Happy 80th Birthday Eric Carle!

Eric Carle's illustrations have been an incredibly defining influence on my art and aesthetic development. The colors, textures, luminosity, and graphic simplicity of his collages are genius. I was lucky enough to meet Mr. Carle when he came to my Grandparent's bookstore for an author visit, one of those defining moments in my life. I was five. I remember standing next to him in a little blue calico dress with ruffled sleeves watching him sign books for our family. If I hadn't grown up with his books I'm not sure whether I'd be an art student today. Eric Carle has achieved the ultimate goal of any artist: making the world a more beautiful place.

"We have eyes, and we're looking at stuff all the time, all day long. And I just think that whatever our eyes touch should be beautiful, tasteful, appealing, and important." - Eric Carle