Mary Azarian facts for kids

Mary Azarian, born in 1940, is a talented American artist. She is famous for her beautiful woodcut prints and for illustrating many children's books. In 1999, she won the important Caldecott Medal for her pictures in the book Snowflake Bentley. This book tells the story of Wilson Bentley, who loved snowflakes. Mary Azarian lives in Calais, Vermont, and has illustrated more than 50 books.

Growing Up

Mary Azarian grew up on her grandfather's farm. This farm was located near Washington, DC. Her grandfather raised many chickens, and her uncle grew fresh vegetables. Being around these gardens made Mary interested in nature for her whole life. As a child, she loved exploring the woods and fields. She often rode her pony, named Pasty, through these areas.

First Art Project

Mary started drawing and painting when she was very young. In fourth grade, she made her first relief print. This was a type of woodcut art. Her project was a small block, about 3 by 4 inches. It showed an angel with the word "NOEL" at the bottom. She learned an important lesson from this project. When you make a woodcut, words must be carved backward. This way, they print correctly. Her finished print actually read "LEON"!

Education and Learning

Mary Azarian continued to create lino cuts, which are similar to woodcuts. She later attended Smith College. There, she studied printmaking and painting. One of her teachers was Leonard Baskin. He was a very famous printmaker in the 20th century.

Becoming an Artist

After graduating from Smith College, Mary Azarian moved to a farm in Vermont. She and her husband raised many animals. They had horses, oxen, chickens, a milk cow, sheep, and a goat. Their three sons helped them with the farm work.

Teaching and Art

Before becoming a full-time artist, Mary taught for three years. She taught in a one-room schoolhouse. After her teaching years, she decided to focus on art. She wanted to earn a living by selling her woodcut prints. At first, she made her prints by hand. They were only in black and white. Later, she started adding color to them by hand. Eventually, she found an old printing press. This machine helped her make many more prints.

Illustrating Books

In the 1970s, Mary Azarian began illustrating children's books. Her artwork brought many stories to life. In 1999, she received a very special award. The American Library Association gave her the Caldecott Medal. This award was for her beautiful illustrations in the book Snowflake Bentley.

Family Life

Mary Azarian has three sons. Their father is Tom Azarian, a folk musician and artist. Mary also has four grandchildren.

Selected Books Illustrated by Mary Azarian

• Snowflake Bentley, written by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
• A Farmer's Alphabet
• A Gardener's Alphabet
• Barn Cat
• The Four Seasons of Mary Azarian
• When the Moon is Full