In 2011, the world shifted with the arrival of my nieces and nephews, Bianca and Brando. Then, in 2013, my focus changed again when my father fell ill. I made the definitive decision to close down my business—partly because my passion had waned, and partly to be closer to my ailing father as his condition worsened daily. In my toughest moments, creativity has always been my refuge. It became my sole outlet. I started crafting a science fiction tale, a kind of logbook for an unlikely astronaut.
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| Illustration from "The Diary of Yakov," a tale of peasant science fiction. |
My father passed away on a warm Sunday in July of that same year. The pain was gut-wrenching, a memory etched into my soul. Yet, what I remember most vividly about that afternoon was a strange sense of tranquility—like being alone in a forest, listening to the gentle harmony of nature. Charlie, the dog who shared a deep bond with my father, felt the profound, bewildering detachment, too. But life moves forward, guided by the infectious energy of Bianca and Brando, gleefully scampering about, their eyes wide with wonder.
As their birthday approached, the question arose: what gift could truly match their joy? I've always disliked shopping, not for the spending, but for the speed of acquisition. Buying something is too swift; it lacks the depth and sentimentality that only a uniquely crafted gift possesses. Given their fondness for nursery rhymes, I picked up my guitar and started composing songs just for them. This is how "The Crazy Clock," "Franchino Taranta," and "The Cottage in the Woods" were born.
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| The pastry-making hen |
What truly surprised me was the writing process itself—a method I’d never explored: writing unencumbered by preconceptions or structures, as pure as spring water. It was a fantastic revelation. Bianca and Brando grew up with these melodies, which allowed me to convey messages difficult to express otherwise. The song "The Cottage in the Woods," for example, is an anthem to healthy disobedience, though you won't get it if you're the distracted type. It's a harmless message for parents to overhear: How could they forbid their child from imagining a hen deciding to become a pastry chef, or two moles applying makeup? I decided to create illustrations for that song, which is full of little animals. I started with the hen and some ants, but the hen seemed to resonate. I kept drawing animals with beaks, and that’s how the first little birds came about—a journey from personal loss to the whimsical life of an illustrator.
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| One of the first little birds |
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| One of the early evolutions, from straight lines to curves. |
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| The initial movements |
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| The first group illustrations |
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| Yesterday and today |
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| One of the latest Birdie's Life illustrations (February 2024) |
Illustrator,Writer, Roald Dahl style, Children's book author, Whimsical illustrations, Fantasy storytelling, Character design, Magical realism, Quirky narratives, Storybook art. Children's literature, Imagination, Creative storytelling, Illustration techniques, Whimsy and wonder, Author and artist, Picture book creator, Narrative fantasy, Visual storytelling, Children's fiction, mark thedi, birdies life
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