Carson Ellis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carson Ellis
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Carson Ellis in 2011
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| Born | October 5, 1975 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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| Nationality | American |
| Education | University of Montana |
| Known for | Painting, drawing, printmaking |
| Spouse(s) | Colin Meloy |
| Awards | Caldecott Honor (2017) E. B. White Read Aloud Award (2017) Society of Illustrators Silver Medal (2010 and 2014) Grammy Nomination for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package (2015 and 2018) |
Carson Friedman Ellis, born on October 5, 1975, is a talented artist and illustrator of children's books. She was born in Canada but is an American citizen. Her amazing artwork has earned her special awards, like a Caldecott Honor for her book Du Iz Tak? in 2016. Carson Ellis gets her ideas from folk art, old art styles, and even magical stories.
Contents
Early Life and Artistic Beginnings
Growing Up and Studying Art
Carson Ellis grew up in New York. She studied painting at the University of Montana. There, she learned a lot about art history. She was especially interested in artists like Egon Schiele and Max Beckmann. She also liked a style called German Expressionism. Even though she didn't study writing, she has written poetry since she was a teenager.
First Steps in Illustration
Carson Ellis started her career as a fine artist in San Francisco. She even had her own show of oil paintings in a gallery. Her first job as an illustrator began when she met Colin Meloy in college. She designed posters for his band, Tarkio. This was the start of her journey into illustration.
Carson Ellis's Amazing Career
Illustrating Children's Books
Carson Ellis has illustrated many popular children's books. Some of these include Wildwood, which was a New York Times bestseller. She also illustrated The Composer Is Dead by Lemony Snicket. Another well-known series she worked on is The Mysterious Benedict Society. In 2010, she won a Silver Medal from the Society of Illustrators for her art in Dillweed's Revenge. She continued to work with Colin Meloy on the Wildwood Chronicles series. These books are Under Wildwood (2012) and Wildwood Imperium (2014).
Art for Music and More
Carson Ellis is also famous for her work with the band The Decemberists. She has created many things for them. This includes album covers, T-shirts, and even stage designs for their shows. Some of the albums she designed art for are 5 Songs (2001) and The Crane Wife (2006). She was even nominated for a Grammy Award twice for her album packaging designs. She has also made album art for other musicians like Laura Veirs and Weezer.
Writing and Illustrating Her Own Books
In 2015, Carson Ellis wrote and illustrated her very first solo children's book, Home. This book shows many different kinds of homes. It explores homes around the world, underwater, and even in space.
Her second solo book, Du Iz Tak?, came out in 2016. This book is special because it's written entirely in an invented "bug language." Du Iz Tak? won a Caldecott Honor Award and an E. B. White Read Aloud Award in 2017.
Other Creative Projects
In 2016, Carson Ellis worked with a wallpaper company called Juju Papers. They created a wallpaper design called Barn Owls and Hollyhocks. This design was inspired by her own home, a small barn near Portland.
She also created the cover and inside pictures for Colin Meloy's book, The Whiz Mob and the Grenadine Kid, in 2017. In 2019, she illustrated The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper. Carson Ellis also creates illustrations for magazines like The New York Times and The New Yorker.
The Wildwood Chronicles Series
The Wildwood Chronicles is a popular book series for middle school readers. Carson Ellis illustrated these books, and her husband, Colin Meloy, wrote them. When she drew for this series, she was inspired by other famous illustrators. These included Pauline Baynes, who illustrated The Chronicles of Narnia. She also looked at drawings from The Wind in the Willows.
List of Works
Books Written and Illustrated by Carson Ellis
- Home (2015)
- Du Iz Tak? (2016)
- In the Half Room (2020)
Books Illustrated by Carson Ellis
Book Series
- The Mysterious Benedict Society series, written by Trenton Lee Stewart:
- The Mysterious Benedict Society (2008)
- The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey (2008)
- The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma (2009)
- Mr. Benedict's Book of Perplexing Puzzles, Elusive Enigmas, and Curious Conundrums (2011)
- The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict (2012)
- The Wildwood Chronicles series, written by Colin Meloy:
- Wildwood (2011)
- Under Wildwood (2012)
- Wildwood Imperium (2014)
Standalone Books
- The Composer Is Dead, written by Lemony Snicket (2009)
- The Beautiful Stories of Life, written by Cynthia Rylant (2009)
- Stagecoach Sal, written by Deborah Hopkinson (2009)
- Dillweed's Revenge, written by Florence Parry Heide (2010)
- Illimat, a board game created by Keith Baker and The Decemberists (2017)
- The Shortest Day, written by Susan Cooper (2019)
- What Is Love?, written by Mac Barnett (2021)
Personal Life
Carson Ellis is married to Decemberists singer Colin Meloy. They met in college when she was designing posters for his band. They have two children, Henry "Hank" Meloy and Milo Cannonball Meloy. The family lives on a farm outside Portland, Oregon.
