This is a selection of my picture books along with a behind the scenes look at my art-making process. I make handmade separations with pencil, acrylic and gouache. These are scanned, assembled, and colored in Photoshop.
It all starts from the movies, books and music I absorbed as a kid. I grew up in the 80’s and George Lucas / Spielberg continues to be a huge influence. My art is often seen as quiet which is probably a testament to one of my favorite picture book creators Leo Lionni.
Christopher Silas Neal graduated in 1999 from The University of Colorado, Boulder with a BA in Journalism. He has been an illustrator since moving to New York in 2002, and previously worked as a graphic designer for a small studio in Boulder, Colorado. As an illustrator, Neal creates book covers for adult fiction, non-fiction, and young readers. He also created art for magazines and newspapers such as Time, Rolling Stone, The New York Times, and The New Yorker. His books have won a number of state and national awards. Over and Under the Snow with author Kate Messner, which was praised for its “stunning retro-style illustrations” (The New York Times), was a 2011 New York Times Editor’s Choice and an E.B. White Honoree in 2012. Neal’s author debut, Everyone, was praised by Publisher’s Weekly as “simple, honest, lyrical.” He lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.
Instagram: @csilasneal
Website: csneal.com
Preview the Exhibit
