Michael Martchenko
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Michael Martchenko (born August 1, 1942) is a Canadian
illustrator An illustrator is an artist who specializes in enhancing writing or elucidating concepts by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text or idea. The illustration may be intended to clarify complicate ...
best known for illustrating many books by
Robert Munsch Robert Norman Munsch (born June 11, 1945) is an American-born, Canadian children's author. Personal life and career Robert Munsch was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 11, 1945. He grew up in a family of nine children. Munsch gradua ...
.


Early life

Born in
Carcassonne Carcassonne is a French defensive wall, fortified city in the Departments of France, department of Aude, Regions of France, region of Occitania (administrative region), Occitania. It is the prefectures in France, prefecture of the department. ...
,
France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
, Martchenko moved to Canada when he was seven, where he graduated from the
Ontario College of Art Ontario College of Art & Design University, commonly known as OCAD University or OCAD U, is a public art university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its main campus is located within Toronto's Grange Park and Entertainment District neighbourhoods ...
. Martchenko's early interest in drawing became apparent when he began creating his own depictions of his favourite comic books. Martchenko's fame in high school,
Glenview Park Secondary School Glenview Park Secondary School is a high school in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, for students in South Galt. The school was established in 1957 and is also one of the two International Baccalaureate (IB) Schools in Waterloo Region. Sports teams Gl ...
,
Cambridge, Ontario Cambridge is a city in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, located at the confluence of the Grand River (Ontario), Grand and Speed River, Speed rivers, in the central part of the Ontario Peninsula. The city had a population ...
, was based on the realistic "flip page" comics that adorned every one of his school texts and workbooks.


Work

Although Martchenko began his career as a commercial artist, he was later approached by Robert Munsch and
Annick Press Annick Press is a Canadian book publishing company that was founded in Toronto, Ontario in 1975 by Anne Millyard and Rick Wilks. Rick Wilks became the sole owner in 2000. A second editorial office was opened in Vancouver by Colleen MacMillan in 1 ...
representatives to consider a career in children's book illustrating after they saw his work at a graphic arts exhibition. His first Munsch book was 1980's '' The Paper Bag Princess'' after his six-year-old daughter read the story; he is now the go-to illustrator for Munsch books. In 1984, Martchenko began his artistic partnership with Allen Morgan, author of the "Matthew’s Midnight Adventure" series. It was not until 1990 that he first authored and illustrated his own book, ''Birdfeeder Banquet''. His second self-authored and illustrated book, ''Ma, I’m a Farmer'', was published in 2003. Martchenko's most famous works are made in partnership with Canadian Author
Robert Munsch Robert Norman Munsch (born June 11, 1945) is an American-born, Canadian children's author. Personal life and career Robert Munsch was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 11, 1945. He grew up in a family of nine children. Munsch gradua ...
on their long lived partnership Martchenko has said "I think that respecting each other's talents and experience, plus good communication can go a long way to creating a positive work relationship. You need to be on the same page creatively and share the same desire to produce the best books that you can. Robert Munsch and Allen Morgan's stories are funny, zany, and at times, a little crazy – so I fit right in. My type of visual humour, which at times can be a little crazy also, seems to complement their stories. Being able to exchange ideas is important as well. I can suggest changes to copy and they can make suggestions to illustrations. If it improves the story, we're all okay with that. We like one another, we get along and egos don't get in the way. It's worked for all these years and still does." Aside from his passion for illustrating children's books, Martchenko also has an interest in aviation and military art and history.


Personal life

Martchenko and his wife, Patricia, live in
Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...
's
Leaside Leaside (/'liːˌsaɪd/) is a neighbourhood in Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located northeast of Downtown Toronto, in the vicinity of Eglinton Avenue East and Bayview Avenue. It is one of the most expensive and exclusive neighbourhoo ...
. They have three daughters: Holly, Susan, and Janet.


Works


As author

* ''Birdfeeder Banquet'' (1990) * ''Ma, I’m a Farmer'' (2003)


As illustrator only

With
Robert Munsch Robert Norman Munsch (born June 11, 1945) is an American-born, Canadian children's author. Personal life and career Robert Munsch was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on June 11, 1945. He grew up in a family of nine children. Munsch gradua ...
* ''50 Below Zero'' * ''Angela's Airplane'' * ''The Boy in the Drawer'' * ''The Dark'' * ''David's Father'' * ''The Fire Station'' * ''From Far Away'' * ''Hugs'' * ''I Did It Because...'' * ''I Have to Go!'' * ''Jonathan Cleaned Up—Then He Heard a Sound'' * ''Kiss Me, I'm Perfect'' * ''Look At Me!'' * ''Moira's Birthday'' * More Pies * ''Mortimer'' * ''Murmel, Murmel, Murmel'' * ''No clean clothes'' * ''The Paper Bag Princess: 25th Anniversary Edition'' * ''The Paper Bag Princess'' * ''Pigs'' * ''Playhouse'' * ''Show and Tell'' * ''Something Good'' * ''Stephanie's Ponytail'' * ''Thomas' Snowsuit'' * ''Wait and See'' * ''Smelly Socks'' * ''Zoom'' With Allen Morgan * ''Matthew and the Midnight Tow Truck'' (1984) * ''Matthew and the Midnight Turkeys'' (1985) * ''Matthew and the Midnight Money Van'' (1987) * ''Matthew and the Midnight Pilot'' (1997) * ''Matthew and the Midnight Ball Game'' (1997) * ''Matthew and the Midnight Flood'' (1998) * ''Matthew and the Midnight Hospital'' (1999) * ''Matthew and the Midnight Wrestlers'' (1999) * ''Matthew and the Midnight Bank'' (2000) * ''Matthew and the Midnight Wrecker'' (2001) * ''Matthew and the Midnight Movie'' (2002) * ''Matthew and the Midnight Firefighter'' (2003) * ''Matthew and the Midnight Pirates'' (2005) With Rick Rossiter * ''Mixed Up Michael'' With Don Gillmore * Sophie and the Sea Monster With Loris Lesynski * Boy Soup


References

*


External links

* 1942 births Living people Canadian illustrators Franco-Ontarian people Canadian children's book illustrators Canadian people of Ukrainian descent People from Carcassonne {{Canada-artist-stub