GALLERY
COURTESY HONOLULU ACADEMY OF ARTS
A page from the children's book "The Nightingale," illustrated by Jerry Pinkey, shows the artist's attention to detail. Extensive research helps Pinkey capture realism when he draws animals, facial expressions and people wearing period and regional clothing.
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Faraway places
After a childhood spent drawing, award-winning artist Jerry Pinkey has found major success as a children's book illustrator. Pinkey has won five Caldecott Honor Medals, a top recognition in children's literature, as well as awards from his peers with four gold and four silver medals from the Society of Illustrators.
The Honolulu Academy of Arts is exhibiting Pinkey's lush, detailed works in "Faraway Places: Children's Book Illustrations," through Aug. 13 in its downstairs education gallery. Included are illustrations from "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi," "Elijah and the Three Brothers," "Journies With Elijah," "The Nightingale," "The Blessling" and "Seven Good Years."
Pinkey does extensive research on subjects of the books he illustrates. He uses models dressed in costume to help him achieve realism and capture the body language and expressions of characters in stories. To complete animal drawings, Pinkey refers to his book collection on nature and animals. He says he also likes to imagine what it's like to be the animal he's drawing.
But Pinkey's works reach far beyond the world of children's literature. His client list includes the U.S. Postal Service, NASA, the National Park Service and National Geographic.
"Faraway Places" is presented in conjunction with the Biennial Conference on Literature and Hawaii's Children, which took place earlier this year. The conference offers workshops, panels, lectures and readings that explore the value of children's literature.
The academy exhibits selected illustrators' works as part of the event. Past illustrators include Paul O. Zelinsky, Nancy Willard, William Joyce, Lois Lowry, Tomie dePaola and Arnold Lobel.
The Honolulu Academy of Arts is located at 900 S. Beretania St. Museum hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is $7 general; $4 seniors, military and students 13 and older; children 12 and under are free. Call 532-8700.
COURTESY HONOLULU ACADEMY OF ARTS
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi plots with his neighbors, the birds, to make his garden home safe from hungry cobras in "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi."
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COURTESY HONOLULU ACADEMY OF ARTS
Riches and beautiful wares can't compare to a bird's beautiful song in "The Nightingale."
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COURTESY HONOLULU ACADEMY OF ARTS
Illustrator Jerry Pinkey has been drawing since age five.
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