a love letter to the work of Brian Selznick // Illustration & Reading Vlog!!
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- Опубликовано: 27 сен 2024
- Hello friends!
I hope you're all doing very well!
This week I read a new favorite book of all time, from one of my favorite writers and illustrators of all time, Brian Selznick.
Here's a little back story, as to why Brian Selznick's work means so much to me, and how it shaped me into the person, illustrator, and writer I am today...
When I was 9 years old, I wasn't reading as well as the other kids my age. Back then, words were not my friends. My closest confidant was, and has always been, my pencil. Although, at age 9, my ability to read written language was lacking, I was fluent in artistic and visual language.
My parents took me to the library all the time, as an attempt to try and get me excited about reading. I was browsing the shelves when I saw the captivating spine of a book titled "The Invention of Hugo Cabret." The spine was huge compared to the other slim volumes, but something told me to pick it up and look through it. I opened it and was greeted, not by a page of scary words but, by a graphite drawing of a boy in a train station. I kept turning the pages, and I realized that the pictures told a story in the visual language I understood best. The pictures were accompanied by words which also told the story of the boy in the train station. That was the moment when I discovered the true beauty of visual storytelling. I knew then that I wanted to do for other kids what Brian Selznick did for me. Without Hugo, I wouldn't be who I am today, as silly or as dramatic as that sounds. It's true!
...So, this past week I read his third major novel (in words and pictures) titled "The Marvels." My 9 year old self was in her glory, as was/is my 23 year old self. I can't remember the last time I cried so hard, while finishing and, after finishing a book. It has become a new favorite book of all time!!!
When I found out that Brian Selznick came out with a new book titles "Kaleidoscope" this past September, I immediately ran to my local bookshop and got myself a copy. To no surprise, I'm absolutely adoring it!
Ultimately, what this video is, is a love letter to the works of Brian Selznick. It is also for all of you, who may not be familiar with his brilliant words and pictures.
I hope my story inspires you to pick up his books and experience the beauty of visual and written storytelling! :)
As always, thank you for supporting me, my artwork, and my videos! You too are part of my story, and I can't thank you enough for helping make my dreams come true!
Sending my warmest hugs and very best wishes,
Carolyn (and Willow) Marie
P.S. The BIGGEST thank you to @emmiereads for gifting my the greatest hoodie I've ever seen (in my very humble opinion ;)
Videos Mentioned -
My last reading vlog where I also talk about Brian Selznick - • Cozy Reading Vlog: win...
My video where I introduce my book, and figuring out life after graduation - • Writing/Illustrating A...
Brian Selznick's talk titled "Struck With Wonder" - • Brian Selznick: Struck...
My Social Media: CarolynMarieReads
***My Website/Portfolio - carolyncastagn...
***Art/Book Instagram - / carolynmariereads
***GoodReads - / carolynmariereads
***Business inquiries: carolyncastagna.artist@gmail.com
***My Etsy Shop (some sold out, but more still available!!!
Sylvia Plath and Mary Shelley are COMING SOON!!!) - www.etsy.com/s...
***Want to write to me or send something?
Carolyn Castagna
P. O. Box 773
Greenlawn NY 11740
United States
**Please don't feel like you need to send me anything, but if you'd like to I would be honored!!!** :)
***About me -
I just graduated from college at the Fashion Institute of Technology with my Bachelors of Fine Arts in Illustration with a minor in English/Writing.
My greatest passion in life is combining my two loves, literature and art!
Happy Reading :)
#brianselznick #themarvels #kaleidoscope #artvlog #illustration
honestly, this channel wouldn't be the same without your long rambles about books you're passionate over. your love for selznick and literature in general is infectious!
I wish Selznick was my next-door neighbor so that I could show him your videos and the love you have of his works so that he could reach out to you. I wish!!!🥰
What a stunning video to wake up to at 6am. In Australia it is shining, blue skies and there's something about watching your videos that bring such joy and comfort. And speaking of stalking favourite creators, not me watching all of your videos the last few days :,) thank you for sharing all of you with us and putting your soul into these videos. Your art and the way you describe things feel like poetry.
hearing you talk so passionately about your writing and illustrations made me fall in love with your channel all over again!
I'm not sure if this would result in copyright issues, but I thought of patronusus from Harry Potter. The most obvious one is that James was a Stag and Lily was Doe. Or Harry's was a stag and Ginny's was a horse. Then Hermione's was an Otter and Ron's a Jack Russel Terrier. I'm not sure about Patronus but Dumbledore has a connection to Phoneixes and McGononagal's animagas was a cat. And then if you could fit more than two, the Trio as their patronus and then the Maurders as their anaimgas.
Wow ramble.
I adore all of your work. I have an Emily Bronte print of yours that sits on my shelf and everytime I see it, it brings me such joy!
carolyn your channel is such a safe and relaxing space for me!! thank you!!
Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays, Carolyn! Cheers!
I've never seen a dog have so much love for their owner as Willow has for Carolyn 😂😂😍😍 also that drawing of Sylvia Plath 👩🍳😘
Your hands have some sort of magic...art works are out of this world Carolyn ❤️🤌🏼
BEGGING you to draw jane and rochester as animals!!!
I'm so excited about your new author portraits! You are so immensely talented. I can't wait to get a Sylvia Plath when it hits your ETSY store. ❤️. Merry Christmas to you!🎄
I can't wait to own a copy of your portrait of Sylvia Plath, it's absolutely stunning.
The hoodie is so adorable!
Please, make a picture of Anna Karenina and Vronsky when they dance at the ball as animals!
I love your passion for illustration... One day you will be inspiring people, the way B. Selznick does :)
I wish I felt as strongly about anything the way you feel about Brian Selznick.
I was so pleased on Saturday, because my order from your Etsy shop arrived. The Tolkien and the Red Rabbit portraits are stunning. So good. I enjoyed watching you actuality making magic on paper today. Fascinating!! Love your channel. I found you thru Emma's channel who I also love to watch. Love your friendship. Merry Christmas 🎄. 👍💕📚
Willow on your arm in the beginning was just everything! She loves you so much and is so bonded to you...dogs are the absolute best, aren't they? Edit: When will your writing be available on your website? I am DYING to read some of your stories.
I love your channel!
Please do a favourite books of the year video! I would love to see your favourites throughout the year!
Seeing you draw Sylvia Plath actually put tears in my eyes 😂
Dr Zhivago is taking me ages too! You know how I feel about buying your original art ❤😍stop making me wait so long.. when should we start talking about commissions? 😂❤😍Such a cozy vlog!!
You should definitely do Andrei and Natasha when they walz together for the first time! ❤️ ✨ Lovely video, as always
I can't wait to get the Sylvia Plath portrait!
Please, please, please assure us that both you and Emma will wear the matching Tolstoy v Dickens hoodies for the next live debate!
I literally just found out that Brian Selznick illustrated The Doll People, which was one of my favourite books as a child. Also found out that it's actually a series??
I love the drawing of Kitty and Levin as animals, that's such a cute idea!
🎄✏️
Wonderful!
Congratulations on your Plath. You captured a masculinity in her that isn't always immediately visible in her poetry. She's long been my favorite poet, tho tbh I'm not a big fan of her novel, The Bell Jar. Watching you with your pencil and sharpener I couldn't help thinking of her poem "Onion." (What a thrill! My thumb instead of an onion). As for her personality, perhaps the demands of motherhood were something for which she had been prepared but nonetheless overwhelmed her.
YES Carolyn...Please do some originals ...Ill pay..;) PLEASE !!!..lol...Love this video too...willow soooo darn cute too yet again...:)...Merry Christmas Too..:)
having a bad day, Carolyn is here to help me calm down for the night and look forward to better times ahead of me 💕🤍
The book Sphinx by Anne Garréta also plays which gender and sex in the same way. Highly recommend!
I would love to buy an original !!!! 🥰
Perhaps the 4 members of The Pickwick Club - Samuel Pickwick, Tracy Tupman, Augustus Snodgrass and Nathaniel Winkle - could be anthropomorphically transformed into their counterparts in "The Wind In The Willows" - Toad, Mole, Badger and Ratty - with Pickwick as Mr. Toad of course!
I would love a Thomas Hardy on the page!
Wondering if you and/or Emma thought of selling the Dickens vs Tolstoy hoodies?!
Hi Carolyn, I've been wanting to get into illustration for a while and I was just wondering, what materials do you use for drawing and what applications do you use on the computer? Your illustrations are so beautiful. Happy holidays!!!
Regarding your original art: I'd sell my arm and leg for your original drawing of Leo Tolstoy. But I'm also very aware that there are many many admirers of him and also of your artwork. So, my idea is, that you could sell portraits drawn to order. Because I'd sell you my other arm and leg for a portrait of John Galsworthy. You could do like some kind of sale twice a year when you'd open five (orhowevermanyyoufeelisappropriate) slots and the first lucky five people who get it can ask for a portrait of their choice.
Carolyn, I have wanted to ask you for ages where you got all the author photos on your wall? Tolstoy etc? Not the ones you carry in your shop(I have many of those).I have been searching but haven't come up with much...help, pretty please?
Hey
I appreciate you
you live in America and you feel that you don't belonging to a modern age😘😘
I would love to see the march sisters from little women as their animal counterparts
Or maybe Anne and Gilbert from Anne of green gables
Brian Selznick is distantly related to the late movie mogul and Hollywood legend David O. Selznick producer of such classic films as "Gone With The Wind" and "Rebecca". How's that for serendipity?!
😿 Giving away your writing style.
Love to see available on your Etsy shop, your character dancing animals:)
You are so adorable and so talented!! ! I love theses rambly videos. 🤗
❤✨
Will there be a restock of Sylvia and Tolkien?
Never thought we would see CarolynMarie with blood on her hands! To paraphrase Macbeth..."is this a pencil which I see before me?!"
I didn't know his new book came out this year. I reread Hugo every year ever since I was little when I found the book and adored every page. And soon after the movie came out. Then I read and adored Wonderstruck. Like you, I wouldn't be who I am at 19 without Brian Selznick. Now I'm inspired to get to The Marvels and Kaleidoscope. I loved this video so much. I can never find other people who enjoy his work.
Please do Andrei and Natasha when dancing at the Tsar's ball as their animal counterparts, I think it would go really nice hand in hand with Kitty and Levin
Just this morning I watched Brian Selznick's lecture you recommended in the previous video... And I loved it! I actually never heard of him before, so thank you for introduction!
Levin and Kitty:to this mind,more a horse and goose😁.Lovely as always!
You are pretty and Smart Carloyn