Nancy Ekholm Burkert facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nancy Ekholm Burkert
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| Born | February 16, 1933 |
| Alma mater | University of Wisconsin, Madison |
| Known for | Children's book illustration |
Nancy Ekholm Burkert, born on February 16, 1933, is an American artist. She is famous for illustrating children's books. Her most well-known work is the picture book Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1972). This book was recognized as a New York Times Notable Book. It also received a Caldecott Honor, meaning it was a runner-up for the important Caldecott Medal.
About Nancy Ekholm Burkert
Nancy Ekholm Burkert was born in Sterling, Colorado. In 1945, her family moved to Wisconsin. She studied at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. There, she earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees.
Her first job illustrating books was for James and the Giant Peach in 1961. She also helped write a museum catalog in 1982. This catalog was for the Milwaukee Art Museum and featured the artist John Wilde.
In 1990, she won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Special Award. This was for her work on Valentine and Orson. In 2003, her art was shown in an exhibition. This special show was at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst.
Nancy married Robert Burkert (1930-2019). He was a professor of Fine Art at UW-Milwaukee. Some of his artworks are in the Tate Britain collection. They had a son and a daughter. The family spent time in Europe and at their cottage in northern Wisconsin. Later, Nancy and Robert retired to East Orleans, Massachusetts.
Her Artistic Style
Nancy Ekholm Burkert's early artwork showed her skill with pencils and charcoal. She was great at creating shading and texture. She also often used pen and ink with colored pencils and watercolors.
Her books, from The Nightingale to Snow White, show her amazing control of light and shadow. She used a style called Renaissance chiaroscuro. This means using strong contrasts between light and dark. She also used an Oriental way of thinking about space. Her settings looked very real, but they also felt magical and timeless. Later in her career, she continued to focus on tiny, important details. This showed her love for the many different parts of life.
Her illustrations for Valentine & Orson are seen as a complete work of art. People praised them for their careful details and how bright and glowing they looked.
Books She Illustrated
- Roald Dahl, James and the Giant Peach (1961)
- Natalie Savage Carlson, Jean-Claude’s Island (1963)
- Meindert de Jong, Big Goose and the Little White Duck (1963)
- Hans Christian Andersen, The Nightingale (1965)
- John Updike, Child’s Calendar (1965)
- Edward Lear and Ogden Nash, The Scroobious Pip (1968)
- Hans Christian Andersen, The Fir Tree (1970)
- The Brothers Grimm, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1972)
- David Larkin, ed., The Art of Nancy Ekholm Burkert (1977)
- Emily Dickinson, Acts of Light (1980)
- Valentine and Orson (1989), written and illustrated
Awards and Honors
Nancy Ekholm Burkert has received several awards for her wonderful work:
- 1972 New York Times Notable Book: Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs
- 1973 Caldecott Award, Honor Book: Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs
- 1989 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award: Valentine and Orson
- 1995 Wisconsin Library Association Wisconsin Notable Authors
