I don’t remember when I first read Where the Wild Things Are, but I do remember the feelings I had.
At the time I lacked the vocabulary to express those feelings and now, how ever many years later, I find myself in the same situation.
I'm fairly inarticulate when talking about the things I love most, especially the art of Maurice Sendak, and in particular his masterpiece, Where the Wild Things Are.
And that’s why I turn to pictures. I can let the drawings do the talking for me and I find that I can say visually what I mean, and express what I love.
The book has always been tremendously special to me. Truthfully, after I read it, it changed the way I looked at stories, drawing, picture books... everything. Discovering Maurice Sendak's work was, for me, one of those water-shed moments -- it helped me decipher what it was I wanted to do as an artist and it crystallized for me the sort of stories I love.
Simply put, Where the Wild Things Are has had a massive influence on me.
* * *
What I've wanted to do for sometime is make a collection of paintings inspired by Where the Wild Things Are as a tribute and celebration of the book. And now with the release of the film later in the year, the world of Wild Things has opened even wider.
My goal for this project is really just that, expressing of my love for the story. None of the art has been done for any profit but has all been created out of admiration for Maurice Sendak and Where the Wild Things Are.
Over the coming weeks and months I'll display a growing collection of works created by invited contributing artists and myself. We share a love and admiration for Sendak's work and the pieces we present here are done as a tribute to his life and legacy.
Simply put, like a visual love letter to the book, with Terrible Yellow Eyes I am seeking to celebrate and promote the original masterwork by Maurice Sendak in the best way I know how -- with pictures.
* * *
I have been taken in by Maurice Sendak’s terrible and wonderful monsters.
I love the anger, and the frightfulness, and the joy I find there.
I hope you will find something here as well.
-- Cory Godbey
42 Responses to “Terrible Yellow Eyes”
What a fantastic idea, I LOVE it. Can't wait to see the artwork. I'm a big fan of the book as well, I think it's just brilliant, and I can't wait for the movie either, it looks amazing.
Kev
You have a tremendous gift in your ability to convey emotion with art (I think your written expression is pretty good, too, actually). I've always loved "Where the Wild Things Are", myself. I knew a girl who had a gorgeous, detailed tattoo of the characters.
I look forward to seeing your project. I have no doubt it will be fantastic.
Really interesting to see a preview of an illustrators homage to such a classic book. The yellow eyes banner works particularly well.
Love this site! Chad Frye referred me here. :) This is my son, Caleb's FAVORITE book. He's two years old and recites the entire book by heart! He loves for me to read it with him, but asks every night if there are Wild Things in his room (as he's heading off to sleep). What a great book and thanks for putting this site together! I'll enjoy looking at the different perspectives from all the artists!
SO amazing!!! What a great idea - I made a MAX costume for my son when he was two http://web.me.com/peggycollins/http%3A__www.peggysillustration.com/Wild_things.html
What a fantastic tribute. The art here is fantastic, and I look forward to what's to come.
This was always our children's favorite book... And, Mom and Dad's, too! I'm looking forward to the movie and the artwork!
This is the best site ever. As a kid (and an adult!), I've always loved this book. Your tribute idea is amazing and you've shown some really great work. I cant wait to see what goes up next!
what a brilliant idea for a project. i will be watching this blog closely.
Brilliant idea! Definitely one of my most favorite books.
I stumbled across this blog, and signed up for an account so I could follow it because the pictures are so addictively awesome!
What an absolutely delightful time I've had looking st this collection! Thank you to you and all of the contributing artists.
This is an absoletely brillliiiant idea!
I have adored Maurice Sendak's works since grade school. I am now 26 years old and still obsessed!
I love this. What a great way to pay tribute to an amazing and influential book! I wanna do one!!
yeah, very nice project!
i'd like to participate!
This is an amazing project! Thank you for doing this
Where the Wild Things are was the first book that I remember anyone giving to me. It was given to me by my first grade teacher who I loved and adored. I poured over the pages hundreds of times until the book was worn.
I love this project! Thank you so much for sharing!
Amazing idea. I love this. Well Done!!!
Precious drawings, I adore the work of Maurice Sendak.
Thanks to share!!!!!!!!!
One of the Best Books out there! ever!!
Lovely idea, beautiful works.
Thanks!
Hi Cory. Stumbled across this site while I was going through Alberto's site. Lovely idea and beautiful illustrations. I have featured your blog on our blog. This is the link:
http://blog.prathambooks.org/2009/07/terrible-yellow-eyes-art-inspired-by.html
Good luck with the project :)
Cory, is there a place to purchase any of this work from the artists?
Thank you,
Heather
mayer.hea@gmail.com
Thank you for this wonderful blog. The artwork transports me to a very fun place every time I look at them. I never read this book as a child (or as an adult) but your blog inspired me to find out more about it and to write a post about it on my blog:
http://well-lovedtales.blogspot.com/2009/07/where-wild-things-are.html
I linked to your blog as well!
Cheers!
i'm a sendak fan and now also a follower of this great blog! may it live long and prosper!
a lovely idea indeed...! i'm anxious to see what is to come~
This project is wonderful! I watched the trailer to "Where the Wild Things Are" a few hours ago, and then took a look at your project site again and decided to draw a little tribute illustration myself.
Way back I thought I was one of few who listened to their parents reading the book and explored the pictures (and Oh! I was afraid of that monster with the beak... *shudder*) Later I realized it was one of the most famous childrens books - haha!
So many people sharing the same story...
What a fantastic blog - I've promoted this in the communities and forums with which I'm involved, and the response has been enthusiatic across the board.
Is it possible to submit a piece for consideration, or is it strictly invite only?
nearly all oft the images are just fantastic! I've never seen so great, sensitive and colerfull interpretations of a book. Wonderfull! Thanks for showing it.
i stumble upon your site...and i love it! the collection you have is totally awesome. i love his book! big fan of your site. its way cool!
thanks.
I just found this site and have fallen in love with it! What an awesome tribute to a book we've all grown up with. I was wondering if there is a way to purchase prints of the work? I'd really enjoy a little Wild Things tribute of my own.
Heather
Great stuff!
As both an aspiring artist AND a fan of Where The Wild Things Are, it is awesome to find a blog like this that pleases these two parts of me.
I'm more than excited for the upcoming movie, and this is a great site to help keep hyped.
This Terrible Yellow Eyes blog is made of awesome. :)
I really like your wensite,
I'm an illustrator too and I would like to send you my contribute. Is your gallery for invited artists only? Is the project still open or finished?
Thank you so much, have a nice day!!!
I would buy a book of this art...
Beautiful idea to pay homage to the brlliance of wtwta and Maurice Sendak! Thank you Cory, and all the super awesome artists. and if this were a book, i would buy it too. definitely.
This is a nice idea! I am an illustrator and would like to make my contribution to this amazing project! I just want to know if this works only by invitation or you welcome all artists and/or artwork inspired by Maurice Sendak...
I'd love to participate!!
Thanks!!
love your project!
we put some artworks from the site (with authors name) and the link on our magazine blog: www.bangart.it
hope it' ok for you...
ciao
bang art
Amazing project!!!
I'm writting from Barcelona. I really enjoyed your wrok!!
I hope you'll come to Barcelona some day and we will enjoy seeing all this pictures live!!
Thanks a million!!
Maria
Hello,
I don't know whether you will read this, as I am sending this well after the "end" of this blog, but I wanted to assure you that it goes on, in ways you may not have considered.
Imagine a young mother and her two children in the south of France, rooting around for M. Sendak in the piles of children's books, setting aside the books in French and Dutch until they get to Max. Then launching into it with great affect. Now imagine them piled into a chair meant for one, scrolling through all the permutations of Max in this blog. Imagine the smallest one's name is actually Max, and that at 98% of the images, he says, "oh, I like this one best." Imagine the mother and daughter discussing color, composition and shape choices, as she is a hair older and taking drawing lessons.
If you can imagine all this, then you can see the three of us, utterly enchanted and late to dinner. Thank you.
I wish I'd known about this--I would have loved to have participated! A suggestion: Make a book! I will buy it!
Meghan McCarthy
Fabulous site. Thank you for putting this together, it was a joy to see so many artists inspired by this landmark book.
I blogged about your site here: http://piccolinadesignsandplay.blogspot.com/2010/04/terrible-yellow-eyes.html
And I agree with Meghan, I would LOVE to see this made into a book. :)
It is fantastic to find so good ideas and spectacular projects as this one. Now I will explore better this blog... it's really fascinating, go on!
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