ILLUSTRATOR DRAWS ON HIS EXPERIENCE.

Byline: -- Semhar Debessai

It was a string of fortunate events that turned Jerry Pinkney's knack for art into an award-winning career in children's book illustration.

When Pinkney was a child, his mother and father, neither of whom had any background in the arts, encouraged him to draw. ``Whether or not it was to keep me busy ... I don't know,'' joked Pinkney.

Starting at the tender age of 4, he honed the ability to transfer images in his mind to the leftover pieces of paper brought home by his father.

But growing up one of six kids in working-class Philadelphia, Pinkney never visited any galleries or museums.

``I always gravitated toward representational work,'' he said. ``My references came from news (and) magazines.''

It wasn't until after high school, while enrolled in art school, that Pinkney visited his first gallery. Even then, ``it was never about becoming an artist,'' he said.

After leaving school early to provide for a growing family -- his wife was pregnant with their first child -- Pinkney worked for a year before moving to Boston to pursue a job at a small illustration studio.

``(In the 1960s) Boston had a heavy publishing community,'' explained Pinkney.

Many African-American authors were publishing their works, and Pinkney found himself well-positioned to meet a demand for visual artists who could effectively enhance a writer's narrative. He began to work as a freelance illustrator. ``It was a case of being in the right place at the right time,'' he said.

In 1964, still in Boston, Pinkney started working on his first project in children's book illustration, ``The Adventures of Spider,'' a collection of West African folktales.

``My children couldn't see themselves echoed and mirrored in books they read,'' he said. ``I needed to express myself as an artist (and) fill a void.''

More than 30 years later, Pinkney has expanded his body of illustrated works to include calendars, postage stamps and special projects, including his most recent one for the National Park Service -- a commemorative booklet for the historic slave resettlement site known as Freedman's Village in Arlington, Va.

Though some of his work appears whimsical and of the fantasy genre, Pinkney (who has collaborated with his author wife on many projects) said he's still drawn to realistic images, like those from American history.

``My world was very, very small growing up,'' said Pinkney. ``I can't get enough of (history and culture).''

Pinkney's childlike curiosity and commitment to cultural themes has won him many accolades over the years, including several Coretta Scott King Awards for his inspirational and educational contributions in the field of publishing.

Starting next week, local kids and adults can experience Pinkney's artistic vision at a month-long exhibition at Storyopolis in Studio City. Pinkney will make a special trip from his home in New York to share in an evening reception at the bookstore Feb. 15.

Matthew Abramowitz, owner of Storyopolis since 2003, said he's been trying to get Pinkney to the Valley for a long time.

``I would call him once a month, and he would say, `Maybe some day,' and that someday came!'' Abramowitz said. ``I consider him one of the Mount Rushmores of children's illustrators ... and genuinely a nice guy.''

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(1 -- 2) Jerry Pinkney started drawing at 4. ``I always gravitated toward representational work.''