I hope you enjoy taking a look through these children's picture books I've illustrated!
When I begin illustrating a picture book I love to discover the best way to capture the mood and atmosphere of the story, and to bring the characters and setting of the story to life. I like the texture of the paint and colors I choose for the each picture to be expressive, evocative elements of my illustrations. Whether the setting is a bee yard, Greece, Bangladesh, a New England beach, or medieval Spain, I try to let my choice of colors, media and brushwork capture the feel of the places and the characters that inhabit the stories.
Here are some kind words about my illustrations:
"Chayka's glowing oil paintings capture the bright colors of Dhaka and the cruelty of the brickyard where Yasmin and her sister work in the blinding sun as the boss lounges under an umbrella. Neither text nor illustrations gloss over the hardships the girls experience, but also do not dwell on them; instead, the focus remains firmly on Yasmin's dreams and her resolve to achieve them." -School Library Journal (about Yasmin's Hammer)
"Stirring oil paintings bring the setting to a close with images of the sisters in the brickyard and their father pedaling a rickshaw through the crowded streets." -Booklist (about Yasmin's Hammer)
"Contrasting sandy browns with splashes of bright color, Doug Chayka's expressive paintings work with the affecting text to shed light on the experiences of displaced children. -School Library Journal (about Four Feet Two Sandals)
"Chayka's dusky artwork transports viewers back among the conversos, imbuing scenes with a quiet sense of dignity and determination. A handsome offering that's equally educational and inspiring." -Booklist (about The Secret Shofar of Barcelona)
"Chayka's broadly executed, colorful gouache illustrations express the poignant mood of this lovingly told story that will resonate for anyone who has suffered a life-transforming loss." - Kirkus Reviews (about The Pink House at the Seashore)
"The impressionistic oil paintings in predominantly tans, blues, browns, and creams are beautifully done; each one in itself an artistic statement." - School Library Journal (about Yanni Rubbish)
"Honey-colored light pours down upon a young narrator and her grandfather as they climb into their heavy coveralls and walk during a spring morning to the bee yard. An idyllic episode, as comforting as the bee's sweet product." - Kirkus Reviews (about Beekeepers)
"The story is simple and the illustrations glow, leaving readers with a warm feeling of a shared experience." - School Library Journal (about Beekeepers)
When I begin illustrating a picture book I love to discover the best way to capture the mood and atmosphere of the story, and to bring the characters and setting of the story to life. I like the texture of the paint and colors I choose for the each picture to be expressive, evocative elements of my illustrations. Whether the setting is a bee yard, Greece, Bangladesh, a New England beach, or medieval Spain, I try to let my choice of colors, media and brushwork capture the feel of the places and the characters that inhabit the stories.
Here are some kind words about my illustrations:
"Chayka's glowing oil paintings capture the bright colors of Dhaka and the cruelty of the brickyard where Yasmin and her sister work in the blinding sun as the boss lounges under an umbrella. Neither text nor illustrations gloss over the hardships the girls experience, but also do not dwell on them; instead, the focus remains firmly on Yasmin's dreams and her resolve to achieve them." -School Library Journal (about Yasmin's Hammer)
"Stirring oil paintings bring the setting to a close with images of the sisters in the brickyard and their father pedaling a rickshaw through the crowded streets." -Booklist (about Yasmin's Hammer)
"Contrasting sandy browns with splashes of bright color, Doug Chayka's expressive paintings work with the affecting text to shed light on the experiences of displaced children. -School Library Journal (about Four Feet Two Sandals)
"Chayka's dusky artwork transports viewers back among the conversos, imbuing scenes with a quiet sense of dignity and determination. A handsome offering that's equally educational and inspiring." -Booklist (about The Secret Shofar of Barcelona)
"Chayka's broadly executed, colorful gouache illustrations express the poignant mood of this lovingly told story that will resonate for anyone who has suffered a life-transforming loss." - Kirkus Reviews (about The Pink House at the Seashore)
"The impressionistic oil paintings in predominantly tans, blues, browns, and creams are beautifully done; each one in itself an artistic statement." - School Library Journal (about Yanni Rubbish)
"Honey-colored light pours down upon a young narrator and her grandfather as they climb into their heavy coveralls and walk during a spring morning to the bee yard. An idyllic episode, as comforting as the bee's sweet product." - Kirkus Reviews (about Beekeepers)
"The story is simple and the illustrations glow, leaving readers with a warm feeling of a shared experience." - School Library Journal (about Beekeepers)