One of my closely-held ideas about the vocation of being a visual artist is that, in many cases, a young artist is developed and encouraged by a mentor. Caldecott Medalist Jerry Pinkney (b. 1939) gives credit to Philadelphia cartoonist John Liney (1912-1982) for making an “incredible impression” on him. Liney, an established cartoonist and more than 25 years Pinkney’s elder, invited the young artist to his studio. Just being in Liney’s studio, watching him happily draw and surrounded by his art materials, helped Pinkney understand the possibility of being an artist. Pinkney’s account (from an interview with Leonard Marcus) demonstrates several things about the importance of mentorship of artists: personal invitation and attention; real experiences in a working space; and duration—mentorship happens over time.
Jerry Pinkney’s watercolor illustrations are remarkable for many aspects; I admire his draftsmanship and envy his skills of visual storytelling.