Gus Gordon
Encyclopedia
Gus Gordon is a children's book illustrator and writer based in Sydney, Australia.
Gordon has written and illustrated over 60 books for children.
He grew up on a farm in northern NSW and, after leaving school, worked on cattle stations all over Australia before deciding to pursue a drawing career. Gordon moved to Sydney and studied at the Julian Ashton School of Art.
Gordon is known for his loose, energetic illustration linework, mixed media (most notably collage) and nonsensical humour. His most recent works include the picture books A Day With Noodles and Wendy both written by Gordon and published by Penguin Books
Australia.
He is also a regular visitor to schools and festivals throughout Australia where he conducts illustration workshops and speaks to a wide range of audiences about children's books. He is represented by the speaker's agency, Lateral Learning.
Gordon's influences are varied and diverse. They include the illustrators Jean-Jacques Sempe
, William Steig
, Serge Bloch, Sara Fanelli
, Oliver Jeffers
, Eric Carle
, Delphine Durand and Quentin Blake
. Cartoonists George Booth, and Charles Addams
. Jim Henson
has also been a big influence especially with regards to his character design and passion for his craft.
He lives on Sydney's Northern beaches with his wife and three children.
Gordon has written and illustrated over 60 books for children.
He grew up on a farm in northern NSW and, after leaving school, worked on cattle stations all over Australia before deciding to pursue a drawing career. Gordon moved to Sydney and studied at the Julian Ashton School of Art.
Gordon is known for his loose, energetic illustration linework, mixed media (most notably collage) and nonsensical humour. His most recent works include the picture books A Day With Noodles and Wendy both written by Gordon and published by Penguin Books
Penguin Books
Penguin Books is a publisher founded in 1935 by Sir Allen Lane and V.K. Krishna Menon. Penguin revolutionised publishing in the 1930s through its high quality, inexpensive paperbacks, sold through Woolworths and other high street stores for sixpence. Penguin's success demonstrated that large...
Australia.
He is also a regular visitor to schools and festivals throughout Australia where he conducts illustration workshops and speaks to a wide range of audiences about children's books. He is represented by the speaker's agency, Lateral Learning.
Gordon's influences are varied and diverse. They include the illustrators Jean-Jacques Sempe
Jean-Jacques Sempé
Jean-Jacques Sempé, usually known as Sempé , is a French cartoonist. Some of his cartoons are quite striking, but retain a sentimental and often a somewhat gentle edge to them, even if the topic is a difficult one to approach...
, William Steig
William Steig
William Steig was a prolific American cartoonist, sculptor and, later in life, an author of popular children's literature...
, Serge Bloch, Sara Fanelli
Sara Fanelli
Sara Fanelli is an artist and illustrator, born in Florence in 1969. She came to London to study art at at Camberwell College of Art and then the Royal College of Art where she graduated in 1995. She divides her time between illustration work, books and self-generated projects...
, Oliver Jeffers
Oliver Jeffers
Oliver Jeffers is an artist, illustrator and writer from Belfast Northern Ireland and now lives and works in Brooklyn. He graduated from the University of Ulster in 2001.-Life and work:...
, Eric Carle
Eric Carle
Eric Carle is a children's book author and illustrator who is most famous for his book The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which has been translated into over 50 languages...
, Delphine Durand and Quentin Blake
Quentin Blake
Quentin Saxby Blake, CBE, FCSD, RDI, is an English cartoonist, illustrator and children's author, well-known for his collaborations with writer Roald Dahl.-Education:...
. Cartoonists George Booth, and Charles Addams
Charles Addams
Charles "Chas" Samuel Addams was an American cartoonist known for his particularly black humor and macabre characters...
. Jim Henson
Jim Henson
James Maury "Jim" Henson was an American puppeteer best known as the creator of The Muppets. As a puppeteer, Henson performed in various television programs, such as Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, films such as The Muppet Movie and The Great Muppet Caper, and created advanced puppets for...
has also been a big influence especially with regards to his character design and passion for his craft.
He lives on Sydney's Northern beaches with his wife and three children.
Recent works
- Mr Eight by Sharyn Eastaugh (2010)
- My Aussie Dad by Yvonne Morrison (2010)
- Haggis McGregor and the Night of the Skull Moon, by Jen StorerJen Storer-Biography:The youngest of four children Storer was born in Horsham, Victoria.Storer graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2000. After graduating Storer worked as an editor and in creative development for a publishing house in Melbourne. Storer then went on to write...
(2010) - Wendy (September 2009)
- The Baked Bean Bandit, by Simon Mitchell (2009)
- The Undys - One Wacky Week, by Michael Wagner (2009)
- A Home For Gnomes by Margaret ClarkMargaret ClarkMargaret Clark is the former mayor of Rosemead, California. Having previously served five terms, she now serves on the Rosemead city council.When she was re-elected mayor in 2009, she stated: "I'll look at each project that comes before us individually," she said. "The council sets policy... We...
(2009) - A Day With Noodles (2008)
Awards & Nominations
- In 2011 his illustrated book Haggis McGregor and the Night of the Skull Moon, written by Jen StorerJen Storer-Biography:The youngest of four children Storer was born in Horsham, Victoria.Storer graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2000. After graduating Storer worked as an editor and in creative development for a publishing house in Melbourne. Storer then went on to write...
was shortlisted as a finalist for the 2010 Aurealis AwardAurealis AwardAurealis Award for Excellence in Speculative Fiction is an annual literary award for Australian science fiction, fantasy and horror fiction. Only Australians are eligible for the award.-History:...
, an Australian award for excellence in speculative fiction - Children's Fiction category.
- In 2010 his book Wendy, was selected as a Children's Book Council of AustraliaChildren's Book Council of AustraliaThe Children's Book Council of Australia is a not for profit organisation which aims to engage the community with literature for young Australians. The CBCA presents annual awards for books of literary merit, for outstanding contribution to Australian children's literature.-Awards:The first...
(CBCA) Notable Book in the 2010 Book of the Year Awards - Picture Book category.
- In 2009 his book A Day With Noodles, was shortlisted for the Speech Pathology AustraliaSpeech Pathology AustraliaSpeech Pathology Australia is the national peak body for the speech pathology profession in Australia.- History of the Association :Established in 1949, SPA began as the Australian College of Speech Therapists, set up to regulate and maintain the qualifications and standards of the profession...
Book of the Year Awards - Young Children.
- In 2008 his illustrated book The Undys: Let's Get Physical, written by Michael Wagner, was shortlisted for the W.A. Young Readers Book Award (WAYRA) - Young Reader.
- In 2007 his illustrated book Born to Bake, written by Phillip Gwynne, was shortlisted for the Children's Peace Literature Award (PEACE).
- In 2005 his illustrated book To the Moon and Back, written by Jackie FrenchJackie FrenchJacqueline Anne "Jackie" French is an award-winning Australian author. She writes mainly children's fiction and books on gardening....
and Bryan Sullivan, was awarded the CBCACbcaCBCA can refer to:*Commercial Bank Centrafrique*Children's Book Council of Australia...
Eve Pownall Award for Information Books.