legacy.

Unfinished illustration of Nick Censullo I did in 1990. He passed away before I could complete it.

My Uncle Nick was big influence on me when I was growing up. He was a talented artist and I remember his paintings hanging on the walls of our home. Uncle Nick was very supportive of my artistic efforts and his encouragement included giving me art supplies as Christmas and birthday gifts. I remember how whenever he would say good-bye, his parting words were always, “keep drawing.” I think he appreciated that part of his legacy would be his influence on me and my art. What better legacy could an uncle have?

This fall, my niece Amber begins college to study fashion design and photography. She is very talented and I can't wait to see how she grows as an artist.

Keep drawing Amber!

favorite picture book.

Where the Wild Things Are, by Maurice Sendak (1963), has always been my favorite picture book. I say this realizing that it is a bit of a cliché. But it is the first book I can remember that I truly loved and would re-visit throughout my life. In kindergarten, we were allowed at some point during the day to pick a book from the small, one bookcase library, to sit and read. Every day I chose the same one, unless someone beat me to it. But I don't recall that happening at all.

The illustrations are so beautiful and while I didn't I related to Max being punished, I don't recall that happening much either. I did and still do relate to the imagination he displays. It can take you from somewhere mundane, to someplace wild.

good-bye panda.

Despite working digitally, I always start my drawings with a sketch. These can be loose or tight. Big...or on a post-it note. Recently, I doodled a little panda bear. I liked it enough to scan it, render it and add a bit of a dilemma. Hello illustration...good-bye panda.

the art of chris censullo

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legacy.

favorite picture book.

good-bye panda.