I wanted to share this recent article about my process from a wonderful organization RIF: Reading is Fundamental. The vision of this organization is to create a literate America in which all children have access to books and discover the joys and value of reading. They work to motivate young children to read by working with them, their parents, and community members to make reading a fun and beneficial part of everyday life. Their highest priority is reaching underserved children from birth to age 8.<\/p>\n
To see the original article you can visit: Reading is Fundamental<\/a><\/p>\n Hispanic Heritage Month Post by Pura Belpr\u00e9 Award-winner Rafael L\u00f3pez<\/p>\n I\u2019m writing to you from my art studio perched on a hill in the colonial town of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. The church bells are ringing, and in the distance I hear a rooster crowing. Looking down to the zocalo, the main plaza, I see lava red roof tiles and warm hues straight from the earth\u2019s core. What better place to celebrate the spirit of Hispanic Heritage month.<\/p>\n Traveling and speaking at libraries, schools, and conferences, I have met many people who are curious about the mysteries of making art. (My son Santiago believes paintbrushes are magic wands!) So instead of showing you finished work, I thought it would be fun to invite you on a journey through the process of children\u2019s book illustration.<\/p>\n Color and texture are very important to my work. I like to wander the winding cobblestone streets of my town with a camera cataloguing the colors, textural history, and stories of well-worn doors and peeling paint. The skies, backgrounds, or the surface of the skin of a whale in one of my books will reveal the textures of places where I have been.<\/p>\n I\u2019m grateful there is no \u201cchromophobia,\u201d a fear of color, in my native country. Perhaps color is our way of preserving the spirit of our childhood and to live a vibrant life full of wonder. In Mexico we have an expression: no dar color, literally the inability to give off color or emotion.<\/p>\n