13.12.12

All About Dr Seuss Artwork

By Celia Hall


Dr Seuss books are often a part of everyone's childhood. He is famous for his easy to read stories and creative illustrations. Theodor Seuss Geisel was the real writer and artist behind these masterpieces. His artwork is so unique and whimsical, that it has a one of a kind quality. After Geisel's death, his wife released a secret collection of Dr Seuss artwork that had never been seen before.

His most recognized artwork is his illustration art that he often used to illustrate his stories. These images were also reproduced using hand-pulled lithography in order to produce authorized original works. It typically takes about three months to reproduce one of Geisel's original pieces. These prints are now available for purchase through authorized art dealers.

Geisel also created secret works of art in the form of paintings and drawings. These images were not as child like as his most famous illustrations, although they did feature creatures that resemble the iconic ones in the books. These works were done in a more mature manner, using more muted colors and dark depictions. Geisel worked on these images strictly out of pleasure and told his wife to not release them until his death.

The two dimensional art pieces are reproduced using serigraphy. This method is a done by breaking down the original artwork by colors and can only be done by master printmakers. At the end of the process, a reproduction is created resembling quality and appearance as close to the original as possible. Random House of New York created a book displaying this collection called The Secret Art of Dr. Seuss.

Geisel did not only produce two dimensional art, but also created many pieces of three dimensional pieces. He created what was called unorthodox taxidermy by sculpting his famous animal creations out of bronze and then mounting them on wood. They resembled traditional taxidermy, but in true Geisel fashion, it had a whimsical look to it. He was very detailed in their creation, even using real animal parts, such as beaks and horns, in the sculptures.

His work was paid tribute by his step-daughter, Lark Grey Dimond-Cates, through the form of three dimensional sculptures. She created and sculpted many sculptures in the form of some of Geisel's favorite characters. All of these can be seen at the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden in Springfield, Massachusetts. Although Geisel did not create the sculptures himself, the depiction of his artwork is a great sight for any Seuss fans.

Geisel's art work is so intricately done that it has lead to his reception of many awards, including honorary doctorates of art. He was able to give fans a wonderful gift by agreeing to turn some his stories and art into cartoon and film. Geisel won an Oscar and two Emmy awards for these motion media projects. His most respectful honor was the Laura Ingalls Wilder award for his lasting impact on children's literature.

Dr Seuss artwork can be seen in a variety of ways and places. It defines so many people's childhood and introduction to reading. He helped create an easy and fun way for children to learn to read. Geisel has made a lasting impression in the lives of many children and adults through his work.




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