
self-portrait © Armin Greder
ACHUKA’s 8th guest in our weekly (every Saturday) Meet An Illustrator slot is Armin Greder.
All previous features in this series are being archived week by week on this page:
https://www.achuka.co.uk/blog/meet-an-illustrator/
Born in Switzerland, but living and working in Australia since 1970, Greder is an uncompromising picture book artist and illustrator. He won the Bologna Ragazzi Award for his illustrations in The Great Bear, written by Libby Gleeson, with whom he has worked several times. The book was described by KIRKUS as “spectacular and deeply moving”.
In Australia he has won many book awards and been named as nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Prize.
His most recent book in the UK was Diamonds, a parable showing how the thirst for riches produces inequality and corruption.
His best-known book is probably The Island (2007), a book that has gained in resonance because of the way it focuses on how refugees are treated.
He tells ACHUKA that his next book with Allen & Unwin will be entitled The Inheritance.
After reading these responses to our informal feature prompts, let me point you to this in-depth 2016 interview with him on Playing By The Book.
As a child, what were the first illustrations you remember being pleased with?
The last one. Until I had done the next one.
Who/what inspired you when you were young?
The books on expeditions from the local library with which my mother kept me supplied
Who inspires you today?
Käthe Kollwitz, Daumier, Goya.
Did you study art or illustration?
No.
What is your favourite artist tool/product?
Compressed charcoal & pastel / brush & ink (both on paper).
Where do you buy your art supplies?
Wherever I find them.
What software/apps do you use?
Photoshop, to scan and scale my drawings.
What was your first commission?
A poster for a fashion shop.
What are you working on at the moment?
Nothing.
Twitter or Instagram? Neither
Coffee or tea? Tea (green)
Cat or dog? Neither
Grape or grain? Grape (white, dry)
Sunrise or sunset? Sunrise
What do you listen to when you are working? Nothing.
Where can we follow you on social media? Nowhere.
Now go to this in-depth 2016 interview with him on Playing By The Book.