(C) Dave Mottram, Running Press, 2016
Introducing...
ANNE MOORE ARMSTRONG: A Vrooming Artists' Agent
What do you love about Dave Mottram's illustrative style, especially the way he illustrates machinery?
Dave Mottram combines both excellent draftsmanship with a strong ability to create anthropomorphic vehicles. He also uses very intentional, warm palettes that are very appealing to readers.
Do tell, how did the art director/book designer from Running Press come to contact you about Dave illustrating RACE CAR DREAMS?
In this case, the AD had seen Dave’s work and realizing he’d be a good fit for this text, sent it directly to him. He then forwarded me the text, and I talked with Dave about the project and then negotiated the contract for him with Running Press.
Even though RACE CAR DREAMS was Dave's first picture-book, why were you confident he could do it?
That’s a good question, as I had not seen any full scenes of his work, so it was a step of faith of sorts, but I really could sense that he was capable of it, and once he started to deliver sketches and artwork, it was absolutely apparent that he’s fully capable of creating scenes and carrying a character through a range of emotions and various scenes and perspectives. He’s really quite gifted.
What do you think of the finished, published project, RACE CAR DREAMS?
I love how the little race car has such personality and energy and evokes such a range of emotion. I am absolutely thrilled with the overall quality of the artwork and the storytelling that Dave achieved.
Now that Dave has illustrated RACE CAR DREAMS, what's next on the boiler?
Actually, Dave had created an adorable tug boat piece of art for his portfolio, and that image caught the eye of an editor at Simon & Schuster who had a little tug text that he has just illustrated. And, given the amazing collaboration Running Press had with Dave, he was just sent another “vehicle” book he is about to sign up, so watch out for it!
Dave Mottram combines both excellent draftsmanship with a strong ability to create anthropomorphic vehicles. He also uses very intentional, warm palettes that are very appealing to readers.
Do tell, how did the art director/book designer from Running Press come to contact you about Dave illustrating RACE CAR DREAMS?
In this case, the AD had seen Dave’s work and realizing he’d be a good fit for this text, sent it directly to him. He then forwarded me the text, and I talked with Dave about the project and then negotiated the contract for him with Running Press.
Even though RACE CAR DREAMS was Dave's first picture-book, why were you confident he could do it?
That’s a good question, as I had not seen any full scenes of his work, so it was a step of faith of sorts, but I really could sense that he was capable of it, and once he started to deliver sketches and artwork, it was absolutely apparent that he’s fully capable of creating scenes and carrying a character through a range of emotions and various scenes and perspectives. He’s really quite gifted.
What do you think of the finished, published project, RACE CAR DREAMS?
I love how the little race car has such personality and energy and evokes such a range of emotion. I am absolutely thrilled with the overall quality of the artwork and the storytelling that Dave achieved.
Now that Dave has illustrated RACE CAR DREAMS, what's next on the boiler?
Actually, Dave had created an adorable tug boat piece of art for his portfolio, and that image caught the eye of an editor at Simon & Schuster who had a little tug text that he has just illustrated. And, given the amazing collaboration Running Press had with Dave, he was just sent another “vehicle” book he is about to sign up, so watch out for it!
Anne Moore Armstrong joined the Bright Literary Agency in 2014 from a publishing background of over twenty years as a children's book designer at Little Brown and Candlewick Press where she gave art direction to countless illustrators as she designed picture books, young fiction and YA novels. Now as a Bright USA agent, Anne develops the careers of outstanding children's illustrators and supports publishing clients with a wide array of artistic styles. Best known books she's been instrumental in getting published are Jon Klassen's NY Times Best Illustrated Book, HOUSE HELP UP BY TREES (published by Candlewick Press) and THE BEAR AND THE PIANO, written and illustrated by the recent Waterstone Picture Book Award winner, David Litchfield, whom she represents. Anne can be found online Tweeting @childbookart.
PUBLISHER'S BLURB:
After a day at the track of zipping and zooming, a race car is tired and ready for bed. He washes his rims, fills his tummy with oil, and chooses a book that is all about speed. All toasty and warm, he drifts off to sleep, he shifts into gear . . . and dreams of the race!
RACE CAR DREAMS is a delightful, bedtime tale written by Sharon Chriscoe, illustrated by Dave Mottram and published by Running Press Kids (September 2016).
After a day at the track of zipping and zooming, a race car is tired and ready for bed. He washes his rims, fills his tummy with oil, and chooses a book that is all about speed. All toasty and warm, he drifts off to sleep, he shifts into gear . . . and dreams of the race!
RACE CAR DREAMS is a delightful, bedtime tale written by Sharon Chriscoe, illustrated by Dave Mottram and published by Running Press Kids (September 2016).
