Guy Gilchrist has been an artist and writer of world renown for over
two decades. As the writer and illustrator of children’s books,
his work has won international acclaim and multiple awards. The National
Cartoonists Society has nominated Guy for the prestigious Reuben Award
in the Best Book Illustrator category three years in a row. Guy won
the award in both 1998 and 1999. As the syndicated cartoonist of Nancy,
Your Angels Speak, Night Lights & Pillow Fights, Mudpie, Screams,
The Poetry Guy, The Muppets and The Rock Channel, his work has been
shown in both newspapers and museums worldwide, and is permanently enshrined
in the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. Guy is a member of
the National Cartoonists Society, Artists & Writers, and on the
Board of Directors of the Newspaper Features Council.
Today, with millions
reading his syndicated cartoon classic Nancy, Your Angels Speak, as
well as Night Lights & Pillow Fights, and so many more enjoying
his 40 plus books, Guy is enjoying the popularity that comes from so
many years of doing the work he truly loves. His drawings and stories
are filled with wit, charm, and honest down-to-earth appeal, with roots
in the country roads & rivers of rural Connecticut, where he was
born and raised.
Guy
Gilchrist was born on January 30th, 1957 in Winsted, Connecticut. Raised
in the Farmington Valley, he learned to draw cartoons from his mother,
Louise, and by copying the pictures from Walt Disney Golden Books &
Dr. Seuss stories. An enterprising as well as talented boy, Guy sold
his first cartoons on shirt cardboard clothes-pinned to a rope outside
of his stepfather’s shop.
During his high
school years, he studied the diverse styles and works of Bridgeman,
Rackham, Botticelli, Rockwell and Parrish in addition to his cartoon
heroes in order to forge a style that while fanciful, had deep roots
in reality.
“I got a rejection
letter from Mad Magazine when I was sixteen. It told me that “cartoons
were one step away from reality”... and I was “too many
steps away”. It told me to do life drawing, continuous line drawing,
gesture drawing ... all real subjects. I was heartbroken over the rejection,
but it was such a blessing to me. I started drawing REAL! And I’ve
never stopped. Never stopped learning. Never stopped seeing ... and
getting my hand to draw what the eye sees ... or ... what my imagination
sees.”
After high school,
Guy Gilchrist started his children’s book and cartoon career with
Weekly Reader Books. Then, in 1980, he would audition for a job that
would change his life: Jim Henson’s Muppets! In 1981, Guy, with
his brother Brad as co-writer, created The Muppets comic strip for the
late, great Jim Henson. The Muppets comic strip was printed worldwide
in over 660 newspapers daily from 1981 - 1986. In 1984, President Ronald
Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan invited Guy to be guest of honor
at the Easter At The White House celebration. It was later that week
that Guy’s Muppets art work was permanently enshrined in the Smithsonian
Institute. Guy’s Muppet artwork was chosen to be part of the touring
“Art Of The Muppets” exhibit and has appeared in museums
worldwide. Also in 1984, Guy Gilchrist, his brother Brad, and syndicated
cartoonist Greg Walker (Beetle Bailey) created The Rock Channel comic
for Cowles Syndicate.
Since 1986, Guy
Gilchrist has written 42 children’s books and opened the Tokyo
branch of Guy Gilchrist Studios based on the success of his award-winning,
best-selling Tiny Dinos and Mudpie book series. In 1989, Guy’s
books won 3 Children’s Choice Awards as best books of the year
voted by the International Reading Council and the National Reading
Council.
In 1992, Guy created
the first of four sports logos for minor league teams. The Portland
Sea Dogs (AA Florida Marlins affiliate), became the best selling logo
in the history of minor league baseball. Since 1992, he has created
the logos for the Norwich Navigators (AA Yankees), New Britain Rock
Cats (AA Twins), and Binghamton Mets (AA New York Mets). He also created
the S-Pulse logo for Sony Creative Japanese Soccer Team.
In 1997, Guy and
his wife Angie began their own international publishing company. Gilchrist
Publishing began with two books of poems and pictures written for children
of all ages. Night Lights & Pillow Fights II: The Box Set is a sequel
to the critically acclaimed Night Lights & Pillow Fights: A Trip
To Storyland. In 1999, The Bank Street College Of Education voted Night
Lights & Pillow Fights one of the Best Children’s Book of
the Year. Most recently published are four paperback books. Night Lights
& Pillow Fights Comics featuring Mudpie is a collection of the earliest
daily Mudpie comics and Night Lights & Pillow Fights Genius Club:
Let’s Draw Cartoons! features drawing lessons from the syndicated
Night Lights & Pillow Fights newspaper feature. Plan Nine Publishing
recently published two more Mudpie collections, “I’m Having
A Bad Fur Day”, and “When Cats Fly”.
The Night Lights
& Pillow Fights newspaper feature, a wonderful family feature based
on his award winning children’s books of the same name, is Guy’s
self-syndicated venture. This popular feature is available as a black
and white or color Sunday. It is enjoyed by millions of readers around
the world.
Guy enjoys writing
and drawing the classic Nancy comic strip as well, which appears in
400 newspapers worldwide, distributed by United Feature Syndicate. “As
a kid, I opened The Hartford Times every day and Nancy is the first
strip I remember,” recalls Guy, who with his brother Brad returned
Nancy to its legendary style beginning September 3rd, 1995. “The
clean style of art was like nothing else and I thought that whoever
drew this must be the best artist in the world. I grew up with Nancy
like everybody else did and it feels incredible to be bringing her back
in the classic tradition.”
Your Angels Speak is Guy's most recently syndicated feature, launched
by United Feature Syndicate on March 18, 2002. A weekly inspiration
drawing created by Guy in hopes of bringing strength and joy to people,
much like the angels that inspire them. "I believe my job is to
be a positive influence, if I can, and to write and draw from the heart.
Your Angels Speak is the best opportunity I have to inspire people with
thoughts about the nature of contentment, peace, faith, love, success
and their own inner beauty," says Guy.
Guy lists as his
greatest accomplishments: his daughter Lauren (23), his son Garrett
(21), and his stepdaughter Julia (13), and convincing Angie Brown to
marry him. He enjoys a good day of bad golf, cheering on The Boston
Red Sox and the Washington Redskins, writing hillbilly songs, singing
ol’ Hank & Elvis tunes, and most of all, looking forward to
the mystery & magic of tomorrow.