Leo Lionni: Illustrator/Author

It is believed by many that for one to achieve a specific career goal, they must go through certain channels first. For example, a lawyer must first go to law school, a doctor must go to medical school and so on. This week, the Graphic Artists topic will be focusing on an artist who has made history not only with his work, but also with his methods toward success. This artist is Leo Lionni.

His successes during his career can be measured in many different ways. What will be highlighted here are his achievements later in life. This artist is a sculptor, graphic designer, illustrator and author. He was born in Amsterdam May 5, 1910 and began painting at a very young age. Between the years of 1928 and 1930 he attended the University of Zurich in pursuit of an advertising career. In 1931 he married a woman by the name of Nora Moffi and later, 1939, they moved to the United States together.

Lionni spent a large portion of his lifetime pursuing his advertising career. From 1955 to 1957 he served as President of the American Institute of Graphic Artists, while he was the designer and art director at Fortune Magazine. The purpose of AIGA “is to further excellence in communication design as a broadly defined discipline, strategic tool for business and cultural force. AIGA is the place design professionals turn to first to exchange ideas and information, participate in critical analysis and ethical practice.”

Through all of these achievements, accreditations and challenges he remained faithful to his artistic goals until one day he realized he could be going in a different direction. He happened to be riding a train with his grandchildren, looking for ways to entertain them, when he realized something. He gathered small bits of paper from his brief case and began telling a story with them. That day, the idea behind his creation of Little Blue and Little Yellow was born. The birth of his life as a storyteller emerged.

“A little miracle happened.” – Leo Lionni.

The year was 1959 when he wrote and published his book, Little Blue and Little Yellow. Writing children’s books is second nature to him and soon others would follow. Some of these titles include:

A Color of his Own (November 2000)

Fish is Fish (September 1987)

Frederick (October 1990)

Swimmy (December 1992)

Alexander and the Wind-up Mouse (September 1987)

Inch by Inch (September 1985)

The Alphabet Tree (October 1999)

On my Beech There are Many Pebbles (August 1995)

The copyright of the article Leo Lionni: Illustrator/Author in Graphic Artists is owned by Jenn Greenleaf. Permission to republish Leo Lionni: Illustrator/Author in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic