Illustration Inspiration;

       As an author-illustrator I'm always looking for inspiration, and recently found some at the 
Cleveland Public Library. 
I got to view some original illustrations by the fabulous Lois Lenski.

1930- Watercolor on illustration board - so lovely!

The collection includes some of her personal letters.

    In one she states; "These drawings represent a lifetime of loving work,...of devotion to the children of America.  It was hard to give many of them up- they are so much a part of me."

Pencil illustration from my favorite - Strawberry Girl

 Ms. Lenski donated dozens of drawings and paintings to the CPL childrens room. 
 She selected, signed and sorted each illustration, and did all the matting herself.
 

 She wrote, "As a young artist I never consciously made a decision to work only with children. But everything in my life pointed in that direction."

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Viewing the collection - like a kid in a candy store

   "What a joy it is to work with children, to share their lives, listen to their ideas, to create with them and for them." - Lois Lenski

Frontispiece from Chimney Corner - Watercolor on board.

From the Travels of Fox -1929 - watercolor

 A big thank you to the Special Collections department of the Cleveland Public Library.