Alton Raible Explained

Alton Robert Raible (November 14, 1918 – December 19, 2016) was an American painter, printmaker, and book illustrator, who was most widely known for his illustrations for many of the children's novels written by Zilpha Keatley Snyder.

Biography

Born in Modesto, California, Raible earned an MFA in 1950 from California College of Arts and Crafts.[1] He taught art at two colleges, first at the California School of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, CA[2] and later at the College of Marin for over 20 years,[3] including serving as chair of the Art Department.[4]

He first worked with novelist Zilpha Keatley Snyder on her 1964 book Season of the Ponies, and continued to illustrate her work for many years. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Children's Literature noted that "Raible's dark-toned illustrations tend to have a pebbly, speckled, textured quality that is well suited for Snyder’s magic-laced novels" including three Newbery Honor books: The Egypt Game (1967), The Headless Cupid (1971), and The Witches of Worm (1972).[5] In 1972, Raible was also nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award for his illustration for The Headless Cupid.[6]

In his work with other authors, a Kirkus review of the Anne M. Green novel Good-by, Gray Lady noted, "The attractive black and white water color drawings by Alton Raible lend charm to the text.”.[7] For the historical tale Rolling the Cheese, Kirkus notes, "The illustrator's water colors are attractive and active. His faces and physical types can be seen at any present day Sunday afternoon bocci game."[8]

In addition to book illustrations, Raible exhibited paintings and prints through the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.[9] His paintings and prints were exhibited at venues including Gump's.,[10] the Garden Gallery at the Sherman Library and Gardens, and at the Smithsonian Institution.[4]

A long-time birdwatcher,[11] he painted series depicting owls[12] and other works featuring anthropomorphized birds.[13] [14] [15]

Collections

Raible's work is held in the permanent collections of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco,[16] and the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art.[17]

Books illustrated

By Snyder

By other authors

Notes and References

  1. California College of Arts and Crafts Newsletter, “Alumni Around the World”. Vol LXII No. 3, September 1968.
  2. Ripine, Allen, “Artists Display Unusual Ability in Gallery Show.” The Lumberjack, Friday, February 11, 1955. p. 3.
  3. Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco. Search the Collections: Alton Raible. https://art.famsf.org/alton-raible
  4. "Alton Raible Art Exhibit Now Open," The Los Angeles Times, Wednesday, June 5, 1968. Page. 17
  5. Zipes, Jack, The Oxford Encyclopedia of Children's Literature. 2006.
  6. Wisconsin Library Bulletin, 1973. Volumes 69-70 p. 190. Division for Library Services, Department of Public Instruction.
  7. Kirkus Reviews, Sept. 1, 1964. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/anne-m-green/good-by-gray-lady/
  8. Web site: Rolling the Cheese. March 1, 1966. Kirkus Reviews. 2 July 2022.
  9. Art of the Print. Alton Raible, Chorus Line. http://www.artoftheprint.com/artistpages/raible_alton_chorusline.htm
  10. News Reports, College Art Journal, (1954) 13:3, p. 227, DOI:10.1080/15436322.1954.11465875
  11. Gilbert, Aerial, “Hearing the Vulture's Wingbeat," in "Birding Blind," By: Bay Nature, 15315193, Oct-Dec2006, Vol. 6, Issue 4.
  12. Live Auctioneers, Oil painting of two owls by Alton Raible, https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/62117885_oil-painting-of-two-owls-by-alton-raible
  13. Cross, Miriam Dungan. Of Art and Artists. Oakland Tribune, July 6, 1952. p. 55.
  14. Shop Goodwill, Lawyers Painting By Alton Raible, https://shopgoodwill.com/item/131661819
  15. OddMidModTheShop, Vintage 50s Modernist Bird Serigraph Silkscreen Mid Century Retro Art Wall Hanging Signed Alton Raible Unplanned Egg Fifties, https://www.oddmidmod.com/listing/468720734/vintage-50s-modernist-bird-serigraph
  16. Web site: Well Informed Layman - Alton Raible . Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco . 2 July 2022.
  17. Web site: Alton Raible, American (1918–2016) - Owls 1958 . Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art . 2 July 2022.
  18. Web site: Season of Ponies . Kirkus Reviews . 2 July 2022.
  19. Web site: The Velvet Room . Kirkus Reviews . 2 July 2022.
  20. Book: Helbig . Alethea . Perkins . Agnes . 1986 . 'Dictionary of American Children's Fiction, 1960-1984: Recent Books of Recognized Merit', Volume 2 . New York . Greenwood Publishing Group . 0-313-25233-5.
  21. NPR, The Ultimate Backseat Bookshelf: 100 Must-Reads for Kids 9-14. https://www.npr.org/2013/08/05/207315023/the-ultimate-backseat-bookshelf-100-must-reads-for-kids-9-14
  22. National Library of Australia Catalog. The Egypt Game. catalogue https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/586732
  23. Web site: Eyes in the Fishbowl . Kirkus . 2 July 2022.
  24. The National Book Foundation. The Witches of Worm. https://www.nationalbook.org/books/the-witches-of-worm/
  25. Hintz, Carrie. (2003). “Joy but not Peace: Zilpha Keatley Snyder’s Green-sky Trilogy.” In Utopian and Dystopian Writing for Children and Young Adults. eds Hintz, Carrie and Elaine Ostry. New York: Routledge. p. 116.
  26. Nilsen, Alleen P “New Kinds of Books for New Kinds of Girls.” Elementary English Vol. 50, No. 7 (October 1973), pp. 1035-1038.

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