Photograph by Kathy De La Torre

Justin Malott, 6, examines Bob Barner's illustrations at the Gallery at Villa Montalvo.

Kids' book illustrators show at Montalvo

Exhibit shows how artwork translates to published book

By Shari Kaplan

The exhibit at the Gallery at Villa Montalvo, which features original artwork by three Bay Area children's book illustrators, comes at a propitious time. For starters, it may inspire parents seeking educational gift ideas, such as books, instead of the usual high-tech toys and games. It's also a reminder that when inclement weather or power outages force the family to stay indoors this winter, reading together can be a great parent-child activity.

The artists are Laura Regan of Woodside and Ashley Wolff and Bob Barner of San Francisco. The latter two are authors as well as illustrators; all three are represented by major publishing houses and have earned critical acclaim for their works.

"The intent of this exhibition is to present the viewer with original illustrations along with the published books," explains curator Theres Rohan. "By doing so, the opportunity arises to reveal some of the processes and subtle changes that take place as the illustrations become engaging pages in a book."

All the illustrations from Wolff's latest book, Stella and Roy Go Camping, are on display at Montalvo and show her painstaking linocut technique, which involves carving linoleum blocks, inking the blocks, producing prints from them and painting the prints with colors so sharp and vibrant it's hard to believe they are watercolors. Set in Yosemite National Park--where Wolff and her family enjoy hiking--the book continues the adventures of the duo Wolff created in an earlier novel, Stella and Roy. Her illustrations from two other novels are included in the exhibit.

Barner favors a medium many youngsters recognize--cut and torn paper in various shapes and colors, carefully arranged and joined by pencil and pastel to create big, whimsical illustrations. In To Everything, Barner selects what he feels are the most universal verses of Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 and portrays them in an insightful way that kids can understand. His other books at Montalvo are Dem Bones, which uses the old African American spiritual as a springboard to explain how people's skeletons work; and Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!, a romp through the garden for very young readers.

Laura Regan is a wildlife painter whose works have been sold in benefits for environmental causes including the World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace and the Kenya Wildlife Foundation. At Montalvo, she exhibits beautifully detailed oil-and-gouache-on-paper illustrations from three books: Spots: Counting Creatures from Sky to Sea; Dig Hole, Soft Mole and Welcome to the Greenhouse. Each uses images of nature to explain and exemplify various ideas and concepts.

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Three Illustrators: Work by Published Bay Area Artists is on exhibit through Dec. 5. Tables and chairs are set up with copies of all books; visitors are welcome to browse. The Gallery, located at 15400 Montalvo Road, is open Wednesday through Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. For more information, call 408.961.5820.

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