Red-flannel hash and shoo-fly pie

These are some of the illustrations I created before I started making my own picture books using tissue paper collage. An early assignment from my editor Ann Beneduce was to illustrate a cookbook, Red-flannel hash and shoo-fly pie. I was so eager to please that I came in with many more linoleum cut illustrations than she needed. But she liked them. And so began our long term relationship as editor and illustrator, writer and friend. I hope you will enjoy these linocuts. Linocuts are similar to woodcuts but are made with linoleum blocks rather than wood blocks. You might also be interested in visiting
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art during the exhibit of the artrist Antonio Frasconi's woodcuts.

Mozart

I love to listen to Mozart, one of my favorite composers, while painting tissue papers in my studio. Sometimes I turn the music up so loud so that it surrounds me.

A number of years ago, I created scenery and costumes for a semi-staged production of The Magic Flute by The Springfield Symphony Orchestra. It was a very exciting project to be involved in and one of the most memorable things I have ever done. I painted panels of Tyvek (the material that houses are wrapped in during construction) on the floor of my studio.



There is a little video of me painting tyvek for a mural project on my web site.

In The Magic Flute production, long banners of various lengths and shapes were hung above the stage and unfurled like huge bolts of color during the performance. All of the costumes for this production were made from painted Tyvek as well!

The Very Busy Spider Turns 25!

Happy Birthday my very hard-working friend.

Despite the many diversions in life, we must do our work!

The spider in my book is busy spinning her web so she can catch the fly, which in the end she does. You may have noticed when you touch the pages of this book, that the spider, web and fly are raised. This is a design feature that is meant to draw your attention to the spider and her task at hand. I am still pleased by this quiet and word-less recognition of all of her efforts.

Migration

Bobbie and I have recently migrated south. We are enjoying the warmth and sun in Florida (even though it hasn't been as warm as previous years) and our life near the ocean. The view of the water, watching the birds and creatures who live here, time in my studio. It is good to be back and to feel relaxed in the way we have come to associate with our Florida home.

Happy (Belated) Valentine's Day!

Doodle 4 Google

Dear Friends,

Last year, I was invited to create a doodle for the Google homepage. What a thrill to see my very own Google Doodle on March 20th, the day selected to mark the 40th anniversary of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. This year, Google is launching the Third Annual Doodle 4 Google competition, open to all K-12 students in the U.S. to create their own Google Doodle inspired by the theme "If I Could Do Anything, I Would..."

I am delighted to be one of the 10 Expert Jurors for the 2010 Doodle 4 Google competition. For more information on how you or your school can participate, please visit:

www.google.com/doodle4google/

I hope to see your creation among the entries!

Eric Carle

Christa's Birthday

Here I am with my sister Christa who turned 60 in January, 2010.

I was already a young man when she was born (we are more than 20 years apart in age) but I always wanted a sibling and was so happy when she was born.


Christa lives in Germany with her husband and has two grown daughters of her own now. I dedicated my book The Very Hungry Caterpillar to my sister and have been thinking of her during this time of celebration.
Happy Birthday Christa!