An event not to be missed on September 18th at 7pm.
We are thrilled to present ‘As Edward Imagined,’ the illustrated book that Matthew Burgess and Marc Majewski have dedicated to the great artist Edward Gorey.
“From an acclaimed author and illustrator team, here is a definitive picture book biography about a true original and creative genius: Edward Gorey.
Discover the unique childhood and life of the enigmatic and eccentric Edward Gorey whose artwork and books had a profound impact on creators such as Neil Gaiman, Lemony Snicket, and Tim Burton.
Even as a young boy, readers learn that Edward constantly forged his own path, passions, and pursuits never forsaking his individuality for fame.This brilliant picture book biography is paired with a whimsical art style that captures the unrelenting creativity Edward brought to his playfully macabre creations.”
from the Penguin Random House website
In New York, Gorey soon became a passionate admirer of the New York City Ballet and George Balanchine, whom he described as “the greatest influence on me…Everything he ever said about art, in the larger sense, was only too true.” Gorey attended every performance of all of Balanchine’s ballets until the choreographer’s death in 1983.
“Just do the steps“
George Balanchine (Mr. B’s instruction to dancers)
Let’s read what Marc Majewski says about how the book came to be:
Working on ‘As Edward Imagined’ was a fun challenge for me! I had never worked on a biographical picture book before, let alone one about a visual artist. And what an artist! Edward Gorey is undoubtedly one of the greatest illustrators of the 20th century, with a distinctive style and line work that’s instantly recognizable.
It was interesting to figure out how to approach Gorey’s life and work. Since my work is very different from his, one of the first questions I faced was: how can I convey “Edward Gorey” without imitating his style? I also didn’t want to create something too caricatural or Tim Burton-esque that might reduce him to his character.
At some point, I thought I needed to change my usual style to match Edward’s, which left me feeling more and more conflicted. For months, I experimented with different techniques and approaches—trying line and watercolor work, pencils, and acrylic paints.
Eventually, I looked back at the very first illustrations I made for the book, the ones that came out without overthinking, and I was like: That’s it! There was something authentic in those early sketches that made me decide to return to that direction.
And here is a small selection of the countless drawings made for this book!
See you soon!
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