Bryan Collier facts for kids
Bryan Collier (born 1967) is an American writer and artist. He is famous for drawing pictures in children's books. He won the Coretta Scott King Award and the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award for his book Uptown. This was the first book he both wrote and drew. He has won six Coretta Scott King Awards for his art. He has also received the Caldecott Honor four times. In 2014, he was nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award. This award honors artists who have made a big difference in children's books.
Contents
About Bryan Collier
Early Life and Inspiration
Bryan Collier grew up in Pocomoke City, Maryland. His mom was a Head Start teacher. She often brought home many wonderful children's books. Some of his favorite books were Whistle for Willie and The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. He also loved Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson. Another favorite was Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. Bryan said he first looked at the pictures to understand the stories. He did not read the words right away.
Discovering Art
When Bryan was 15, he started working with watercolors and photo collage. He said it felt like something just clicked for him. The very next day, he began painting. While in high school, he won a special art contest. His painting was shown in the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. for a whole year.
Art School and Helping Others
Bryan received a scholarship to the Pratt Institute in New York City. This is one of the best art schools in the United States. He graduated from Pratt with high honors. While studying there, he volunteered at the Harlem Horizon Art Studio. This studio is inside the Harlem Hospital Center. It is open to children from the hospital and the community. Bryan later became the Program Director there. He held this job for twelve years.
Why He Creates Children's Books
Bryan Collier wanted to create children's books for an important reason. In 1995, he visited a bookstore. He noticed that the books there did not feel like him or his children. He thought he could make books that better reflected their lives. So, he worked hard to do just that.
Giving Back to the Community
Bryan still volunteers at the Harlem Horizon Art Studio. He believes it is important to be a good role model for kids. He says it helps the community, schools, and families. It helps kids build self-esteem and learn to love art. It also keeps them involved in positive activities. Bryan also visits schools. He talks with teachers, librarians, and students about books and art.
How Bryan Collier Creates Art
Unique Art Style
Bryan Collier uses a special way to create his illustrations. He combines watercolors with collage. This makes his artwork very unique.
The Creative Process
First, Bryan takes many photos. He asks his family or friends to act out the story. Sometimes he uses up to ten rolls of film. He believes this helps him find the best poses and feelings for the scenes. Next, he carefully picks the photos that fit the story best. Then, he starts sketching his ideas. After the sketches are done, he begins painting with watercolors. Finally, he adds the collage pieces. He often finds these pieces in magazines like Elle.
Awards and Recognition
Caldecott and Coretta Scott King Awards
Bryan Collier has received the Caldecott Honor four times. These honors were for his books Martin's Big Words, Rosa, Dave the Potter, and Trombone Shorty. These four books are also among nine books for which he has won or been honored with the Coretta Scott King Award. The Coretta Scott King Awards celebrate books that show the African American experience well. One award is for illustrators, and one is for writers.
Coretta Scott King Award Winners and Honors
- 2001 Uptown by Bryan Collier (Winner)
- 2001 honor recipient, Freedom River by Doreen Rappaport
- 2002 honor recipient, Martin's Big Words: The Life of Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport
- 2003 honor recipient, Visiting Langston by Willie Perdomo
- 2006 Rosa by Nikki Giovanni (Winner)
- 2011 Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill (Winner)
- 2013 I, Too, Am America by Langston Hughes (Winner)
- 2014 Knock Knock: My Dad's Dream for Me, written by Daniel Beaty (Winner)
- 2016 Trombone Shorty, written by Troy Andrews and Bill Taylor (Winner)
Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award
For his book Uptown, which he also wrote, Bryan Collier won the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award.
Books Illustrated by Bryan Collier
- My Country, 'Tis of Thee, written by Claire Rudolf Murphy, 2014
- Knock Knock: My Dad's Dream for Me written by Daniel Beaty, 2013
- Fifty Cents and a Dream: Young Booker T. Washington (written by Jabari Asim), 2012
- I, Too, Am America by Langston Hughes, 2012
- Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave by Laban Carrick Hill, 2011
- Your Moon, My Moon: to a Faraway Child (written by Patricia MacLachlan), Simon & Schuster, 2011
- Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave (written by Laban Carrick Hill), Little, Brown 2010
- Doo-Wop Pop (written by Roni Schotter), Amistad, 2008
- Lincoln and Douglass: An American Friendship (written by Nikki Giovanni), Henry Holt and Co., 2008
- Barack Obama: Son of a Promise, Child of Hope (written by Nikki Grimes), Simon & Schuster, 2008
- Lift Every Voice and Sing (written by James Weldon Johnson), Amistad, 2007
- Cherish Today: A Celebration of Life's Moments (written by Kristina Evans), Jump at the Sun, 2007
- 12 Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali (written by Charles R. Jr Smith), Candlewick 2007
- Welcome, Precious (written by Nikki Grimes), Orchard Books / a division of Scholastic Press, 2006
- Rosa (written by Nikki Giovanni), Henry Holt and Company, 2005
- John's Secret Dreams: The Life of John Lennon (written by Doreen Rappaport), Jump at the Sun / Hyperion Books for Children, 2004
- Skull Talks Back and Other Haunting Tales (written by Zora Neale Hurston), HarperCollins Publishers, 2004
- What's the Hurry Fox?: And Other Animal Stories (collected by Zora Neale Hurston; adapted by Joyce Carol Thomas), HarperCollins Publishers, 2004
- I'm Your Child, God: Prayers for Children and Teenagers (written by Marian Wright Edelman), Jump at the Sun / Hyperion Books for Children, 2002
- Kiss it Up to God (selected poems by Nadine Mozon), Fly By Night Press, 2002
- Visiting Langston (written by Willie Perdomo), Henry Holt and Company, 2002
- Jump at the Sun Treasury: An African American Picture Book Collection (an anthology compiled by Andrea Davis Pinkney), Jump at the Sun / Hyperion Books for Children, 2001
- Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (written by Doreen Rappaport), Jump at the Sun / Hyperion Books for Children, 2001
- A Freedom River (written by Doreen Rappaport), Jump at the Sun / Hyperion Books for Children, 2000
- Uptown (written by Bryan Collier), Henry Holt and Company, 2000
- These Hands (written by Hope Lynn Price), Hyperion Books for Children, 1999
