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Lois Ehlert
Grew up in a family “always doing things”
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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
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More on Lois Ehlert
• Worked as graphic designer
• Books are carefully designed cover to cover
• Won the Caldecott in 1990 for Color Zoo
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Inspiration
• Inspired by nature and gardening
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Mixed Media• Collage: Uses scissors, paper, rubber
cement, wire, thread, textiles, and found objects
• Uses Photography
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Mixed Media• Paints her own paper: Feathers for
Lunch
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Unusual Materials
• Leafman• Snowballs• Market Day
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Composition• Double Page Spreads are common as in
Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf
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Composition• Carefully balanced text with illustrations
as in Top Cat• Asymmetrical balance
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Shapes• Curved and repeating shapes in
Planting a Rainbow…
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Shapes
• Shapes repeated as in Wag a Tail
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Unique Book Shapes
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Color• Use of many hues as shown in Planting a
Rainbow
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Color
• Bold, complementary colors in Fish Eyes• Warm, analogous colors in Waiting for
Wings
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Texture
Texture in Top Cat & Pie in the Sky
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Technique Conducts research for accurate depictions
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Intricate Page Cuts
• Fish have cut out eyes in counting book Fish Eyes
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Interactive Features
• Recipes, Charts, Directions for Crafts, Paper Cuts, Invitations to create
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Lois Ehlert: AdviceProvide 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