r/books • u/cathygoldsmith • Aug 03 '15
ama I am Cathy Goldsmith, longtime art director for Dr. Seuss. AMA!
Hi, this is Cathy Goldsmith, and I’m Associate Publishing Director for Random House/Golden Books Young Readers. I’ve been an art director at Random House for 38 years and worked with Dr. Seuss on the last six books published during his lifetime. Most recently, I’ve been involved in the publication of the newly-found Dr. Seuss book, What Pet Should I Get? But I’ve also worked on many other projects, including the Berenstain Bears, Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne, Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park, and Babymouse by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm. AMA.
Proof: https://twitter.com/randomhousekids/status/628205580407205888
Edit: Thanks for all your questions! I have to head off to a meeting.
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u/indigoswordfish Aug 03 '15
Would you mind explaining very briefly what you do in your role? I don't really have any idea what being an 'art director' entails!
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
As far as art directors for childrens books are concerned, we are responsible for selecting illustrators and/or photographers for a given project. In addition, an art director will either design or oversee the design of a project. This includes such things as page layout, fonts, color scheme, and, where appropriate, branding.
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u/Qu1nlan Aug 03 '15
Are there any fun stories that you have from your time working with Dr. Seuss, or anything that you'd like to share about your work with him?
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
When I was staying with him at his home in California working on "Oh, The Places You'll Go," I admired these miniature lime trees that were growing near his pool. When I got back to New York, I received a package which contained one perfect lime in a tiny box with a note that said, "Here is your third of this year's harvest." Dr. Seuss and the Cat In the Hat held the other two thirds. I considered having the lime bronzed, but decided that Dr. Seuss would say I should just enjoy it with my cocktail of choice.
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u/ofalco Aug 03 '15
What is your view on dr Seuss movies and TV shows? Do you have a role in them? What would be your favorite? Thanks for the AMA
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u/Star64 Aug 03 '15
Hello, Cathy! I'm currently trying to get my foot in the door in graphic design and art with not as much success. What would you recommend to someone just starting out in the field? What are the kinds of things that you look for in an artist or graphic designer? Thank you for your time!
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
What we look for is a background in art and design at school and any previously published work. If you are really just starting out, I recommend looking for an internship if possible. Also, take any job that's offered to you so long as you get a credit for the work that you have done when you finish it. Good luck!
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u/GreatWhiteNoise Aug 03 '15
Hi Cathy! Thanks for being here! I actually did a write-up on the new book and was shocked to read about the meticulous nature with which you constructed it. I was wondering, as someone who worked closely with him, did you find it emotionally trying to be that involved with his work? Were there any moments where you had to stop and collect yourself in this process?
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u/Drunken_Economist Aug 03 '15
The art style (bulbous, fantastical objects) found in the books is now inextricably tied with the Seuss. Was the style used anywhere before Seuss?
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u/spgreenwood Aug 03 '15
Do you find inspiration in real-world environments? What places / locations have inspired some of the landscapes/environments in your work?
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
Dr. Seuss drew the illustrations in all the books published as "by Dr. Seuss". When Dr. Seuss wrote a book but did not illustrate it, that book was originally published under the byline Theo. LeSieg. LeSieg is Geisel spelled backwards. Geisel is Dr. Seuss's real last name. I think he got some inspiration from Middle Eastern architecture as well as the work of Spanish architect Antoni Gaudi.
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u/spgreenwood Aug 03 '15
Fascinating! I can definitely see the Gaudi influence in his work. Can you explain more about his process? Did he like to write everything first and then draw the illustrations - or do both simultaneously?
Did Dr. Seuss have a 'secret' to working or to the way he approached life? What do you think set him apart?
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Aug 03 '15
Hi Cathy,
Do you judge a book by its cover?
And I'm not even being metaphorical here. I am often drawn to books because of their covers. Of course my opinion of the book itself is not dependent on the cover being nice -- but it's often a very essential part of my picking it up in the first place.
In fact, sometimes I even buy a new copy of a book I already own because it's been re-packaged in a more aesthetically pleasing way!
I guess my question is how much do you and your publisher value cover art? In the publishing process, how much attention is given to cover art? Do you have a favourite cover you've either published or worked on personally?
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u/challenge4 Aug 03 '15
Thank you Cathy for making the time to be here with us today.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your job?
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u/KenderLocks Aug 03 '15
Do you try the art out with a group of kids to see what they like before it ends up in a book?
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u/Qu1nlan Aug 03 '15
How exactly did you and Dr. Seuss work together to produce his art? Did you give him direction on what you thought he should draw? Did he give you drafts that you recommended changes to? How responsible are you personally for the illustrations we see in his late work?
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u/books52 Aug 03 '15
Random Indian here - haven't heard of you or your work ever, sorry, but I assume you are an experienced artist.
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What issues did you face translating your art while translating Dr. Seuss into different cultures, or did the art say the same, or were no artistic translations done?
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Which culture has the strongest interest in children's books?
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You must have toured other parts of the world and met children from different backgrounds. What made you feel incompetent in not getting through to them with your books or otherwise?
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What have you excelled at mentoring?
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u/cathygoldsmith Aug 03 '15
For the first part of your question, just so you know, the art in his books was also drawn by Dr. Seuss. When the book is translated, only the language is changed, not the art. I don't know the answer to the second part of your question, but I think that books are important for all children. I feel like I mentor many of the people on my staff as well as some others in the children's books division on many topics. I'm always happy to see them grow.
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u/littlegreyflowerhelp Aug 03 '15
As an acquaintance of Dr. Seuss, could you speculate on whether he would have liked hip hop music? With a nice beat his books can be rapped pretty nicely, he had a great rhythm and flow. I've always liked to think that Dr. Seuss could have been a rapper had he been born in a different era.