SATA
ENTRY TYPE: new
WORK TITLE: A Party for Florine
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://nayberg.org/
CITY: New York
STATE:
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY:
LAST VOLUME:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Born in Kyiv, Ukraine.
EDUCATION:Graduated from National School of Art in Kiev; California State University, Long Beach, M.F.A.; also studied at Carnegie Mellon University.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Illustrator, painter, and stage designer. National Endowment for the Arts/TCG Fellow for Theatre Designers.
AWARDS:Recipient of three Sydney Taylor Medals; Gold Winner, Foreword Indies Book of the Year Awards, 2022, for I Hate Borsch!; Independent Theatre Award; Arlin Meyer Award.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Yevgenia Nayberg is an award-winning illustrator, writer, painter, and set and costume designer. She has contributed her illustrations to magazines and picture books; book covers; theatre posters; and music albums. Her set and costume design garnered her a National Endowment for the Arts/TCG Fellowship for Theatre Designers among other accolades. Nayberg prefers to create her art and illustrations with a 2B graphite pencil and often uses a Cintiq Tablet for graphic drawings. In an interview with Lydia Lukidis on her eponymously named blog, Nayberg confessed: “I’ve been writing little bits of texts for years, but never took it seriously the way I did with art. I feel like I’m finally finding my own voice as a writer” after having published four books.
In an interview in Art of the Picture Book, Nayberg admitted that her move from Ulraine to the United States and the differences between illustration styles caused her to become more reflective about her work. She stated: “I was fascinated by the spontaneity of many American illustrators. This is something that I have to consciously cultivate in my work. It takes years to learn technical skills and years to unlearn them.” In the same interview, she also shared how she enjoys working alone and also collaborating with other artists. She revealed: “I am a very social person and love to collaborate with creative allies. At the same time, I am headstrong and tend to know exactly what I want, so solitary work often comes to the rescue.”
Nayberg published the informational picture book A Party for Florine: Florine Stettheimer and Me in 2024. The book centers on the life and art of American painter Florine Stettheimer, who died in 1944. A young Jewish girl notices Stettheimer’s self-portrait in a museum and believes they look alike. She begins to draw parallels between their lives and imagines how she would greet the artist if they ever would have been able to meet. If the girl hosted a party for Stettheimer, she imagined that she would cook blue pancakes and spend most of the time writing poetry together, painting, and dancing. When the child leaves the museum, she begins to see the world around her from Stettheimer’s perspective as colors suddenly pop. The book also offers biographical details about the artist, reveals her lifestyle, and shows many of her artworks.
A Kirkus Reviews contributor found it to be “a passionate ode to a pioneering female artist whose influence endures and inspires.” The same critic pointed out that the images included in the text “are ebullient, flamboyant even.” In a review in Horn Book, Julie Hakim Azzam noticed that “mixed-media and digital print illustrations copy Stettheimer’s sense of style and whimsical aesthetic.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Horn Book, July 1, 2024, Julie Hakim Azzam, review of A Party for Florine: Florine Stettheimer and Me, p. 152.
Kirkus Reviews, May 15, 2024, review of A Party for Florine.
ONLINE
Artfinder, https://www.artfinder.com/ (January 2, 2025), author profile.
Art of the Picture Book, https://www.artofthepicturebook.com/ (March 26, 2018), author interview.
Lerner Books website, https://lernerbooks.com/ (January 2, 2025), author interview.
Lydia Lukidis, https://lydialukidis.wordpress.com/ (September 11, 2019), “Author-Illustrator Yevgenia Nayberg on Her Artistic Process.”
Writer’s Digest, https://www.writersdigest.com/ (July 16, 2024), “Yevgenia Nayberg: On the Artist as Inspiration.”
Writing and Illustrating, https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/ (January 2, 2025), “Illustrator Saturday–Yevgenia Nayberg.”
Yevgenia Nayberg website, https://nayberg.org (January 2, 2025).
Yevgenia Nayberg is an award-winning author/illustrator, painter, and stage designer. Her illustrations have appeared in magazines and picture books, and on theatre posters, music albums, and book covers; her paintings, drawings, and illustrations are held in private collections worldwide. As a set and costume designer, she has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the National Endowment for the Arts/TCG Fellowship for Theatre Designers, the Independent Theatre Award and the Arlin Meyer Award. She has received multiple awards for her picture book illustrations, including three Sydney Taylor Medals. She's a 2023 Eisner Awards nominee. Her debut author/illustrator picture book, Anya's Secret Society, received a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection Award. She’s an author/illustrator of Typewriter and Mona Lisa In New York. Her latest book, I Hate Borsch!, is the Gold Winner of the 2022 Foreword Indies Book of the Year Awards. Born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine, she now lives in New York City.
Author-Illustrator Yevgenia Nayberg on her Artistic Process
Posted on September 11, 2019 Updated on September 11, 2019
Hello world!
Welcome to my book blog. For this Q & A, please welcome the talented author-illustrator Yevgenia Nayberg who wrote the picture book Anya’s Secret Society published by Charlesbridge. She explains her journey below.
Can you describe the journey to publication for this book?
Anya’s Secret Society is my debut as an author. The idea came to me spontaneously and I wrote the story quickly. I spent a lot of time on the illustrations and the dummy — this is always the longest part of the process. Once my agent submitted the project, it took about 8 months to find the publisher. This is were things really slowed down. The hardest part was to keep working on edits and not being able to get to illustrations. When the story was finally approved, it was a pure joy to illustrate! It took two years to publish Anya.
Where did you draw the book’s inspiration?
Anya’s Secret Society is based on my childhood memories. I grew up in Russia where, at the time, lefties were quite rare. It is a story about being different, but also about creativity and secret imaginary worlds.
Please share some of your writing process.
I am a visual artist, so many of my ideas come from images. I often begin with a storyboard and fill it with text and pictures as I go along. I love precision and humor both in my art and writing.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I am writing my fourth book right now and perhaps now is when I must admit that I want to be a writer. I’ve been writing little bits of texts for years, but never took it seriously the way I did with art. I feel like I’m finally finding my own voice as a writer.
Where do you see your career headed? Do you have other WIPs or projects in the pipeline you would like to mention?
My second book, Typewriter, is coming out in February 2020 from Creative Editions. It is a story of a Russian typewriter that immigrates to America and, once there, becomes completely useless.
I have also just begun working on a new picture book, Mona Lisa in New York, about Renaissance art, graffiti, and love in New York City. It’s coming out in September 2020 from Prestel Books.
Please share your favourite kidlit books that have inspired you and served as mentor texts. Pick one classic and one contemporary book. What is it about them that moved you?
I grew up on Russian books and at the time, we did not have a concept of a picture book the way it is understood in the US. All picture books of my childhood had A LOT of text! My mother, also a visual artist, bought many of my books because she liked illustrations, so my taste for good book art formed quite early.
What is the best (one) piece of advice you would give to other writers?
Find a story that you love- you are going to be stuck with it for a long time!
And a bonus Q- If you could be any flavour of ice cream, which one would you be and why?
I’m not a big ice cream lover, so perhaps and avocado flavor? Or bacon?
BIO
Yevgenia Nayberg is an illustrator, painter, and set and costume designer. Her illustrations have appeared in magazines and picture books, and on theatre posters, music albums, and book covers; her paintings, drawings, and illustrations are held in private collections worldwide. As a set and costume designer, she has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the National Endowment for the Arts/TCG Fellowship for Theatre Designers, the Independent Theatre Award and the Arlin Meyer Award. In 2018 she received a Sydney Taylor Silver Medal for her illustrations for Drop by Drop by Jaqueline Jules. Her debut author/illustrator picture book, Anya’s Secret Society, came out in March 2019. Her upcoming books, Typewriter and Mona Lisa in New York will be published in 2020. She lives in New York City.
Social Media:
My website is www.nayberg.org
Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/znayberg
Facebook
https://facebook.com/nayberg
Anya’s Secret Society on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/anyassecretsociety/
Anya’s book trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hz3MRi9o23A
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Anyas-Secret-Society-Yevgenia-Nayberg/dp/1580898300
Illustrator Saturday – Yevgenia Nayberg
Yevgenia Nayberg is an illustrator, painter, and set and costume designer. Her illustrations have appeared in magazines and picture books, and on theatre posters, music albums, and book covers; her paintings, drawings, and illustrations are held in private collections worldwide. As a set and costume designer, she has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the National Endowment for the Arts/TCG Fellowship for Theatre Designers, the Independent Theatre Award and the Arlin Meyer Award. In 2018 she received a Sydney Taylor Silver Medal for her illustrations for Drop by Drop by Jaqueline Jules. Her debut author/illustrator picture book, Anya’s Secret Society, came out in 2019 and received a Junior Library Guild Selection Award. Her new books, Typewriter and Mona Lisa in New York, will be published in 2020. She lives in New York City.
Yevgenia Nayberg was born in Kiev, Ukraine. After graduating from The National School of Art in Kiev, she began working as a freelance illustrator and an assistant art director for, UkranimaFilm, an animation studio. Yevgenia moved to the United States in 1994, where she studied theatre design at Carnegie Mellon University. At the age of 23 she received her MFA degree in Theatre design from California State University, Long Beach. She has since enjoyed a successful career as a painter, scenic – costume designer, and illustrator. Yevgenia’s dedication to theatrical arts is clearly manifested in her illustrations which rely on color intensity, fantastic landscapes, and dramatic light and shadow to tell a story. When illustrating, she likes to look for a visual equivalent of a word, for metaphorical translation into the language of visual art.
HERE IS YEVEGENIA DISCUSSING HER PROCESS:
I am going to share the process for my upcoming picture book, Mona Lisa in New York.
This book turned out to be very technically complex, because I had to combine Renaissance art with graffiti while keeping everything cohesive. It is very tricky, if you don’t want to end up with a chaotic kaleidoscope of colors. I also had to constantly change Mona Lisa’s expression, but in a very subtle way, so that was another challenge.
I will show my work on one of the spreads—Mona Lisa dancing salsa on the High Line in New York City.
This is my first stage. It may seem cryptic, but to me it is crystal clear!
Here I’m testing different dancing positions for Mona Lisa and her partner as well as other dancers. I love to dance salsa and I think about my real life salsa friends- the way they look and dance.
Next, comes the final sketching phase. I have decided on the dancers’ position and the composition of the page.
The next stage is acrylic painting. I will add the rest of the elements digitally.
Now I am adding the body of Tag, the graffiti man, animation style, creating each body part separately. I am using my graffiti collection and making a collage out a many different graffiti samples. I drew his face beforehand and added it digitally. You can see that I’ve added Mona Lisa’s face and slightly changed her expression. I am also aging” her clothes, giving her a new neck and adding delicate hands.
This is the final illustration.
I have digitally created the cityscape of New York, the plants, added (and edited) the Old Man’s Grandson by Domenico Ghirlandaio. Last came the text placement. Overall, I have about Photoshop 40 layers in this image.
And that’s all to it!
Interview with Yevgenia Nayberg:
How long have you been illustrating?
I illustrated my first book when I was four years old. It was a long, wordless book about cats!
What and when was the first painting or illustration that you did where someone paid you for your artwork?
I was in tenth grade. The assignment was a coloring page for a children’s magazine. I had a hard time maintaining a consistent line with my ink pen and had to redo that page many times.
What did you study at The National School of Art in Kiev?
I studied classical drawing and painting but wanted my thesis project to be illustration series. My professors reluctantly agreed.
What types of classes did you enjoy the most?
I preferred painting classes. Overall, it was a very formal education. I loved homework because we got to experiment in any way we wanted, but in class we had to follow the strict rules of Academism.
Do you feel school helped you develop your style?
I am glad my school gave me a solid traditional foundation. It allowed me the freedom to experiment with new materials with confidence. I am sure it was my school’s environment more than its actual art program.
Did the school help you get the assistant art director for UkranimaFilm, an animation studio when you graduated?
It was my mother, who was a Production Designer there, who helped me to get that job.
I was a frequent guest at the animation studio growing up and knew it and many of its artists.
What made you decide to move from Ukraine to the United States?
I came with my family as a part of the Jewish refugee program.
Was it the art director job with UkranimaFilm that inspired you to study theatre design at Carnegie Mellon University?
Indirectly yes, because I was fascinated by the transformation of a text into a visual story.
Did you start working on theater sets and doing costume design while you attended California State University in Long Beach?
I did. CSULB had a professional theatre company as a part of their MFA program.
When did you decide you wanted to illustrate children’s books?
I loved illustrating since I was a girl, but I’m equally interested n illustrating for children or adults.
THIS BOOK WAS FEAYURED LAST YEAR: https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2019/08/01/book-giveaway-martin-and-anne-by-nancy-churnin/
Was The Wren and the Sparrow your first book illustrated book?
It was my first traditionally published illustrated book.
How did you connect with Kar-Ben Publishing for that contract?
I sent my portfolio to them and they reached back rather quickly.
How exciting was it to receive a Sydney Taylor Silver Medal for your illustrations in Drop by Drop?
This was my second Sidney Taylor, first being a Bronze Medal for The Wren and The Sparrow, so naturally, I was excited to get promoted!
Did you sign a two book deal with Kar-Ben Publishing when contracted you for The Wren and the Sparrow?
They were independent projects, and very different in nature.
FEATURED BOOK LAST MARCH: https://kathytemean.wordpress.com/2019/03/11/book-giveawy-anyas-secret-society/
I love your book Anya’s Secret Society, which came out in 2019. Was this the first book you wrote and illustrated? How long did it take you to complete the book?
Anya’s Secret Society is my debut as an author. The idea came to me spontaneously and I wrote the story quickly. I spent a lot of time on the illustrations and the dummy. Once my agent submitted the project it took about 8 months to find the publisher. This is where things really slowed down. The hardest part was to keep working on manuscript edits and not being able to get to illustrations. When the story was finally approved, it was a pure joy to illustrate! It took two years to publish Anya.
How did you get Charlesbridge interested in your book? Did you send a full dummy to them?
My agent submitted a full dummy to several publishers and we ultimately went with Charlesbridge.
Anya’s Secret Society received a Junior Library Guild Selection Award. What inspired the story for you?
Anya’s Secret Society is based on my childhood memories. I grew up in the Soviet Union were, at the time, lefties were quite rare. It is a story about being different, but also about creativity and secret imaginary worlds.
CHECK BACK THIS COMING TUESDAY FOR A CHANCE TO WIN THIS BOOK.
Now you have Numbers in Motion by Laurie Wallmark coming our March 3rd. How did you get that contract? Did Laurie point out your illustrations to Creston Books?
I illustrated Martin and Anne by Nancy Churnin for Creston Books in 2019. I was still in the process of working on that book when the publisher asked me to illustrate Numbers in Motion. I am sure it was her call and I hope Laurie was happy with that decision.
I can’t wait to see your new book Typewriter that you wrote and illustrated when it come out on February 25th. I am not familiar with Creative Editions. Are they a UK publisher?
Creative Editions is a part of The Creative Company, a Minnesota based publisher. I’ve really lucked out with them. It was a wonderful, truly collaborative process and I will work with them again in a heartbeat.
Have you ever tried illustrating a wordless picture book?
Yes, as a four-year-old! Jokes aside, I might do it one day, but right now I am excited about developing my voice as a writer, it is a fascinating and scary new territory.
Do you have any desire to write and illustrate more picture books?
I do and I am working on it as we speak.
Do you have agent representation? If so, who represents you? How long have you been with them? How did you connect? If not, would you be interested in finding an agent that fits?
I’ve been represented by Anna Olswanger of Olswanger Literary for about three years. I approached her about representation before I was writing my own texts and she was the one who encouraged me to write.
Tell us a little bit about Mona Lisa coming out later this year. Who is the publisher? Have you finished the illustrations?
Mona Lisa in New York is my latest author/illustrator picturebook and a love letter to NYC. It’s a story of, naturally, Mona Lisa, a tired know-it-all, who experiences New York for the first time and finds art, love, and inspiration in unexpected places. It’s coming out this fall from Prestel Books. I had finished my illustrations already and it was, by far, the most challenging and thrilling experience.
What do you think is your biggest success?
I hope it is ahead of me.
What is your favorite medium to use?
A 2B graphite pencil.
Has that changed over time?
Yes. It used to be a ballpoint pen.
Do you own or have you used a Graphic Drawing Tablet when illustrating?
Yes, I am a die-hard fan of my beloved Cintiq Tablet. It changed my life.
What materials and/or tools do you use to create your work?
I use pencils, ink, acrylic, oils… it’s hard to name them all. Whatever fits the concept of a project best. I often use Photoshop on top of everything else.
Do you try to spend a specific amount of time working on your craft?
I work all the time. If I’m doing dishes it doesn’t mean I am not simultaneously working.
Do you take pictures or research a project before you start?
I love researching and always try to avoid anachronisms and other historical inaccuracies. The most exciting research was for my latest books: I got to look at a thousand typewriters for Typewriter; I photographed graffiti and visited the Met Museum for Mona Lisa in New York.
Do you think the Internet has opened doors for you?
Absolutely. It accelerated my communication and gave me access to far-away clients. But nothing means more to me than discovering the works of genius artists all over the world every morning I go online. It is the most humbling and inspirational experience.
Do you have any career dreams that you want to fulfill?
I’d like to continue to do what I’m doing as an illustrator and theatre designer. My dream is to broaden the circle of my creative allies. And, perhaps, to work in animation again.
What are you working on now?
I am writing and illustrating two new picture books and starting on a graphic novel.
Do you have any material type tips you can share with us? Example: Paint or paper that you love – the best place to buy – a new product that you’ve tried – A how to tip, etc.
I use Photoshop extensively for my daily work, so lately I’m really into the “ancient” materials, like traditional inks and yarn. Recently I was able to get my hands on some carbon paper. I often use it to transfer my sketches. Carbon copy creates an interesting line.
Any words of wisdom on how to become a successful writer or illustrator?
I don’t think one can control her success. My technique is to look into the future with more curiosity, fewer expectations.
Thank you Yevgenia for sharing your talent and expertise with us. Make sure to let us know your future successes. To see more of Yevgenia’s work, you can visit her at:
Website: http://www.Nayberg.org
Behance: https://www.behance.net/nayberg
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ynayberg/
If you have a minute, please leave a comment for Yevgenia. I am sure she’d love to hear from you and I enjoy reading them, too.
Talk tomorrow,
Kathy
Yevgenia Nayberg: On the Artist as Inspiration
In this interview, author Yevgenia Nayberg discusses how being confronted with her doppelgänger inspired her to write and illustrate her new picture book, A Party for Florine.
Robert Lee BrewerJul 16, 2024
Yevgenia Nayberg is an award-winning author/illustrator, painter, and stage designer. Her illustrations have appeared in magazines and picture books, and on theatre posters, music albums, and book covers; her paintings, drawings, and illustrations are held in private collections worldwide.
As a set and costume designer, she has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the National Endowment for the Arts/TCG Fellowship for Theatre Designers, the Independent Theatre Award and the Arlin Meyer Award. She has received multiple awards for her picture book illustrations, including three Sydney Taylor Medals. She's a 2023 Eisner Awards nominee.
Her debut author/illustrator picture book, Anya's Secret Society, received a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection Award. She’s an author/illustrator of Typewriter and Mona Lisa In New York. Her latest book, I Hate Borsch!,is the Gold Winner of the 2022 Foreword Indies Book of the Year Awards. Born and raised in Kyiv, Ukraine, she now lives in New York City. Follow her on X (Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.
Yevgenia Nayberg: On the Artist as Inspiration
Yevgenia Nayberg
Photo by Anton Krasnov
In this interview, Yevgenia discusses how being confronted with her doppelgänger inspired her to write and illustrate her new picture book, A Party for Florine, her hope for readers, and more!
Name: Yevgenia Nayberg
Literary agent: Anna Olswanger was the agent for this project.
Book title: A Party for Florine: Florine Stettheimer and Me
Publisher: Neal Porter Book/Holiday House
Release date: July 16, 2024
Genre/category: Picture book biography
Previous titles: Author/Illustrator of Anya’s Secret Society, Typewriter, Mona Lisa in New York, and I Hate Borsch!
Elevator pitch: A Party for Florine is a fantasy fan letter inspired by the art and life of the Jewish American painter Florine Stettheimer. Florine was a colorful, larger-than-life character. She’s a perfect imaginary friend for a shy, creative child.
Yevgenia Nayberg: On the Artist as Inspiration
Bookshop | Amazon
[WD uses affiliate links.]
What prompted you to write this book?
In 2017, The Jewish Museum held an exhibition of Stettheimer’s work. A friend attending the show sent me a photograph of Florine’s early self-portrait. I was shocked by how much I resembled her! I was instantly inspired by this mystical connection to a painter born 100 years before me. As I explored her art and poetry, I became drawn to her exuberance, wit, and her way of looking at the world through an ironic lens.
How long did it take to go from idea to publication? And did the idea change during the process?
I had a vague idea that I needed to do something with the story of my doppelgänger, but it was not a clear one. It just sat quietly in the back of my mind for about three years. I have illustrated several picture book biographies in the past but was never interested in writing one. Then suddenly, I had an idea of writing in the first person: If I were to meet Florine, how would it change my own melancholic and boring life? And that’s how this book wrote itself: a biography of Florine, but also a bit of my own story.
Were there any surprises or learning moments in the publishing process for this title?
As much as I like Florine’s work, my own artistic style is quite different. The most exciting challenge was inventing a style that resembled Florine’s without losing my own. I’ve lucked out with my editor, Neal Porter, and Art Director, Jennifer Brown, who were incredibly supportive and cheerful throughout the process.
Yevgenia Nayberg: On the Artist as Inspiration
Were there any surprises in the writing process for this book?
The Author’s Note! When Neal asked me to write the Author’s Note, I told myself, “This is my chance to play an art critic.” I really enjoyed switching from my succinct picture book voice to something a bit more adult. I’m also continuously surprised that I manage to write in a foreign language!
What do you hope readers will get out of your book?
It’s up to us to create “the world full of color and full of surprises.”
If you could share one piece of advice with other writers, what would it be?
Don’t worry about pleasing an unknown child with your story. Write for the child that you once were—or better yet, for the child that you are.
Yevgenia Nayberg is an award-winning illustrator, painter, and set and costume designer. Her illustrations have appeared in magazines and picture books, and on theatre posters, music albums, and book covers; her paintings, drawings, and illustrations are held in private collections worldwide. As a set and costume designer, she has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the National Endowment for the Arts/TCG Fellowship for Theatre Designers, the Independent Theatre Award, and the Arlin Meyer Award. She has received multiple awards for her picture book illustrations, including three Sydney Taylor Medals. Her debut author/illustrator picture book, Anya's Secret Society, came out in 2019 and received a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection Award. She’s an author/illustrator of Typewriter and Mona Lisa In New York. Her next book, I Hate Borsch! will be published in 2022. Born and raised in Kiev, she now lives in New York City
In her work, she always feels connected to literature. She's fascinated by a verbal metaphor. She likes to look for a visual equivalent of a word, for poetic translation into the language of visual art. Yevgenia is interested in imagery that is, unlike literature, without narrative, and yet conveys a feeling just as strongly.
Mar
26
An Interview with Yevgenia Nayberg
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Yevgenia Nayberg
Yevgenia Nayberg
March 26, 2018
We interviewed Yevgenia Nayberg, acclaimed illustrator and now author of children’s picture books. Her latest books are Anya’s Secret Society, written and illustrated by her and Martin & Anne, written by Nancy Churnin and illustrated by Nayberg. She was originally schooled in art in Russia and her career also includes poster and set design for the theater. She lives and works in New York, creating in her dual fields of theater and illustration.
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A Selection of Work
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March 26, 2019
You have been described as an artist, a theater designer, an illustrator and now an author. How do you see yourself? Are any of these titles beginning to take a front position? If not, how do you balance these roles?
I feel like it is the same role. You have something to say and you try to say it with the right mixture of clarity and mystery. The medium might be different, but the intention is the same.
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Nayberg at work in her studio
Nayberg at work in her studio
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Work in progress in Nayberg’s studio
Your Russian schools focused on the technical skills necessary for your art. How has the American approach to illustration style impacted the development of your style?
I was fascinated by the spontaneity of many American illustrators. This is something that I have to consciously cultivate in my work. It takes years to learn technical skills and years to unlearn them.
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Cover of Anya’s Secret Society, Yevgenia Nayberg
Cover of Anya’s Secret Society, Yevgenia Nayberg
Like Anya (protagonist from Anya’s Secret Society), you are left handed and although you used your left hand for your art, you were re-trained to write “properly” with your right hand.
I am happy to be ambidextrous in my daily life. Artists in Russia were expected to have a dose of eccentricity. Being able to draw and doing it with my left hand earned me extra points! Anya’s story could be read as a story of a leftie in a right-handed world. But of course, it is just a metaphor for a much bigger challenge—wanting to belong while preserving your individuality.
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Work-in-progrees page from Anya’s Secret Society, Yevgenia Nayberg
Work-in-progrees page from Anya’s Secret Society, Yevgenia Nayberg
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Interior spread from Anya’s Secret Society, Yevgenia Nayberg
Interior spread from Anya’s Secret Society, Yevgenia Nayberg
Since living in the United States, what other areas of the country have you visited and what were your impressions?
My first stop in the U.S. was Pittsburgh. I only knew America from Hollywood films and was in for a surprise! After that I lived in Los Angeles for nearly ten years and got to travel throughout the United States for my theatre work. During my years in the U.S. I lost the outsider’s point of view. Today I am happy to call New York City my home—feel the most comfortable and at ease here.
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Interior spread from Anya’s Secret Society, Yevgenia Nayberg
Interior spread from Anya’s Secret Society, Yevgenia Nayberg
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Interior spread from Anya’s Secret Society, Yevgenia Nayberg
Interior spread from Anya’s Secret Society, Yevgenia Nayberg
As you balance the people-oriented theater work with the more solitary task of illustration and writing, do you try to go back and forth to keep from being overwhelmed by either discipline?
I like to mix it up. I am a very social person and love to collaborate with creative allies. At the same time, I am headstrong and tend to know exactly what I want, so solitary work often comes to the rescue!
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Interior spread from Anya’s Secret Society, Yevgenia Nayberg
Interior spread from Anya’s Secret Society, Yevgenia Nayberg
Do you use your sketchbook for preliminary work on specific projects or carry it with you often to draw during your daily commutes or travels?
I don’t have a well-organized sketchbook practice. Most of my sketches are done on the back of document printouts. I am usually self-conscious about sketching in public and often must rely on my visual memory to reconstruct what I saw. Still, I would like to train myself to carry a sketchbook with me more often, because live drawing takes me out of my familiar stylization.
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From Nayberg’s sketchbook
From Nayberg’s sketchbook
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From Nayberg’s sketchbook
From Nayberg’s sketchbook
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From Nayberg’s sketchbook
From Nayberg’s sketchbook
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From Nayberg’s sketchbook
What response is most meaningful to you when people view and/or read your work? How do you go about achieving that?
I am not worried about creating a clear road map to my work; I like to leave enough space for the imagination of others. It’s exciting when people see something in my work that I had not planned for!
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Cover of Martin & Anne: The Kindred Spirits of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Anne Frank, by Nancy Churnin, illustration by Yevgenia Nayberg
Cover of Martin & Anne: The Kindred Spirits of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Anne Frank, by Nancy Churnin, illustration by Yevgenia Nayberg
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Interior spread from Martin & Anne, by Nancy Churnin, illustration by Yevgenia Nayberg
Interior spread from Martin & Anne, by Nancy Churnin, illustration by Yevgenia Nayberg
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Interior spread from Martin & Anne, by Nancy Churnin, illustration by Yevgenia Nayberg
Interior spread from Martin & Anne, by Nancy Churnin, illustration by Yevgenia Nayberg
Did you conduct any special research during the creation of illustrations for Martin & Anne? What challenges did you encounter in illustrating this text written by another author?
I researched the photographs of Frank’s and King’s families quite extensively. I also researched the civil rights movement, the protest posters and the racist and antisemitic signage of that time. I looked into the original edition of Anne Frank’s diary, because it is mentioned in Nancy Churnin’s story. My illustration style is not realistic, and I feel that historically correct details help to ground the artwork.
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Interior spread from Martin & Anne, by Nancy Churnin, illustration by Yevgenia Nayberg
Interior spread from Martin & Anne, by Nancy Churnin, illustration by Yevgenia Nayberg
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Interior spread from Martin & Anne, by Nancy Churnin, illustration by Yevgenia Nayberg
Interior spread from Martin & Anne, by Nancy Churnin, illustration by Yevgenia Nayberg
It is probably more challenging for an author to come to terms with an illustrator’s interpretation of her work. In any story that I take on I find something personal and make an intimate connection. After that, it’s easy—it becomes my story.
Can you share a little about your upcoming book, Typewriter? Where did this idea come from?
For years I’ve been interested in objects that immigrant families brought to America. Many of those things turned out to be completely useless. Last year, I asked people on Facebook to share their useless things with me. I asked not to tell me about the tomes of Dostoyevsky, matryoshka dolls, or samovars. I was looking for something unusual, but not sentimental. Naturally, I got many responses with Dostoyevsky and the samovars anyway. But there were a few real surprises, including a typewriter with a Russian alphabet. I thought that one cannot come up with a more useless object!
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Work-in-progress illustration from Typewriter, Yevgenia Nayberg
Work-in-progress illustration from Typewriter, Yevgenia Nayberg
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Preliminary sketch of interior spread from Typewriter, Yevgenia Nayberg
Preliminary sketch of interior spread from Typewriter, Yevgenia Nayberg
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Interior spread from Typewriter, Yevgenia Nayberg
Interior spread from Typewriter, Yevgenia Nayberg
I wrote and illustrated a story of a Russian typewriter that emigrates to America and, once there, feels completely useless. Russian stories often end badly, but maybe this time around there could be a happy American ending.
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Work-in-progress illustration from Typewriter, Yevgenia Nayberg
Work-in-progress illustration from Typewriter, Yevgenia Nayberg
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Work-in-progress pages from Typewriter, Yevgenia Nayberg
Work-in-progress pages from Typewriter, Yevgenia Nayberg
Thank you, Yevgenia, for the behind-the-scenes look into your process and your work.
Yevgenia Nayberg
Yevgenia Nayberg is an illustrator, painter, and set and costume designer. She received a Sydney Taylor Silver Medal for her illustrations for Drop by Drop. She lives in New York.
Interview
What was your favorite book when you were a child?
Adventures of Cipollino by Gianni Rodari
Who are your top three favorite authors or illustrators?
The German Werner Klemke and the Russian Vladimir Konashevich were my first “teachers”. Saul Steinberg is my all-time favorite.
Why did you want to become an author or illustrator?
Drawing and reading have always been my two favorite things to do- I had no choice!
Do you have any advice for future authors or illustrators?
Don’t be afraid to try something new
A Party for Florine: Florine Stettheimer and Me
by Yevgenia Nayberg;
illus. by the author
Primary, Intermediate Porter/Holiday 40 pp.
7/24 9780823454105 $18.99
When this book's fictional young narrator experiences a moment of recognition between herself and the self-portrait of American modernist painter Florine Stettheimer (1871-1944), she is compelled to learn more about the painter's life and art. Born to a Jewish family, Stettheimer grows up in Rochester, New York; spends time in Europe; and eventually settles in New York City with her mother and sisters. She dedicates her time to painting, set design, and throwing parties attended by such notables of the art and literary world as Marcel Duchamp and Carl Van Vechten. The book hints at Stettheimer's feminism and nonconformity: she lounges around in white silk pants (no dresses or skirts here!), commits herself to her art, and creates paintings that "look like jazz"; their bold uses of colors, levitating bodies, and swaying buildings "danced and sang on a canvas." Stettheimer's art inspires the narrator to throw a party in the artist's honor and to see her own world with the eyes of an artist. Mixedmedia and digital print illustrations copy Stettheimer's sense of style and whimsical aesthetic, while reproductions of the artist's four Cathedrals paintings can be found on the front and back endpapers. An author's note provides more details about Stettheimer's life and places her work within a larger conversation about art history.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 A wholly owned subsidiary of Media Sources, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
http://www.hbook.com/magazine/default.asp
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
Azzam, Julie Hakim. "A Party for Florine: Florine Stettheimer and Me." The Horn Book Magazine, vol. 100, no. 4, July-Aug. 2024, p. 152. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A803844910/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=82b82962. Accessed 24 Oct. 2024.
Nayberg, Yevgenia A PARTY FOR FLORINE Neal Porter/Holiday House (Children's None) $18.99 7, 16 ISBN: 9780823454105
An artist finds kinship in the life and work of American painter Florine Stettheimer (1871-1944).
A light-skinned young child who comes across Florine's self-portrait in a museum is startled to discover that the artist resembles her. The child explores the parallels between their lives as artistic Jewish girls and ultimately commits to embracing Florine's vibrant spirit. If she could throw a party for Florine, she would serve "blue pancakes," and the two would "paint and dance and write poetry!" Stepping outside, the child adopts Florine's perspective: "The world around me is full of color and full of surprise." Nayberg succinctly shares the usual biographical details, including important dates, family, training--information that can be supplemented by her comprehensive author's note. But it's the author's obvious reverence for Florine that gives this retrospective an unexpected intimacy. Lyrical lines describe Florine's art, with its "skinny cats'' and "tilted buildings growing like trees," as well as her glamorous New York City life of poetry and parties ("lounging around in white silk pants!" with the likes of Marcel Duchamp). Illustrated in dynamic, mostly primary colors that mirror Florine's customary palettes, Nayberg's images of oversize flowers, flying people, and jazz-filled salons are ebullient, flamboyant even. Florine's four-part Cathedrals of New York series on the endpapers, plus a reproduced self-portrait in the backmatter, gives readers an excellent sense of her work.
A passionate ode to a pioneering female artist whose influence endures and inspires. (Informational picture book. 5-10)
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2024 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Source Citation
Source Citation
MLA 9th Edition APA 7th Edition Chicago 17th Edition Harvard
"Nayberg, Yevgenia: A PARTY FOR FLORINE." Kirkus Reviews, 15 May 2024, p. NA. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A793537018/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=bookmark-ITOF&xid=00a59cc8. Accessed 24 Oct. 2024.