Lois Ehlert Lois Ehlert Grew up in a

Lois Ehlert

Lois Ehlert Grew up in a family “always doing things”

Background • Grew up in Wisconsin • Used wood, wire, nails, colorful bits of fabric as child • Made collages at treasured card table, her art spot for supplies and works in progress • Graduated Layton School of Art in Milwaukee

More on Lois Ehlert • Worked as graphic designer • Books are carefully designed cover to cover • Won the Caldecott in 1990 for Color Zoo

Inspiration • Inspired by nature and gardening

Mixed Media • Collage: Uses scissors, paper, rubber cement, wire, thread, textiles, and found objects • Uses Photography

Mixed Media • Paints her own paper: Feathers for Lunch

Unusual Materials • Leafman • Snowballs • Market Day

Composition • Double Page Spreads are common as in Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf

Composition • Carefully balanced text with illustrations as in Top Cat • Asymmetrical balance

Shapes • Curved and repeating shapes in Planting a Rainbow…

Shapes • Shapes repeated as in Wag a Tail

Unique Book Shapes

Color • Use of many hues as shown in Planting a Rainbow

Color • Bold, complementary colors in Fish Eyes • Warm, analogous colors in Waiting for Wings

Texture in Top Cat & Pie in the Sky

Technique Conducts research for accurate depictions

Intricate Page Cuts • Fish have cut out eyes in counting book Fish Eyes

Interactive Features • Recipes, Charts, Directions for Crafts, Paper Cuts, Invitations to create

Lois Ehlert: Advice Provide children with a designated spot for creating art without having to clear away works in progress. • Create art with anything you can find • Have art supplies ready for when inspiration strikes