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Author/Illustrator Daniel Kirk
To Share His Creative Journey –
From Initial Idea to Published Book
at April NJ Creatives Meeting

Some of his books include “Dogs Rule,” “Jack and Jill,” “Trash Trucks!,” “Hush Little Alien” and “Go!”

         Paramus, NJ –March 15, 2004-- Daniel Kirk, author and illustrator of 20 picture books, will grace the NJ Creatives/S.W.A.N. (Self-employed Writers and Artists Network) meeting on April 14th with his imagination, wit and insights into his own creative process. Taking the audience on an artistic tour or “tour de force,” from initial book idea to its grand finale as a published book, Daniel will explain the “flowering route of an idea on the way to its expression.” His two latest works include “Dogs Rule,” a collection of poems and songs about man’s best friend, and “Jack and Jill,” a humorous retelling of the classic nursery rhyme. The meeting will be held at the Bergen Museum of Art and Science, located on the lower level of the Bergen Mall, Paramus, NJ. Networking begins at 7:15 p.m., the program at 7:45 p.m. The meeting is free for NJ Creatives members and $10 at the door for guests.

         Using a slide show format, Daniel will trace the circuitous course of his creativity, from the initial idea phase on to all the editorial changes in text and art to the project’s culmination as a published book. He will also discuss some of the peripheral projects that grew from that first idea. Selecting one of his many popular books, read and collected by both children and adults, Daniel will use it to talk not only about his personal creative path, but also to discuss more universal points about the business of art, writing and freelancing and “how to find a way of making a living being creative.”

         Writer, author, illustrator, fine artist, musician and songwriter, Daniel is a multi-talented man who thinks of himself as both an author and an illustrator. “I am constantly writing and brainstorming new projects. Most of my books are written and illustrated by me. I do illustrate stories written by others about a quarter of the time, but I always prefer to do the whole job myself,” he affirms.

         Hailing from a family of talented fellow artists, Daniel grew up in Ohio with his parents, puppeteers who crafted their own puppets and performed in Ohio, and his brother David, also an accomplished author/illustrator best known for his “Little Miss Spider” books. A Glen Ridge, NJ resident, Daniel lives with his wife, Julia Gorton, an artist, designer and picture book illustrator, and his three children, Raleigh, Russell, and Ivy, who all love to draw and paint.

         Located in a converted barn behind his house, Daniel’s studio is a great source of inspiration, a place where he enjoys working at night, listening to music while he paints. Decorated with posters, masks, marionettes, old toys and games from his childhood, monster models and various other unusual collectibles, his workshop is where he also likes to write songs and play guitar. His music is featured on the CDs that come with his books, “Dogs Rule” and “GO!”. The wall of bookshelves in his studio is lined with thousands of his favorite children’s books.

         Represented by Storyopolis Gallery in Los Angeles, CA, Daniel spends about four months painting all the pictures for each book. According to his wife Julia, his favorite part of the process is “the writing and sketching that take place when a new project is just beginning.” Daniel recently served on a jury for the children’s book exhibit at the New York Society of Illustrators. He has also created posters for the Children’s Book Council and the Arts in Transit program of the Manhattan Transit Authority (MTA). His work was featured in an exhibit in Rome, Italy, sponsored by Studio di Oz, and his “Hush, Little Alien” won the 2000 Golden Duck Award for excellence in children’s science fiction literature.

         Author/illustrator of “Trash Trucks!,” “Bigger, Bus Stop Bus Go,” Hush Little Alien” and “GO!”, he has also illustrated many books, including “Chugga, Chugga, Choo Choo” by Kevin Lewis, and the best-selling re-issue of Marcia Brown’s classic, “The Diggers.” According to Storyopolis Gallery, “Daniel has his finger on the pulse of baby-boomer nostalgia, creating in his illustrations a clean and friendly, well-designed, warmly retro world. His artwork ranges from old-school oils on textured papers and canvas, to kitschy paper collages and colored pencil drawings.” Daniel’s illustrations have appeared worldwide on magazine covers, CDs, and book jackets.

         Begun in 1984 by three freelance professionals who wanted to exchange ideas and referrals, NJ Creatives has grown into a successful non-profit, dues-paying organization that boasts a diverse and ever-increasing membership of talented professionals. Members include writers, designers of print and web media, illustrators, photographers, video producers and public relations specialists. To insure a high level of quality for clients, every applicant’s portfolio of work must first be evaluated by two NJ Creatives reviewers before membership is approved.

         For more information on the April meeting, please contact NJ Creatives President Stan Cohen at 201-384-9784 or visit the Membership Section of the website at www.njcreatives.org. To find out more about joining NJ Creatives, please contact Membership Director George Kamper at 973-394-9974.

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