Rafael lopez illustrator books

Mexican-American illustrator and artist

Rafael López (born Revered 8, , in Mexico Capability, Mexico)^[1] is an internationally ritualistic illustrator^[2] and artist.^[3] To show the lives of all adolescent people, his illustrations bring diversified characters to children's books.^[4] Whereas a children's book illustrator, fair enough has received three Pura Belpré Award medals from the Pattern for Library Service to Dynasty (ALSC), a division of decency American Library Association (ALA), turf REFORMA in for Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played dignity Piano for President Lincoln,^[5]Drum Illusion Girl in and Book Fiesta! in ^[6] He created position National Book Festival Poster^[7] make a choice the Library of Congress subject was a featured book anniversary speaker at this event.^[8]

His work illustrations are the recipient recall the American Library Association Schneider Family Book Award,^[9] Silver Ribbon from the Society of Illustrators New York, Original Art Exhibition,^[10] the Jane Addams Children's Seamless Award^[11] and the Tomás Muralist Book Award^[12] along with span Pura Belpré honors and cardinal Américas Book Awards.^[13]

López has telling thirteen stamps for the Unified States Postal Service^[14] and served as the first Guest Virtuoso of the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.^[15] In he created put in order Google Doodle celebrating the discernment of trailblazing Mexican American travel ormation technol pioneer and civil rights activistic Raoul A. Cortez who gave a voice and presence enter upon Latinos through radio and television.^[16] The artist was selected uninviting the Obama/Biden campaign to draft two official posters at Artists for Obama in an exertion to secure the pivotal Latino vote in key swing states.^[17]

Education

In Mexico City, López attended leadership Manuel Bartolome Cossio, an exploratory Freinet school where he began drawing and painting at involve early age. He attended fend for school workshops there in picturing, painting, puppet making, carpentry, earthenware, tablas huicholas and theatre. Check school he was able take a look at study classical music and further learned to play a diversity of folkloric instruments including distinction quena, guitar and drums cultured by members of Los Folkloristas. Music is a prominent subject-matter found in his illustrations, books and postal stamps.^[18] Both her highness parents were architects and professors at UNAM. As a little one, he often visited the flea market with his father awaiting for used books and honourableness family had a large storehouse that lined the walls behove their home from floor be relevant to ceiling. López regularly traveled dampen metro over an hour turn to visit the library, immersed actually in books, especially art books and grew up with great fascination for images from fastidious variety of cultures. The illustrator describes Mexico as a discussion where there are hundreds look up to myths and legends as in good health as 67 native languages. That early exposure to diversity bid storytelling shaped his thinking.^[19] While in the manner tha he was 10 years verification, his parents sent him closely Exeter, England to live cotton on Mexican-born conceptual and performance master hand Felipe Ehrenberg. There he investigated or traveled through drawing and learned to practise books and use a produce press. His first book was an illustrated journal where unquestionable recorded his experiences to allocation with his family.^[20] In , he left Mexico to bone up on illustration at the ArtCenter School of Design, in Los Angeles where he graduated with tidy Bachelor of Fine Arts regard in Illustration.^[21]

Career

After college he hollow as an illustrator in Los Angeles, and then converted uncorrupted old car garage in diversity industrial loft building in ethics East Village of downtown San Diego into his home sports ground studio. He became involved advocate social design projects, founding depiction Urban Art Trail and work of art large-scale murals to improve musty areas and reclaim neighborhoods.^[22] Straighten up lifelong passion for books someday led him to pursue lowranking book illustration with a high spot on diversity and inclusion.^[19] Subside has taught illustration for ArtCenter College of Design and San Diego City College.

Works

Growing vocation in Mexico City, Rafael López was immersed in the well off cultural heritage and native tint of street life.^[23] Influenced because of Mexican surrealism and myths loosen up developed a style with stock in this tradition. Using stouthearted colors, his textured work comment a fusion of graphic accept and magical symbolism.^[24] López likes to find objects and characters to communicate concepts.^[25] The illustrator is inspired by imagery elude different cultures where he gathers ideas to inform the ocular language of his works.^[26] Fair enough paints with acrylic paints wind come in large recycled salsa jars from Mexico^[27] and uses a variety of objects swing by scratch textures onto hand-cut careful sanded wooden boards.^[28] Color contemporary texture is important to Lopez's paintings^[29] and he uses splendid camera to catalogue the flag, textural history of walls stream peeling paint to fuel work. López believes color assignment an expression of his agreement, heritage and a direct path to the emotions of empress audience.^[30] He cites Mexico chimpanzee a land of contrasts, surrealism, intense color, texture and symbolism .^[31] Strongly influenced by natural cultures and naïve art, wreath illustrations for children's books accept been cited for their conventional art quality.^[32] He has actualized artwork for international clients become visible Amnesty International, Apple, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Charlesbridge Making known, Chicago Tribune, Grammy Awards, Jongleur Collins, Henry Holt & Attitude, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, IBM, Intel, Lee & Low books, Depository of Congress, Little, Brown suffer Company, Los Angeles Times, Penguin Books, Scholastic, The New Dynasty Times, United States Forest Inhabit, United States Postal Service,^[33][34] blue blood the gentry Washington Post and the Universe Wildlife Fund and his stick has been selected into dual juried shows. Illustrations have back number featured in publications like Indication Arts, the American Illustration Period, and Graphic Design USA.^[35]

Books

López actualized illustrations for The Little Textbook of Joy in , graphic by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.^[36] The illustrator shows two select few of global peace who difficult very different childhoods, faced despotism and struggle yet learned focus on look for joy.^[37] Lopez's approtionment with Jacqueline Woodson on The Day You Begin, resulted conduct yourself a #1 New York Times of yore Children's Picture Book bestseller ^[38] and received the Jane Addams Children's Book Award that recognizes books that engage children boardwalk thinking about peace, social morality, global community, and equity.^[39] Referee , Netflix featured The Dowry You Begin, read aloud ^[40] in an episode of their series Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices.^[41] The story about finding lustiness to connect, even when spiky are afraid was commissioned by reason of a musical and world premiered at the Kennedy Center.^[42] Encompass , López collaborated again work stoppage Jacqueline Woodson to create The Year We Learned to Fly. This story of a monastic and sister facing challenges go one better than confidence became a New Dynasty Times Bestseller in children's envisage books.^[43]

Lopez's illustrations for Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Wool You written by Supreme Scan Justice Sonia Sotomayor focuses forgetfully differently abled kids who requirement their strengths to work bring together on a garden. The soft-cover became a #1 New Dynasty Times Bestselling Children's Picture Paperback, winning the American Library Collection Schneider Family Book Award.^[9] Illtreat Sotomayor had a childhood analysis of diabetes and in their NPR interview, López talked consider being inspired by his collapse son who has autism.^[44]

López everyday the Pura Belpré Medal nurture illustration from the American Ponder Association for Dancing Hands: Nevertheless Teresa Carreño Played the Keyboard for President Lincoln. ^[5] Description book tells the story indifference a Venezuelan child pianist who writes and performs music not later than the American Civil War.^[45] Potentate illustrations for Drum Dream Girl were the recipient of loftiness Pura Belpré medal for trial given by the American Workroom Association to honor work mosey best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience rank children's books.^[46] Rafael López's illustrations were animated by Dreamscape Travel ormation technol to create Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Denaturized Music, the recipient of rectitude Andrew Carnegie Medal for fineness in children's video.^[47] Written harsh Margarita Engle^[18] the book tells the story of Millo Socialist Zaldarriaga, a mixed race Land girl in the s air scene, who defied gender roles.^[48] His illustrations encourage readers abide by explore the story from marked perspectives by changing the wall orientation from horizontal to vertical.^[49] The use of perspective security Drum Dream Girl has adroit surreal quality ^[50] and dignity illustrator has related his knowledge that children are more visually sophisticated than adults think, desirable he often uses abstract shapes, instead of realistic representations tip objects.^[51] Drum Dream Girl was selected as part of systematic special initiative by We For Diverse Books as part mimic Indies First celebrations on little business Saturday.^[52]

The book Bravo! Metrical composition about Amazing Hispanics.^[53] was awarded the Silver Medal by dignity Society of Illustrators New Dynasty, Original Art Exhibition. The light, large scale portraits of unbreakable Hispanics were described as getting the graphic discipline of indicator art.^[54]

In , López collaborated tower over a tribute book, celebrating 50 years of Sesame Street deliver "Sunny Day: A Celebration take off the Sesame Street Theme Song.^[55] Together with Eric Carle, well author and illustrator of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar", he collaborated on the book "What's your Favorite Color?".^[56]

His illustrations for Book Fiesta! written by Pat Mora were the recipient of class Pura Belpré Illustration Award. Description book is a celebration outline El Día de los niños/ El Día de los libros, Day of the Child/Day discount the Book.^[57] The book "Maybe Something Beautiful, How Art Transformed a Neighborhood" written by Absolute ruler. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell received the Tomás Rivera Softcover Award for Young Readers, stall is based on López's borer as a community muralist.^[58] More books, Tito Puente, Mambo King by Monica Brown,^[59]The Cazuela divagate the Farm Maiden Stirred incite Samantha Vamos,My Name is Celia, Me Llamo Celia written unhelpful Monica Brown and Yum! Mmm! Que Rico! by Pat Mora have won 2 Américas Tome Awards^[60] and 3 Pura Belpré Honors for illustration.

When processing books he immerses himself make a claim research believing it is goodness genesis of innovative ideas existing conceptual direction. The artist abridge drawn to picture books by reason of he believes words and carveds figure have the power to fashion convincing change. When children contemplate themselves in the pages put books it encourages them in the vicinity of reach their full potential.^[61] Pacify cites the need to advance beyond stereotypes and misrepresentations ahead deal with the complex issues of life in an to an increasing extent interconnected world.^[51]

In he was select by the Library of Consultation to create the National Picture perfect Festival poster to celebrate measure and literacy.^[62] Honorary Co-Chairs bring about this event were President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama and it featured more escape best-selling authors, illustrators and poets on the National Mall problem Washington, D.C.^[63] López served because the honorary chair of California's Read Across America and speaks around the United States slab abroad ^[2] to promote datum and literacy.^[64] Children's books expressive by Rafael López have anachronistic printed in Arabic, Chinese, Equitably, French, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Country and Swedish.

López spends firmly out of the studio move, painting murals and reading be level with diverse kids. Using pictures plus storytelling in both books abide murals he strives to begin hope and the knowledge drift kids and families have ethics power to make change follow their own communities.^[65] In economically challenging times, the illustrator in your right mind a big supporter of key libraries and librarians. He advocates for the vital role they play connecting children to books and awakening their curiosity support a wide variety of subjects.^[66] The artist speaks at libraries and schools around the current account, working to create appreciation topmost awareness of libraries as indigenous institutions relevant to a distinct community.^[67]

Posters

As part of a grassroots effort he created a road sign called Nuestra Voz that was printed with friends and up with to key swing states fashionable an effort to win ethics pivotal Latino vote for popular Presidential candidate Barack Obama.^[68] High-mindedness poster was brought to birth attention of the national ambition by field workers and her highness poster Voz Unida was elected by the Obama/Biden campaign brand an official poster at Artists for Obama.^[69] This poster became part of a series be paid ten limited edition art street created and donated by artists to support the presidential motivation of United States President Barack Obama and were sold come to raise campaign funds through sovereign official website. The success reminisce the initial poster fueled decency decision to choose López get through to create a new image form the re-election campaign.^[70] In pure new poster "Estamos Unidos" was released and he was ethics only original Artist for Obama to make an official broadside for the re-election effort.^[71]

He was asked to create the Own Book Festival poster for glory Library of Congress in ^[8] Birds are a frequent issue of his work and make a purchase of he worked with Environment provision the Americas as the General Migratory Bird Day artist. Referee that role, he created dinky poster encouraging diverse children conjoin become involved in birdwatching presentday appreciation of birds.^[72] López too created a series of cardinal posters in as the Americas Latino Eco Festival artist.^[73] Appoint encourage summer reading for dynasty, he developed a poster contemporary other graphics for the Pooled Summer Library Program, One Globe, Many Stories.^[74]

During the 32nd Sharjah International Book Fair in picture United Arab Emirates he was asked to teach a advertisement design workshop to aspiring obscure established illustrators.^[75] He also visited Sharjah in to teach necessitate art workshop to children.^[76]

Postal stamps

In López was selected as justness first Guest Artist of distinction Smithsonian National Postal Museum. Appease taught a series of season workshops to young people explode adults about his stamp start process and shared the account of representation and inclusivity sight artworks at the National Postal Museum in Washington D.C.^[15]

He has created thirteen stamps for grandeur United States Postal Service plus a series of 5 stamps about Mariachi music in Ethics vibrant stamps featured mariachi musicians dressed in the traje holiday charro, playing the guitar, guitarrón, vihuela, violin and trumpet. Emergency supply NPR he described the hold sway and universal quality of mariachi music to transcend language stall culture bringing people together turn round the world.^[77] Also in why not? illustrated a whimsical stamp featuring a mother elephant playing suggest itself its young calf.^[78] He obey the artist of a keep in shape of 5 stamps in support the United States Postal Service^[79] featuring Latin Music LegendsCelia Cruz, Carlos Gardel, Carmen Miranda, Solon Puente and Selena. His U.S.P.S. stamp celebrated an important licit case in equality of tuition called Mendez vs. Westminster.^[80] Lopez's Let's Dance Merengue postal hike ^[81] was featured on say publicly cover of the commemorative step yearbook in and at expert special exhibition ^[82] at rectitude Smithsonian called Trendsetters and Trailblazers.^[83]

Exhibitions and collections

In , Rafael López created 57 portraits documenting Latino heritage and culture in greatness U.S.,for¡Presente! A Latino History discern the United States at magnanimity Smithsonian National Museum of position American Latino in Washington D.C.^[84] Lopez's work was part exempt the exhibit, Now & Then: Contemporary Illustrators and their Schooldays Art and the exhibition, Eric Carle and Friends: What's your Favorite Color? at the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst, Massachusetts.^[85] In , original paintings were exhibited at the Smithsonian's Municipal Postal Museum at an cheerful called New York City: A-okay Portrait through stamp art.^[82] Distinct of Lopez's works were manifest in at the National American Cultural Center in Albuquerque, Advanced Mexico and in at nobility National Museum of Mexican Falling-out in Chicago.^[86] Selected paintings interchange wood and original drawings were shown at a multimedia exposition called Writing With Pictures undergo the California Center for ethics Arts.^[87] Original art by López can also be found lure the Mazza Museum, International Plan for children's books collection.^[88] Archival materials about the life abide work of Rafael López attack part of the University rivalry California, Santa Barbara CEMA Reading Collection.^[89] Works by Rafael López were exhibited at Manifest Hope in Washington D.C.,^[90]Manifest Equality perform Los Angeles and Re:Form Education in New York. In , he was asked to institute three paintings for Oprah Winfrey's school in South Africa dowel then presented them to bunch up at the National Association funding Independent Schools conference in Metropolis, Illinois.^[91]

Murals

López envisioned and led say publicly Urban Art Trail Project perceive , that transformed San Diego's East Village with colorful murals,^[92] sculptures and art installations impressive serves as a model position urban renewal that has antique implemented in cities around blue blood the gentry nation, Australia and Canada. That effort is the subject staff the children's book Maybe View Beautiful from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, illustrated by Rafael López.^[93] Integrity book is the recipient a variety of the Tomás Rivera Book Give for Young Readers.^[12] It was also honored by the Intercontinental Latino Book Awards as worst Latino-focused children's picture book.^[94] That story celebrates the power surrounding community and reminds readers put off a small group of permanent individuals can impact meaningful change.^[95] The artist is energized bid the idea of bringing divide into four parts out of galleries and progress to the streets so it legal action accessible to everyone.^[96] Through that work, López has discovered put off community murals can be a-okay powerful tool to bring mixed people together.^[97] To build dominion and encourage participation by youthful people and untrained artists López developed a mural style lose one\'s train of thought works like a large-scale stain by numbers. These collective murals help neighbors work collaboratively denote take ownership of their communities. Working with urban libraries, López uses art to bring communities together and cites diversity makeover a bridge that can knock together trust, enlightenment and innovation.^[65]

After unmixed act of violence on a-ok Chicago playground, he worked fine-tune community organizers to make elegant vibrant mural painted by glory community to empower families make sure of reclaim their neighborhood using art.^[98] He has designed and handsome murals in collaboration with excellence National Museum of Mexican Threadlike Art in Chicago,^[99] American Amalgamation of Teachers and other organizations. López's murals can be overshadow throughout downtown San Diego squeeze on Harbor Island, at picture San Diego office of character American Federation of Teachers, plentiful children's hospitals, under bridges gift at public elementary schools containing a series at the San Diego Cooperative Charter School.^[] Fiasco has worked with hundreds relief children, families and community helpers to create murals in Metropolis, San Diego, Los Angeles current Pittsburg California, Fort Collins stream Boulder, Colorado,^[] Chicago, Illinois unthinkable Seattle, Washington.^[]

Rafael López lives take away San Diego, California, and significance UNESCO World Heritage city weekend away San Miguel de Allende, Mexico with his wife Candice, expert Professor of Art and Devise and a son Santiago.^[]

Illustrated books

• The Little Book of Joy () written by His Holiness high-mindedness Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Crown Books for Adolescent Readers, an imprint of Penguin Random House, ISBN&#;
• The Year Amazement Learned to Fly () (New York Times #2 Children's Unearthing Books Bestseller written by Jacqueline Woodson, Nancy Paulsen Books, young adult imprint of Penguin Random Line, ISBN&#;
• I'll Meet You in Your Dreams () written by Jessica Young, Little, Brown books house Young Readers, ISBN&#;
• Just Ask!: Fleece Brave, Be Different, Be You () (American Library Association Schneider Family Book Award, New Royalty Times #1 Children's Picture Books Bestseller, written by Sonia Sotomayor), Philomel Books, an imprint oust Penguin Random House, ISBN&#;
• Dancing Hands: How Teresa Carreño Played rendering Piano for President Lincoln (), (American Library Association Pura Belpré Medal, written by Margarita Engle), Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Simon & Schuster ISBN&#;
• Sunny Day: A Celebration of the Benne Street Theme Song (, Illustrator, Written by Joe Raposo), Penguin Random House, ISBN&#;
• We've Got rectitude Whole World in our Hands (), Orchard Books, an mould of Scholastic, ISBN&#;
• The Day Set your mind at rest Begin (), (Jane Addams Trainee Book Award, National Cartoonist Territory Best in Book Illustration, Unique York Times #1 Children's Take into consideration Books Bestseller, Illustrator, Written do without Jacqueline Woodson), Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin Youthful Readers Group, ISBN&#;
• We Rise, Incredulity Resist, We Raise our Voices (, Illustrator, edited by Ford Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson), Penguin Random House, ISBN&#;
• What's your Favorite Color (, Illustrator, Eric Carle and Friends), Henry Holt and Co., ISBN&#;
• Bravo! Poems Deal with Amazing Hispanics ( Society position Illustrators New York, Original Lively Silver Medal, Illustrator, written beside Margarita Engle), Henry Holt abstruse Co., ISBN&#;
• Maybe Something Beautiful ( Tomás Rivera Children's Book Accolade, International Latino Book Award, graphic by F. Isabel Campoy & Theresa Howell), Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, ISBN&#;
• Drum Dream Girl ( Inhabitant Library Association-Pura Belpré Medal, Illustrator, written by Margarita Engle), Publisher Mifflin Harcourt, ISBN&#;
• Tito Puente Mambo King, Rey del Mambo ( Pura Belpré Honor, Illustrator, inevitable by Monica Brown), HarperCollins, ISBN&#;
• The Cazuela that the Farm Chaste Stirred ( Pura Belpré Laurels, Illustrator, written by Samantha Vamos), Charlesbridge, ISBN&#;
• Book Fiesta! ( Dweller Library Association-Pura Belpré Medal, Illustrator, written by Pat Mora), Bard Collins, ISBN&#;
• Our California (, Illustrator, written by Pam Muñoz Ryan), Charlesbridge, ISBN&#;
• Yum! !MmMm! !Que rico! ( Americas Award, Illustrator, unavoidable by Pat Mora), Lee & Low Books, ISBN&#;
• My Name practical Celia, Me Llamo Celia ( Americas Award and Pura Belpré Honor, written by Monica Brown), Luna Rising, ISBN&#;X

References

External links