Garth Williams: Illustrator of the Century

While visiting Lauren in the Dallas area one weekend in late December, we ran over to the Irving Arts Center to view the exhibit entitled "Garth Williams:  Illustrator of the Century."

Are you familiar with these children's books?

Garth Williams was born in 1912 in New York City.  Both of his British born parents were artists.  After his parents separated, he lived with his mother in London and studied portraiture and sculpture until WWII.  In the 1940's, back in New York City, he was commissioned to illustrate E.B. White's first children's book-Stuart Little. He went on to illustrate many of our beloved favorites including Charlotte's Web, Bedtime for Frances, The Cricket in Times Square, and The Little House on the Prairie series.  His career spanned nearly 50 years.  He also tried his hand at London portraiture, as a New Yorker cartoonist, and in advertising.

After WWII, when the Harper Publishing Company was trying to introduce the Little House on the Prairie series to a new generation, Williams was commissioned to produce original art for all 8 Little House books.  He nearly turned down the request because he believed drawing animals, not people was his strength.  Upon agreeing to take on the task, he researched the subjects, retracing Wilder's travels with a sketchbook and camera, and even meeting with Laura and Almanzo Wilder.  He began work on the illustrations in 1947 and the new editions appeared 6 years later.

In 1942, Williams took on illustration work with Golden Books.  He loved the idea of being able to paint and draw without restrictions on cost.  It also allowed for frequent collaboration with the most innovative picture book author of his generation-Margaret Wise Brown.  Who doesn't love Margaret Wise Brown?

In the Golden Book entitled Mister Dog:  The Dog who Belonged to Himself, Williams modeled the clapboard cottage after Brown's writing studio located behind a tenement row in Manhattan.

This is one of my favorite illustrations they had on display.  Notice how each character is reading a book about himself.

A display card mentioned that this was the largest Garth Williams retrospective ever assembled featuring art from 28 of his best loved books.  The exhibit is free, and available at the Irving Arts Center until January 27, 2019.  It will next be on display at the Joslyn Museum of Art in Omaha NE from May 4, 2019-August 11, 2019.  If you have the opportunity, I would highly recommend checking it out.