UA-cam mentioned “Where the wild things are” I had my mind churning at where I know the name Sendak from… Another great one Pete- gives me inspiration for the next works
Pete you always do such a wonderful job of portraying the artists. Thank you. Where the wild things are was my favorite book as a child in the 70's. The artwork did not appear like 1960's but much more modern, timeless as you say. God bless.
Hi and thanks for the comment. I'd like to be able to say I knew about the MacDonald connection but chose to leave it out, but the truth is these books got under my radar. And they weren't the only ones either.
Thank you so much for this! I still have my copy of the Nutcracker; it's one of my great treasures and artistic inspirations. I wish they would bring Kenny's Window back into print as it looks beautiful.
Two other illustrators who I would love to see you do videos about are Dr. Seuss (just to see your take on him) and Chris Van Allsburg, whose illustrations have a hypnotic quality to them. Although his most well known stories, due to movies, are "Jumangi" and "The Polar Express" my favorite is perhaps "The Mysteries of Harold Burrdick". Your videos are very inspirational to people like me with an artistic bent, especially after being assaulted by the so-called "fine art" of today where novelty is placed higher than skill or true imagination.
Hello and many thanks for your favourable comment and suggestions. Dr. Seuss is on the list (although currently not very near the front) so if i don't fall off my perch in the meantime he will feature eventually. Van Allsberg I was unaware of but I see he is still with us and I confine my subjects to those who are no longer vertical. Sorry.
*Sendak* doing the writing & illustrations helped push his own book *Where the Wild Things Are* & I read somewhere years ago that his original idea was 'where the wild horses are' & something made him change it much to his & our benefit. A full length movie was made of the book also; I watched it 🤔 seems like I have the DVD too ... somewhere🤔
Absolutely wonderful video and beautiful artist. I grew up with a lot of these books and the animated versions, had no idea some were connected to the same illustrator!!
I was a little beyond the age of having picture books read by a teacher in 1963, but my younger brother heard it, and showed me a copy at our church library. We both switch from drawing the hotrod monsters we previously had filled our notebooks with, to this new type.
I read an interview with Sendack who said that as a child he heard a neighbor boy's mother scolding him for "telling stories", and wondered why that was something bad, as everyone in his family were raconteurs.
Hello and I'm envious. I'll probably never get to see an original by him, or many other American illustrators for that matter. This country is useless when it comes to exhibiting illustration.
@@petebeard I was surprised to see the exhibit, it was mostly early sketches done for set design for the nutcracker ballet as well as a production of the Magic flute but the exhibit also had some wonderful early concept sketches for Where the Wild Things Are.
The Nutcracker is something I try to watch every Christmas season. The sets and costumes were remarkable. I saw the movie "Where The Wild Things Are" for the first time last year . I found it very moving and I'd like to see it again. Thank you very much.
Hi Pete, first of all, I really enjoy the channel and in particular the Unsung Heroes of Illustration series, and I wanted to propose that you dedicate a space in a future chapter to Florencio Molina Campos, an Argentine illustrator who came to work with Walt Disney back in 1942 and his work is focused on the Argentine gauchos or cowboys, thank you very much for reading it and I hope this comment is of some use!
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation of the channel. I'm sorry to have to disappoint you but I am aware of his work and as far as I can tell almost every example online was created as art rather than illustration. Sorry.
@@petebeard hip hooray...the sun has got his hat on...off down to the banks of the river Dee at Parkgate, one of the Wirral peninsula, s hidden gems...Eamonn the younger is treating his mum and I to a meal. and hopefully an ice cream out on the front...hope your sunny day goes well too ,sir....E
@@lisahodges8299 Hello and he's been gone for quite a while now. I started to get a bit uncomfortable with him as a sort of comic mascot and replaced him with what I hoped was a more serious minded logo as befits my old age and supposed dignity.
Now I am laughing at you. This old lady would be happy to have daughter either. It's just the light bulb shows more character, now you have given the impression of a suited advert guy😊
mr. Beard have you ever heard of or considered doing a doc on a dear friend of mine from Quadra Island. his name was Richard Calver i do have some of his earliest sketches and he became quite well knowm in art circles. Hes since passed away.
Hello and many thanks for the suggestion. I had never heard of Richard Calver and I'm pleased ro have seen some of his work. The bad news is that there simply isn't enough material of good enough resolution to make a video about him. There's also the issue that he appears to have been very much an artist rather than an illustrator, and I confine myself to the latter occupation on the channel. I hope you aren't too disappointed and I really am grateful for your interest.
So many thoughts about this. The book ban for one is American hypocritical puritanism at its very finest. And all those satirical stabs at folklore and fine art looks hilarious. The cross hatch style looks quite similar to what an artist I recently employed is doing. Since you're appreciative of the drawn media, if you care to see it I'd be happy to oblige.
Hello and thanks. Yes I'd be very interested in seeing these pictures but with the caveat that I can't be comfortable putting up my private e-mail. So maybe there's a site you can direct me to?
Hello and thanks for the suggestion. I've just had a look online and I think I'll struggle to find enough high resolution imagery to be able to feature him. Sorry to disappoint.
@@petebeard The story is exactly as you summarised but with David Bowie chewing the scenery and stealing the show in one of his most entertaining roles in cinema. One of those perfect films. They did acknowledge Sendak's influence.
6:10 When I was a kid I borrowed an art anatomy book from the library that included nude male photos with their privates airbrushed away. I was very disturbed to see dudes without their "willy's". As a child I could only pray and ask Jesus that whatever tragedy befell those poor men would spare me!
Hello and I'm sorry but I can't be a lot of help here. None of the tracks I used have titles as they are all from a non-copyright generic download . The title of the whole thing is something like 'non-copyright melancholy piano music'. You might find it with that search on youtube.
![Дон ДОН, Алаудинов и СБЕЖАВШИЕ из под Курска ахматовцы 😁 [Пародия]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dEfCf5IK26Q/mqdefault.jpg)
There is a beautiful documentary called "Tell Them Anything you Want" by Spike Jonze, which came out around the time Jonze's movie adaptation of "Wild Things" was in theaters. In it, Sendak talks about seeing a photo of the dead Lindbergh baby. This would have been when he was 2 years old. He was clearly traumatized by this sight, and throughout his life, people told him that no such photo existed. Only late in his life did someone confirm that there was a photo in a morning paper, which was removed from the news stands after a few hours. Sendak was able to visualize this image throughout his life, and the story line of the "baby made of ice" that appears in "Outside Over There" seems to be based on this memory and its frightening impact. Sendak was the deepest psychological author/illustrator of the century, IMO. Wild Things alone is a treasure trove of emotional insight into the mind of a sensitive child. Jonze's Wild Things movie was not super successful, but it always made me cry. The "lead monster" is voiced by James Gandolfini, making this the second time in his career that he played a weirdly sensitive mob boss ...
Hello and many thanks for your comment and insight. I didn;t know about the Lindbergh photo. But there is always something mournful about Sendak's work, I find, even when he's at his silliest.
@@petebeard I agree. I rewatched the doc last night. It's on Amazon Prime, only 40 minutes long. I was moved by it all over again. He was not exactly a happy guy, but had a great sense of humor about his own disposition.
@@JohannesLabusch Just looked it up on Prime. I'm probably late this viewing - it is no longer available to watch, unless you subscribe to Curiosity Stream. (Keep up the great series Pete Beard!)
Pete, your videos are informative, enjoyable and an inspiration when I, as an artist am feeling blocked. Watching your videos always sparks an idea. And thank you too for giving these past artists some proper, overdue recognition.
Hi and many thanks for your comment. It's great to know that some viewers find the videos inspiring.
@@petebeard We do!
Sendak was always searching for the right approach for each of the stories he illustrated, whether it was his own text or some other author. I think that's what made him so creative and popular, not forcing one particular style to the text. Not every one of them worked (in my opinion, at least) but he always a fresh vision to the stories he chose to illustrate. He was always an inspiration. I was fortune enough to have met him a few times and chat. I miss him. Thanks, Pete, for this journey through Sendak's work.
Hi again and thanks a lot for your comment, and I must say I agree wholeheartedly with your evaluation of the man. I cant think of anyone - in any fiels of creativity - who gets it right every time. But some such as Sendak do considerably better than most mortals.
@@petebeard I agree. As an aside, someone whom you might want to take a look at (if you haven't already) is the German artist/illustrator Heinrich Zille (1858-1929). Don't know if Sendak knew Zille's work, but there's a wonderful, everyday, down-to-earth quality to that I think Sendak would have loved; there's a similar feeling to Sendak's early work that reminds me of Zille.. And, if I may be so bold, worth a video exploration of his work. If you don't know him already, Zille is worth looking at. As always, great job, Pete.
@@wemblyfez Hello again, and thanks for the name, but Herr Zille has been patiently awaiting his turn to shine for over a year now, and like quite a few others I just haven't got round to completing wtiting the narration for him. I'm astonishingly disorganised and impulsive about who gets featured when, but appear he surely will. and now you mention it there is a chunkiness about his figures that's similar to Sendak, or rather the other way around. Thanks again for the suggestion, and any others you may have down the line.
Wonderful , thanks Pete
Hello and thanks a lot.
Thank you so much, Pete, for making my day!! Almost 50 years ago, I bought 'Wildekanis Eiland' - which is the Afrikaans translation of 'Where the Wild things are', -for my sisters first son. All her children and their friends consequently grew up with it, as did my own children later on. When we left South Africa for Australia, I bought every possible childrens' book illustrated by Maurice Sendak for my children - but not one came close to that 'Wildekanisse' which was so magnificently translated into the most imaginative and joyfully descriptive Afrikaans. To see see your lovely and insightful overview of his illustrations has been the purest joy for me . Sendak always instilled in me a sense of wonder, awe and pure delight, and still speaks so clearly and lovingly to that imaginative little child in me.God bless you!!, and God bless him for still delighting chidren of any ad all ages!!
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of my tribute to Sendak. I too still have the copy I bought in my 20s, and other than Shepard's Winnie the Pooh images (another treasured possession) I can think of nobody else who captured childhood fantasy better.
@@petebeard Oh, you are sooo right, Pete! Winnie the Pooh and specially Eeyore is a very firm favourite of mine as well! The other illustrator I still love incredibly, is Arthur Rackman.
@@elisemenne8758 Hi again, and pardon me plugging my own product, but there is a video devoted to Rackham on the channel too, if you're interested.
Thank you Mr. Beard for bringing these Beautiful illustrations to my attention !
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation. It's very welcome.
"My favorite" is the phrase that will appear in most of these comments. So why should I be any different? My favorite. His is the career I envy the most, and kind of strive for. Thanks for this review.
Hello and thanks a lot for your comment.
Where The Wild Things Are has always been my favorite book. Weirdly, the only other Sendak book I was even aware of was In The Night Kitchen. Thank you for correcting that oversight and introducing me to so many other interesting looking works.
Hello and I tgink that's the case with quite a few others. I must admit that before making the video I was only familiar with about 50% of what's shown.
@@petebeard The amount of research you must do is staggering, but I suppose it's made easier when so much of it is so gorgeous to look at.
Thank you for this! In a brief time, you've given a powerful overview of Sendak's work and development as an artist. It's a great tribute to him. One big surprise for me: "A Hole is to Dig" was one of my favorite young children's books, and I had not remembered that he was the illustrator! At the time, he would not have been famous. But I loved the illustrations.
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation of this video. I must admit that quite a few of the books I featured in the video were not previously known to me, and I was particularly taken by the charm and innocent appeal of his drawings for A Hole is to Dig. I must see if I can find a copy somewhere.
I read that when I was little!!!!
An absolute delight. Sendak was such a brilliant illustrator and inspiration.
Hello again and thanks for the comment.
Thank you Pete Beard for a wonderful, full overview of Maurice Sendak’s illustrative work. There are so many fine illustrator’s of the 20th- 21st century. My view is Sendak’s work is as powerful and imaginative as the work of Arthur Rackham (1867 - 1939). As an aside I read an article years ago that revealed in his earlier years Maurice Sendak lived in a rented an apartment with the illustrator Tomi Ungerer (1931 - 2019).
Hello and I'm pleased you appreciate this video. I hadn't heard that about Ungerer, but a similar video about his work will be uploaded before too long and I hope you enjoy that too.
Certainly Among Your BEST ( And they are All Great ( TY) .. ) I’m Beside Myself About MAURICE 🤔Constantly Trying To figure … How He Made That … LEAP , Then LEAPED AGAIN 🤔I’m Delighted & At Once FLUMMOXED - Thank you For your STUDY as Always ☮️❤️💪🏼💪🏼🎨🌏🌎🌍
Hello again and thanks a lot for your comment. Sendak made my job easy.
I always wondered about this artist now I know.Thank you again. I can't get enough of your posts.keep up the good work.
Hello and many thanks for your appreciation.
Mr. Beard,
Your productions are such an educated and welcomed respite for me... and many others. Tnx!
Hi again and thanks as usual. Comments are always appreciated (unless they're hostile of course.)
I am amazed at how prudish some Americans can be, the illustrations of Mickey are quite innocent and inoffensive.
Hello and it took a lot of will power on my part not to make sarcastic comments about that.
As an American I felt embarrassment to hear those innocent illustrations were banned in some states here. A quarter of our country have lost their minds to fearmongers.
Beautiful video.
Absolutely wonderful video! My Mom was a school librarian for many years and I read "Where the Wild Things Are" a few years after it came out!
Hello again and thanks for the comment. That book in particular seems to exert a powerful hold on anyone who has read it either as a child or an adult. There is something magical about it I can't (and probably shouldn't) pin down.
I agree with your assessment that Sendak qualifies as one of the greats of illustration. Personally, I prefer his early work and that of his intricate cross hatch style. I am less fond of his horned animals and monsters, but I recognize his considerable skill and talent at all stages of his working life. Thanks for bringing us this.
Hello again and many thanks for your appreciation. At his best I struggle to think of anyone more compelling and pleasantly surreal.
@@petebeard On a slightly different note, I noticed an article in today's Guardian announcing an upcoming exhibition of work by Edward Lear. Perhaps better known as a nonsense poet (The Owl and the Pussycat), he was also a superb artist. Has he been featured in one of your admirable series? I am not sure how much illustration he did. I know he had aspirations of being a great painter.
@@michaelmontcombroux3413 Hello again, and Lear has made a couple of appearances in at least a couple of videos such as Once Upon a Time and to be honest I forget which others. But I'm a great admirer and his wonderful wildlife paintings and prints will be featured in my wldlife illustration video when/if I finish it. As for a video entirely about him I'm not sure whether the volume of his illustrated work would be enough, but you never know. And I must check out this exhibition so thanks for that.
One of my favorites that was missed is The Moon Jumpers which, in collaboration with Janice May Udry, won a Caldecott in 1960.
Hello and yes I must admit that one got under the radar of my research. There were others I left out just to keep the video a watchable length, but the images for this book look stunning and I would have included it had I been aware of it.
@@petebeard Thanks for your work!
Oh I'm so glad fo this one Pete...just as always your videos are what make my day.
Hello again and thanks a lot for your appreciation, and longterm commitment to the channel.
Absolutely adore his work and I have very fond memories of Mr Rabbit and the lovely present, Where the Wild Things Are and The Night Kitchen, which I read over and over and was very surprised to hear you say that in a lot of places it was banned. Quite bizarre. His work is stunning. Thank you for reminding me of my childhood books.
Hello and I'm very pleased that you enjoyed this video. He really was a master of children's illustration and is greatly missed by those who grew up with his illustrations woven into the fabric of their childhood.
Thank you for this truly endearing presentation! I remember that " bear book". Also, Where the Wild Things Are, was the first book that made me want to learn to read! Wow, special memories indeed! Thank you, Sir!
Hello again and I'm very pleased you enjoyed his work.
Great video as usual. I guess I never really realized until this video how versatile Sendak’s styles were. A few years ago I was lucky enough to see a small exhibit of Sendak’s original work at a local library. It was so interesting to see the rough sketches and the draftsmanship close up. He is a real inspiration. Thank you for the video.
Hello and many thanks for your appreciative comment. Sadly, I've never see nan original, and probably never will. Sigh...
Thank you, Pete Beard, for this video on M Sendak - I remember "Little Bear" the best - I prefer his earlier work, I find it poignant and more relatable, otherwise his work's emotions are 'unsettling' (to use your word) and put his illustrations at a distance. Even as a child I felt the emotions of his pictures unmoored, as though the characters/readers/me might not ever return to their home place ~ I still sense that. Thank you for your thoughtful and respectful elucidation of Sendak's work through his lifetime - an autobiography of sorts in itself ~
Hello and thanks a lot for your observations. As I said in the intro to the video I was a grown -up when I first saw his work and so I rather enjoyed the more surreal atmospheric stories. But I did wonder how some of it would go down with kids raised on Sesame Street and Peanuts.
Sendak's illustrations warmed my little heart as a child. I loved the Little Bear stories, but I loved the illustrations so much more. And Zlateh the Goat, too, it was my introduction to Yiddish folklore and humour, an interest that never faded since. Thank you for these biographies, they are so well done and help me get to know the work of many wonderful artists.
Hello and thanks a lot. I'm very grateful to viewers such as yourself who appreciate the channel's content.
Another awesome video... thank you!
Hello and thanks a lot for the comment.
As an elementary school librarian I bought "In the Night Kitchen". Once I was checking in and discovered the baby suddenly had diapers! Talked to the kid, he said, "Yeah" his Mom decided to do that. She did a nice job, but holy mackerel. Told the kid to tell his Mom she'd just ruined the book and never do it again or I'd make her pay for it.
I ditched that copy and bought two more. No more problems.
Retired, but have my own copy of "Where the wild things are" cherished in a spot on my book shelves.
P.S.
I love how "Where the wild things are". He's been sent to his room for being naughty, but when he "returns" he finds his supper in his room, and it's "still hot". The child is loved.
Hello and thanks a lot for your comment and insight. I must admit when I read that there had been a puritanical response to the book I was skeptical. But you have confirmed my suspicion with this tale that we are as capable of gross stupidity as we are of great creativity as a species.
Thank you Pete!
Thanks for the appreciation too!
Sendak was agenius! I loved his illustrations as a child and I love them even more now. Thank you for giving us this wonderful overview of his work.
Hello and I'm very grateful for your appreciation of the video. He was a truly monumental figure in children's books.
I had a copy of *Where the Wild Things Are* that is a once in a lifetime success story for any writer/illustrator/painter ... a dream come true for most of us in this profession in some way ... most people will never get close to a success story like *Sendak* w/ that one book
Hello and thanks for the comment. It was reading the Wild Things that persuaded me to try writing and illustrating a picture book many years ago. Never managed it...
Right, Sendak lucked out w/ *Wild Things* that is incredible what he achieved w/that one book & still in print...that's every dream of a creative person ...I think I'm repeating myself here 😊
Good grief! The man's talents are abundant and uproariously unbridled!! Gregg Oreo long Beach Ca Etats Unis
Cheers from this Canadian in South Africa !
Hello and thanks a lot for your recent comments. Appreciation of the channel content is always a tonic for the troops.
Excellent commentary on Maurice Sendak…& what a talent he was…a great imagination to produce such wonderful children’s stories & illustrations…
Hello again and thanks for yout appreciation. If the species survives I'm convinced Sendak will still be read hundreds of years from now.
I bought Wild Things when i was 10, as a Christmas gift for my younger sister, in hardcover. And when I had children I had to get it again, my sister still has hers
Hello and thanks for the comment. I suspect (and hope) that a hundred years from now kids will still be reading this book in particular.
Coming back home after the meditation retreat I was happy to find your new videos. Thank you Pete! It's propably too much to digest right now, but I'll watch this episodes once more (or twice. or more.).
Hello and thanks for the comment. I don't mind when you watch the channel, just as long as you continue to do so...as many times as you like.
What range he had.I had no idea. Thanks again
Hello and I must admit about 50% of what's on show in the video I didn't previously know about. I feel better for the knowledge too.
Wonderful video! Thank you so much for sharing this.
Hello and I'm glad you enjoyed it.
The title of the documentary "Tell Them Anything You Want" summed up Sendaks approach to children's literature and storytelling. I was five when Where The Wild Things Are appeared. I've carried it with me my entire life (literally, as I keep a mini version of the book in my jacket pocket in case I find myself stuck in line somewhere). Thank you for this overview. I'm a little shocked at the number of books I missed and will have to look for.
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciative comment. I must admit I was only familiar with about 50% of the books I featured in the video before beginning my research for the project.
@@petebeard That makes me feel better!
Well done overview, thank you for posting.
Hello and thanks a lot for the comment. Appreciation is always welcome.
Hi Pete.... I remember, and still have, the book "Where the Wild Things are", as we read it many times to our son in his early years. Thanks for offering up an artist that was more "in my time", I enjoyed it very much.
Hello John, and it does seem that Sendak resonates with many viewers in the USA, either from their own childhood, or their parenting experiences. And I dare say that will continue for a good few years yet.
*Thanks* Pete
Interesting to see how his style developed.
Not much of a story ...
Waited and waited on line at a book signing by Sendak. Finally, when I reached the table he was about to leave. His partner said he was tried. As the book was going to be a gift for my sister, an artist/Illustrator, all I could think of saying was ...
"Yea, but I'm from Brooklyn."
Sendak laughed. Dedicated the book to my sister.
Years later found out she never noticed his dedication. Ha, somewhere, some thrift store the book is sitting.
Hello and I think youre wrong in this instance...it's a very amusing story as far as I'm concerned, and it reveals Sendak to be as human as his work suggests.
@@petebeard
As a way of illustrating my sister another story,
Waiting to cross an intersection in the upper east side Manhattan with my sister glanced over to my left. Next to me was LeRoy Neiman the Illustrator for Playboy magazine with a foot long cigar and a blonde on his arm.
Told my sister who replied:
"That AZZHOLE!"
Didn't seem to phase him.
Light changed. End of story.
I'm still amused by that.
Moral: Not easy to be an illustrator/artist in NYC if not connected.
@@vincentgoupil180 I must admit I'd never heard of him, but having googled him he does rather look like your sister's pithy assessment could well be accurate. You can't trust a man with such a self-important moustache.
Up until UA-cam mentioned “Where the wild things are” I had my mind churning at where I know the name Sendak from… Another great one Pete- gives me inspiration for the next works
Hello and thanks for the comment. Glad you liked it.
Lovely! Great work!
Hi and thanks a lot for the comment.
I found Milt Jackson goes nicely ... with your exquisit assemblage .. of Mr. Sendaks art . Millegrazie🍀
Hello and thanks a lot for the appreciation.
Brilliant, always love to know about Master Maurice. Thanks!
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation.
Such wonderful research to help inform a fascinating summary. Thankyou!
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation of this video. I'm pleased you found it of interest.
Fantastic, thank you!
Hello and many thanks for your comment. I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
As always very enjoyable.
Hi and thanks as usual.
WONDERFUL!!!!!!! thankyou
Hello and thanks a lot for your favourable comment.
Pete you always do such a wonderful job of portraying the artists. Thank you. Where the wild things are was my favorite book as a child in the 70's. The artwork did not appear like 1960's but much more modern, timeless as you say. God bless.
Hello again and I'm pleased you enjoyed the video.
Thanks, as always, for your superb treatments! (although I missed my favorite Sendaks, his illustrations of George MacDonald :)'
Hi and thanks for the comment. I'd like to be able to say I knew about the MacDonald connection but chose to leave it out, but the truth is these books got under my radar. And they weren't the only ones either.
Thank you so much for this! I still have my copy of the Nutcracker; it's one of my great treasures and artistic inspirations. I wish they would bring Kenny's Window back into print as it looks beautiful.
Hello, and your appreciation is very welcome. Thanks.
Two other illustrators who I would love to see you do videos about are Dr. Seuss (just to see your take on him) and Chris Van Allsburg, whose illustrations have a hypnotic quality to them. Although his most well known stories, due to movies, are "Jumangi" and "The Polar Express" my favorite is perhaps "The Mysteries of Harold Burrdick". Your videos are very inspirational to people like me with an artistic bent, especially after being assaulted by the so-called "fine art" of today where novelty is placed higher than skill or true imagination.
Hello and many thanks for your favourable comment and suggestions. Dr. Seuss is on the list (although currently not very near the front) so if i don't fall off my perch in the meantime he will feature eventually. Van Allsberg I was unaware of but I see he is still with us and I confine my subjects to those who are no longer vertical. Sorry.
Upon rewatching I'm noticing Sendak's influence on mid-to-late century cartoonists and graffiti artists, namely Vaughn Bode.
Hello and thanks for the comment and observation. That's territory I'm unfamiliar with so I'll have a look to see what you mean.
*Sendak* doing the writing & illustrations helped push his own book *Where the Wild Things Are* & I read somewhere years ago that his original idea was 'where the wild horses are' & something made him change it much to his & our benefit. A full length movie was made of the book also; I watched it 🤔 seems like I have the DVD too ... somewhere🤔
Hello again and I didn't know that - what a good job he changed his mind.
Absolutely wonderful video and beautiful artist. I grew up with a lot of these books and the animated versions, had no idea some were connected to the same illustrator!!
Hello and many thanks for your favourable response to the video. I'm pleased you found it enjoyable and hopefully informative.
I was a little beyond the age of having picture books read by a teacher in 1963, but my younger brother heard it, and showed me a copy at our church library. We both switch from drawing the hotrod monsters we previously had filled our notebooks with, to this new type.
Hello and it seems the magic of Sendak works on many of us, whatever our age.
I read an interview with Sendack who said that as a child he heard a neighbor boy's mother scolding him for "telling stories", and wondered why that was something bad, as everyone in his family were raconteurs.
Thanks. Interesting and rather unsettling story.
This was great Pete. Thanks for featuring a favorite of mine.
Hello and I'm glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the comment.
Just caught an exhibition of his work at the gardener museum today!
Hello and I'm envious. I'll probably never get to see an original by him, or many other American illustrators for that matter. This country is useless when it comes to exhibiting illustration.
@@petebeard I was surprised to see the exhibit, it was mostly early sketches done for set design for the nutcracker ballet as well as a production of the Magic flute but the exhibit also had some wonderful early concept sketches for Where the Wild Things Are.
The Nutcracker is something I try to watch every Christmas season. The sets and costumes were remarkable. I saw the movie "Where The Wild Things Are" for the first time last year . I found it very moving and I'd like to see it again. Thank you very much.
*THX Pete* always interesting
...and I'm always glad to hear it.
Beautiful video !
Hello and thanks a lot. Sendak made my job easier.
Hi Pete, first of all, I really enjoy the channel and in particular the Unsung Heroes of Illustration series, and I wanted to propose that you dedicate a space in a future chapter to Florencio Molina Campos, an Argentine illustrator who came to work with Walt Disney back in 1942 and his work is focused on the Argentine gauchos or cowboys, thank you very much for reading it and I hope this comment is of some use!
Hello and thanks a lot for your appreciation of the channel. I'm sorry to have to disappoint you but I am aware of his work and as far as I can tell almost every example online was created as art rather than illustration. Sorry.
Another diverting wander through the encyclopedia of Mr Beard ...thank you for sharing this with us all,best wishes from the wirral
Hi and thanks a lot Mr. Clabby. Finally looks like we might get a summer here in the northwest today.
@@petebeard hip hooray...the sun has got his hat on...off down to the banks of the river Dee at Parkgate, one of the Wirral peninsula, s hidden gems...Eamonn the younger is treating his mum and I to a meal. and hopefully an ice cream out on the front...hope your sunny day goes well too ,sir....E
Great video 😃 I love this artist!
Hello and thanks for the comment. Glad you enjoyed the video.
Regarding that last sentence... all I can say is... amen
Hello and thanks for your comment. Good to know.
Thank you
Birdy
Hi and you're always welcome.
I don't want to appear to be a stalker... Why no little lightbulb man?
Birdy
@@lisahodges8299 Hello and he's been gone for quite a while now. I started to get a bit uncomfortable with him as a sort of comic mascot and replaced him with what I hoped was a more serious minded logo as befits my old age and supposed dignity.
Now I am laughing at you. This old lady would be happy to have daughter either. It's just the light bulb shows more character, now you have given the impression of a suited advert guy😊
Levels of irony here, but a true talent. Also an explanation of some things perceived but not reducible to words.
Hi again and thanks for the comment.
Good 😌
Thanks a lot. What did you mean by 'fabeles' ?
mr. Beard have you ever heard of or considered doing a doc on a dear friend of mine from Quadra Island.
his name was Richard Calver i do have some of his earliest sketches and he became quite well knowm in art circles.
Hes since passed away.
Hello and many thanks for the suggestion. I had never heard of Richard Calver and I'm pleased ro have seen some of his work. The bad news is that there simply isn't enough material of good enough resolution to make a video about him. There's also the issue that he appears to have been very much an artist rather than an illustrator, and I confine myself to the latter occupation on the channel. I hope you aren't too disappointed and I really am grateful for your interest.
So many thoughts about this. The book ban for one is American hypocritical puritanism at its very finest. And all those satirical stabs at folklore and fine art looks hilarious. The cross hatch style looks quite similar to what an artist I recently employed is doing. Since you're appreciative of the drawn media, if you care to see it I'd be happy to oblige.
Hello and thanks. Yes I'd be very interested in seeing these pictures but with the caveat that I can't be comfortable putting up my private e-mail. So maybe there's a site you can direct me to?
I hope you will spotlight Eric Jolliffe a fantastic cartoonist from Australia
Hello and thanks for the suggestion. I've just had a look online and I think I'll struggle to find enough high resolution imagery to be able to feature him. Sorry to disappoint.
I can see why Sendak thought Jim Henson's _Labyrinth_ was inspired by _Outside Over There._
Hello and I haven't seen Labrynth, so I'll have a look at a few stills for comparison.
@@petebeard The story is exactly as you summarised but with David Bowie chewing the scenery and stealing the show in one of his most entertaining roles in cinema. One of those perfect films. They did acknowledge Sendak's influence.
6:10 When I was a kid I borrowed an art anatomy book from the library that included nude male photos with their privates airbrushed away. I was very disturbed to see dudes without their "willy's". As a child I could only pray and ask Jesus that whatever tragedy befell those poor men would spare me!
Hello and thanks for sharing this tale of childhood innocence. Most amusing.
That chicken at 2:00 is very Chagall.
Hello and that;s maybe not so coincidental. Apparently Sendak was an admirer.
What’s the name of the song at the beginning?
Hello and I'm sorry but I can't be a lot of help here. None of the tracks I used have titles as they are all from a non-copyright generic download . The title of the whole thing is something like 'non-copyright melancholy piano music'. You might find it with that search on youtube.
This is a wonderful video tribute, but please learn the meaning of “simplistic.”
Thanks...and I stand corrected. Henceforth I'll stick with simple.
@@petebeard Now that'll make two of us in the world that uses the word correctly. 😉
Thanks Pete, another wonderful episode.
Hi Mark and my thanks as ever.