Axel Scheffler

Axel Scheffler ( born 1957 in Hamburg) is an illustrator and author of picture books who lives in London. In his book The Gruffalo, he was become one of the most successful picture book illustrators.

Life and work

After studying art history in Hamburg Axel Scheffler went in 1982 to the English Corsham, to study at the Bath Academy of Art graphics.

He collaborates with the British author Julia Donaldson, with whom he wrote the children's book bestseller The Gruffalo among others. " The Gruffalo " sold worldwide to date more than 10.5 million copies and been translated into more than 40 languages ​​.

But other books of the duo Donaldson - Scheffler are very successful. So about Room on the Broom sold more than one million copies worldwide. Scheffler is responsible for the Illustration of a book first sketches first, then transfers it to watercolor paper. He then primed them with water colors, this painted over again with crayons and then drawing with a black pen by the contours. Despite its commercial success Scheffler had to partially diction of the children's book market bend. So he had to remove at A Squash and a Sqeeze in a seated cow 's udder. Axel Scheffler's illustrative work is represented in many short documentaries, including Axel Scheffler on " Pip and Posy " (2011) and The Gruffalo illustrator Axel Scheffler (2012 ).

Scheffler has lived and worked in London since 1986.

Press review

About the artistic style by Axel Scheffler

  • FAZ: " Scheffler paints mostly in the format that will later also have the printed version - and he loves vignettes What then so in tiny tableaus about a not yet published in German picture book version of the. " Depends Mother Goose 's Nursery Rhymes " in front of a that recalls not only the format, but also in color intensity as - subtlety of the images of illuminated manuscripts, the term fits because Scheffler the drawings can shine literally, its luminosity makes it so productive. in the meticulously designed sunsets, starry nights in the desert or unpaved Hofböden puts such a color spectrum that each printing process must be overwhelmed. How should one about reproduce the pale yellow, dissolving scattered light of a lantern, which Scheffler knows how to create a schema? All acts by the cuteness of the characters and the superficial motley colors, which proves to be only under the microscope as masterly gradation of countless shades, more like naive painting. This makes Scheffler so popular with children. But he's a conniving populist, because he gives the innocent viewer a slinky quality awareness. Anyone who reads these books, learns to see. "
  • FAZ: "But the text is in a good picture book only half the battle Axel Scheffler show illustrations of what Julia Donaldson says, sometimes even more, he creates a cosmos that inspires the imagination, because humans, animals and mythical creatures live there as a matter of course with each other.. . latter, the squirrel animated to the wooden floor, no human emotion alien horror and humor, happiness and suffering, everything has its place -. , and sees in Scheffler's over saturated colors, clearly contoured always like a perfect world I like the little ones. fascinated older children and makes parents even as an endless repetition of fun. "
  • FAZ: "He who rashly goes Axel Scheffler images on the glue that looks just googly eyes and cuteness Not that it does not exist there, not even that, however, something would be wrong with when it is executed with such skill and sophistication and if the. clear contours of the central drawings are encircled by so many lovely little details on the edge, you make a mess, where uniqueness is threatening, they create new tracks and dröseln the narrative relish on and sometimes, in accordance with the text: .. " the favorite book of Benni star " about, written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, tells the story of a boy who is reading a pirate book. Herein is like a pirate captain on an island in a treasure chest finds a book that tells again of three bears who prefer Read stories of chivalry, and it goes on and on. at the end buzzes one of the head with so much nested books, and Scheffler images swirl with perk, have cunningly back and forth and do so from the linear narrative, a tableau that quite right past on the is page again arrived at Benni star. "

Bibliography (selection)

  • Verbiesterte world. 1992 ( The Great Issue 6 )
  • Kate Petty: Ben and his butterfly garden. A folding picture book with real seeds. Beltz Verlag, 1999, ISBN 3-407-79229-8.
  • Julia Donaldson: The fox looking for his socks. Beltz Verlag, 2000, ISBN 3-407-79260-3. ( Original title: Fox's Socks )
  • Julia Donaldson: The Bear writes letters today. Beltz Verlag, 2000, ISBN 3-407-79261-1. ( Original title: Postman Bear )
  • Julia Donaldson: rabbit is sooo tired. Beltz Verlag, 2000, ISBN 3-407-79262- X. ( Original title: Rabbit's Nap )
  • Julia Donaldson: For Cats and Dogs is also space. Beltz Verlag, 2001, ISBN 3-407-79282-4. (Original Title: Room on the Broom )
  • Julia Donaldson: Giant Rick makes chic. Beltz Verlag, 2002, ISBN 3-407-79294-8. ( Original title: The Smartest Giant in Town)
  • Julia Donaldson: The Gruffalo. Beltz Verlag, 2002, ISBN 3-407-79291-3. ( Original title: The Gruffalo )
  • Axel Scheffler: The House Book of fools and knaves. Gerstenberg, Hildesheim, 2006, ISBN 3-8067-5090-4.
  • Axel Scheffler: Freddy the Frog. Beltz Verlag, 2006, ISBN 3-407-79347-2. ( Original title: Freddy the Frog)
  • Julia Donaldson: The Grüffelokind: Four-color cardboard picture book. Beltz Verlag, 2007, ISBN 978-3-407-79362-1. ( Original title: The Gruffalo 's Child)
  • Julia Donaldson: The Snail and the humpback whale. Beltz Verlag, 2007, ISBN 978-3-407-79357-7. ( Original title: The Snail and the Whale )
  • Martine Oborne: Fritz piglets. Beltz Verlag, 2008, ISBN 978-3-407-79368-3. ( Original title: Hamilton 's Hat )
  • Axel Scheffler: About the holding of Squirrels: A Guide. Publishing house Jacoby & Stuart, 2009, ISBN 978-3-941087-70-5.
  • Ludwig Bechstein: The Verdrüssliche. Publishing house Jacoby & Stuart, 2010, ISBN 978-3-941087-81-1.
  • Julia Donaldson: My house is too tight and too small. Beltz Verlag, 2010, ISBN 978-3-407-79302-7. (Original title: A Squash and a Squeeze)
  • Ian Whybrow: When little bears go to sleep: pop-up picture book. Beltz Verlag, 2010, ISBN 978-3-407-79181-8.
  • Axel Scheffler: Dschingel Dschangel Jungle: A counting and puzzle book. Beltz Verlag, 2010, ISBN 978-3-407-79319-5. ( Original title: Jingle, Jangle, Jungle )
  • Julia Donaldson: Zogg: Four-color picture book. Beltz Verlag, 2010, ISBN 978-3-407-79422-2.
  • Julia Donaldson: Robber Rat: Four-color picture book. Beltz Verlag, 2011, ISBN 978-3-407-79447-5. ( Original title: The Highway Rat)
  • Barbara Gelberg: From Dragons and mice: The most beautiful read-aloud stories. Beltz Verlag, 2011, ISBN 978-3-407-79937-1.
  • 2012: Philip Ardagh ( text ), Axel Scheffler ( Illustration ): The Grunts in Trouble, Publisher: Nosy Crow, ISBN 978-0-85763-069-8 (not yet published in German translation )
  • 2012: Julia Donaldson ( text ), Axel Scheffler (illustration ): Super worm, Beltz & Gelberg, Weinheim 2012 ISBN 978-3-407-79472-7 ( Original title: Superworm )
  • 2013: Axel Scheffler Mix Max with funny rhyming text and illustration: Axel Scheffler, Carlsen, ISBN 978-3-551-51794-4, appears in July 2013
  • 2013: My Friends Gruffalo, text: Julia Donaldson Illustrations: Axel Scheffler, Beltz & Gelberg, ISBN 978-3-407-79529-8, appears in February 2013

Awards

  • 2008: book of the month of the Academy of Child and Adolescent Literature in September for From dragons and mice ( Jury's opinion: " This anthology with something unusual, well- selected texts lives of the original colorful paintings Axel Scheffler A successful house book. . " )

Exhibitions

  • 2013: Gruffalo and Co - Children's book illustrations by Axel Scheffler, the Wilhelm -Busch- Museum of Caricature and Drawings in Hanover

Festival participation

  • 2011: Children and Youth Program of the 11th international literature festival berlin
  • 2011: harbourfront literature festival
Berlin International Literature Festival England Cambridge Carlsen (name) Integrated Authority File
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