Robert's Snow 2007: Starring Scott Bakal

Scott Bakal

You may want to click here to see another picture of Scott--an "obligatory dramatic black and white rock star profle shot."

When Jules of 7-Imp put out the call for kidlit bloggers to interview artists who created snowflakes for Robert’s Snow 2007, I requested Scott Bakal as one of my illustrators. One might wonder why I wanted to highlight the work of the only “snowflake” artist who hasn’t published a children’s picture book. Well, here’s the reason: I won Scott’s snowflake in the 2004 auction—and it’s absolutely beautiful!!! Yes, I meant to type three exclamation marks.

Snow Bathing: Scott's 2004 Snowflake

Snow Bathing is prominently featured
in the book Robert's Snowflakes.

I contacted Scott after the auction to tell him how much I loved Snow Bathing. We began to correspond through email. I even purchased one of his limited edition prints, Inner Reflection.

Inner Reflection

Scott is a member of the Society of Illustrators in New York. Last year, he was elected to the Executive Committee and serves as Chair of the Education Committee, which is responsible for the Annual Student Scholarship Competition and the prestigious Zankel Scholarship. Scott works mostly in acrylics.

Interview with Scott Bakal

Elaine: You’re the only “snowflake” artist who hasn’t illustrated a children’s book. Would you like to talk about the project you worked on that you had planned to be a children’s book?

Scott: That made me wonder why I was continually asked since this was ‘for children’s book illustrators only’! Past all of that, I just wanted to help.

I actually had a few book ideas rolling along and did create a couple of dummies. I went so far as to speak to some art directors at a publishing company but the book needed work. I knew that. I still have them on my desk in the studio but my usual work has boomed and taken over this year. Also, I finished my second Master’s Degree in Illustration at the University of Hartford recently. Most of my time this past year was spent finishing the thesis and illustrations for it. In 2006, I was elected to be Associate Treasurer and Chairman of the Education Committee at the Society of Illustrators. As Chair of the Education Committee, I am responsible for two of the largest Student Scholarships in North America: the Annual Student Scholarship Competition and the newly created Zankel Scholarship. Combined, we gave out over $75,000 in scholarship money to students. This has really taken up a bunch of time. I know, excuses, excuses….

Elaine: Do you still have plans for another attempt at a children’s book?

Scott: I certainly do but that is something that I am not thinking about at the moment. I am trying to tie up loose ends on many other projects but the ideas and dummies are still here waiting for my attention. For the last few weeks I have been dealing with a solo show I am having at the Quimby Gallery at Lyndon College in Vermont. I will also be doing a lecture there opening night.
Elaine: Are there any children’s illustrators whose work you admire?

Scott: Virtually all of them! Knowing the business fairly well, knowing many children’s book illustrators and being an illustrator for 15 years, I’ve learned what it takes to be a children’s book illustrator and, for the most part, how little income one makes spending that entire time illustrating one book. If one is to survive, they have to keep getting themselves published and hopefully go into further printings. It truly is a labor of love for an illustrator. Sometimes though, there are successes and some are able to make a decent living. I know one illustrator who had done over 50 books and only 2 are still in print! It’s a tough business.

If I were to single out a few illustrators the first I would mention is Lisa Desimini. I met her back in 1989 when she came in to lecture and do a demo for my freshman class at the School of Visual Arts. Lisa was an inspiration and I love her art and books. If you look at my very early work, I would say she was also an artistic influence.

In the last few years, a couple of other children’s book illustrators have found their way into my life and heart. Those two people are Ted and Betsy Lewin. They are certainly inspiring as children’s book illustrators and as friends. Their work and lives are magical. It seems they can create their own success at will.

Elaine: Would you like to tell us about your 2007 snowflake?

Scott: Originally, it was a take-off of an image I created called The Snowman Realizes His Future, which recently was awarded to be in the American Illustration Annual 26. It shows a sad snowman looking up at a branch, which is his nose, sprouting leaves—a telltale sign that Spring is coming and that he will be melting away.

For a few weeks I was thinking about the new snowflake and kept thinking about a variation of that painting where the snowman was smiling and happy about a new future. Sort of like the Yang for the Yin. I titled the snowflake The Joy of the Future. While I was conceptualizing this piece, I thought about Robert’s situation and my own personal situation with my mother. My Mother started dialysis in January of this year and is currently waiting for a kidney to become available for a transplant. Her medical issues were brought on by diabetes, which she discovered she had when she was 34. Turning 60 this year and having to deal with kidney issues, multiple operations to maintain her sight and other issues relating to diabetes, my Mother, initially very depressed about all that was happening to her, has swallowed her dark emotions and started to try to live her life happily. These are the cards she was dealt and she can do nothing except maintain a positive attitude that everything will work out.

I thought about Robert and Grace at the same time and all the challenges they’ve faced and decided that my simple image says all that needs to be said.

Sadly, I found out that Robert had passed away in August. How does one remain joyous at a time like this? How does someone, even Grace, maintain her happiness? Is there any happiness left?

I deduced that regardless of life, death and personal issues the future is constant and while we are alive, we are always moving forward. Being privileged to continue forward and maintain the memory of our loved ones is a gift, to say the least. The joy of our life is our memories, both good and bad, happy and sad, silly and serious, which makes up who are loved ones are and were. As I move forward in life knowing that I may experience terrible personal losses in the future, right now, I am joyous that they are here and that I can experience them and that I will continually. This is the Joy of the Future. Click here to visit Scott Bakal’s website to find out more about this talented artist.

Click here to visit Scott’s pages at Illoz.

Elaine: Thanks, Scott, for helping with Robert's Snow in 2004, 2005, and 2007!

Note: Illustrations (c) Scott Bakal. They are not to be copied and posted elsewhere without his permission.

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