At 6:30 pm on Tuesday, artist and author Barbara McClintock will be at the Reiland Fine Art Center on the campus of Jamestown College for a reception in her honor.
The former JC student and New York Times award-winning children's book writer and illustrator was in Jamestown some years back following the publication of her book, "Cinderella." She addressed students in the art department and autographed her sumptuous children's book for visitors.
It was such a hit. We realized more people needed to have that opportunity, so the venue this year is in the opposite end of the Reiland, where the space is large enough to accommodate all who are expected to attend. The cost per ticket is $5 for adults and $2 for students. She will move from the gallery into the DeNault Auditorium for her program at 7 p.m. where she will give examples of her work and discuss the visual and writing inspirations for her books.
Anyone seeking directions for writing a book, whether novels, non-fiction or fantasies, will find her presentation inspirational. Although she is an artist, a writer and a children's book author, she has had exciting experiences in the world of publishing and living in New York.
According to McClintock's website, her "Cinderella" book was based on the more gentle and humane version originally penned by Charles Perrault, whose own version was filled with positive characteristics and virtues. In other words, no cutting off of the toes by stepsisters in order to fit a too-long foot into a tiny glass slipper. McClintock's had none of that either. Instead of creating great fear, hers' creates rewards for good deeds and kindness over revenge.
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And the "Cinderella" illustrations have received accolades world-wide. She uses watercolors and pen and ink to illustrate her stories. It's the same with her newest book "Adele & Simon."
"Adele & Simon" take the reader to Paris in the early 20th Century. That said it's easy to understand how the book's illustrations could be used as a tour guide for visiting the City of Lights.
Adele and her younger brother tour Paris and spend as much time looking for items Simon has left behind. During their searches they are befriended by one of the great artist of that time, Edgar Degas, who helps the young siblings hunt for his color crayons in the Louvre.
They manage exploring the Eiffel Tower, jugglers at Notre Dame Cathedral and a puppet show at the Jardin du Luxembourg. The season is autumn and McClintock's illustrations exemplify the grandeur of that heavily-planted urban garden. The velvety-warm colors are everywhere. Even their jaunts on the bridges show glimpses of trees as their colors brighten and their leaves begin to fall.
The vivacious McClintock is working on Adele & Simon in China, which she projects will be published in 2012. She has written and illustrated "Adele & Simon in America" and that too is beautifully illustrated and will be discussed. She and her illustrator-companion David Johnson live in an 1851 Georgian brick home in rural Connecticut, where her studio overlooks the garden he planted and grooms. Her son Larson provided inspiration for the Mandarin Chinese of Adele & Simon in China and the "swashbuckling" swordplay in a piece titled "Luke and Longnose."
McClintock's presentation is for all ages, for artists and writers, for families and parents. Grandparents are encouraged to bring along creative youngsters.
If anyone has an item for this column, please send to Sharon Cox, PO Box 1559, Jamestown, ND 58402-1559.
