Kadir Nelson - About the Author
Kadir Nelson has always wanted to be an artist. Drawing since the age of three, he was blessed with having an uncle who was both an artist and an art instructor. An apprenticeship began at the age of ten yet Kadir says "I imagine I was a regular kid that liked to draw a lot." He was not a troublemaker and admits that "like most boys, I wasn't a big reader," but there was a pull to the world of books that was atypical for the majority of his classmates. "I liked to look at the artwork in books more so than read the words." He remembers that he was "always passionate about drawing."
And how long is "always?" "I've been drawing since I could hold a pencil," the artist affirms. His art has a definite arc'his first efforts were mostly cartoon characters. Yet, "I always drew for the love of drawing, not so much to give it to someone." The impetus to share came later. At the age of 16, the blossoming artist began working in oils, developing his mastery and enlarging his vision.
Writing is a different story. Kadir did both the luminous artwork and the engaging text for his Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award-winning We Are the Ship. "Creating images with paint comes very natural to me, but writing is so much harder . . . . I'd never written anything outside of class work in college," notes Kadir. But he had a plan: "I found a lot of great literature and interviewed former players to get a firm understanding of the story and gave it my best shot." The author/illustrator also gives credit to his editors who "helped me shape the manuscript."
Both writing and painting are creative acts, however. "The process for each is similar in that there's a seed of an idea, and plenty of research to do," explains the artist. "The most important thing for me is to be relaxed when painting, and patient when writing."
Finding subjects for his art doesn't seem to be an issue for the prolific and popular Kadir, whose passion manifests itself even when he has no specific goal in view. "I had begun to paint large paintings of Negro League players out of sheer inspiration. I hadn't any intentions of using them for a book until someone suggested I should." The next step was finding a publisher who was as excited about the prospect as he was. In retrospect, Nelson notes that he was pleased with the final product and thoroughly enjoyed creating something that he had both written and illustrated: "It felt complete."
Yet, his art is also completely in the moment. Look at a Kadir Nelson illustration and the emotion is almost palpable. Whether it is the joy of the dance as seen in Dancing in the Wings or the spirituality and commitment of Big Jabe or the courage and wisdom of Moses or the sheer love of Just the Two of Us, Kadir Nelson's illustrations make you feel. Who could look at the cover of He's Got the Whole World in His Hands without breaking into a similar sun-filled grin. This is no accident: "I do quite a bit of research for each book and try to step into the shoes of my subject. I work off of emotions to help gauge whether or not a text is working."
Choosing a subject is central to the process as well. Abe's Honest Words, Testing the Ice, Mama Miti-Nelson has a special gift for stories of brave people in difficult times. "I think I gravitate to stories that make me feel good when I read them," muses the artist. "A sound story is more important than anything when making a decision to illustrate or write a book. Without it, you're just spinning your wheels." But when Kadir Nelson is done, it really is the end: "Once I've finished with their stories, it's time to move on."
Who inspires the artist that has become an inspiration to a new generation of budding illustrators? "I'm a big fan of Norman Rockwell, Charles White, N.C. and Andrew Wyeth, Winslow Homer and plenty of other artists," he comments. Inspiration doesn't stop with the visual, however. The winner of the Sibert Award also points to the works of Geoffrey Ward and Ken Burns as influences.
Looking back, Kadir Nelson also remembers that he had many great teachers--from his uncle who taught him the foundations of art to a third grade teacher that bonded with her students in a way that would not be accepted today. "My favorite memory is when I invited my third grade teacher over for a pajama party and we had a great time.
A prized memory from an award-winning student would certainly be treasured by any teacher, just as a new generation of teachers and librarians revel in the ways the work of Kadir Nelson touches and inspires kids today. Yes, Kadir Nelson continues to make his mark, not just on the page but in the hearts of his readers.
-- Interviewed by Ellen Myrick, January 2010
