Eric Velasquez

African-American illustrator Eric Velasquez, the son of Afro-Puerto Rican parents, was born in Spanish Harlem and grew up in Harlem. His dual heritage coupled with the experience of living in dual cultures in New York City gives Eric a rich and unique cultural perspective.

As a child, his love for doodling and drawing was strongly encouraged by his mother. From his grandmother he inherited a love of music and from his father he developed a love of film. Growing up in this setting, Eric says, "Becoming an artist was a natural choice for me. I have never thought of being anything else."

Eric attended the High School of Art and Design and earned his BFA from the School of Visual Arts in 1983. In 1984 he completed a year of studies with Harvey Dinnerstein at the Art Student's League. Eric is a member of the Art Student's League.

Upon completion of his studies with Mr. Dinnsertein, Eric began his career as a freelance illustrator. Over the next 12 years he completed a body of work of over 300 book jackets and interior illustrations. Such works include Beverly Naidoo's award-winning "Journey to Jo'Burg" and its sequel "Chain of Fire;" The complete series of "Encyclopedia Brown;" The complete series of "The Ghost Writers;" "The Apple Classic" series, published by Scholastic Books, "The Terrible Wonderful Telling at Hog Haven; and Gary Soto's "The Skirt" and its sequel "Off and Running;" as well as the cover of the 1999 Coretta Scot King award winner "Jazmin's Notebook" by Nikki Grimes.

In 1997 Eric expanded as an illustrator with his first picture book "The Piano Man" by Debbie Chocolate, published by Walker & Co. Eric says he approached this project as a Technicolor movie extravaganza.... He was awarded the 1999 Coretta-Scott King/John Steptoe award for new talent for "The Piano Man."



Eric undertook his second picture book entitled "Escape, A Story of the Underground Railroad" by Sharon Shavers Gale, published by Soundprints. Eric describes the project as a very emotional undertaking.

In 1998 he began his third picture book "The Sound that Jazz Makes" by Carole Boston Weatherford, published by Walker & Co. In this work Eric was finally able to finally able to marry his love of art with his love of jazz. This work was recently awarded the CBC-NCSS Carter G. Woodson award in the field of Social Studies. It was also nominated for the 1999 NAACP Image award in children's literature.

In 1999, Eric again expanded his range as an illustrator/storyteller with his authorship of an autobiographical picture book based on his childhood in Spanish Harlem with his grandmother. Eric describes Grandma's Records (Los Discos Di Mi Abuela) as an inspirational tribute to his grandmother. "This was an emotional journey through time to the place I come from."

"Champion: The Story of Muhammad Ali" written by Jim Haskins is Eric's fifth picture book. Muhammad Ali has always been one of Eric's childhood heroes "It is an honor for me to be illustrating a book on Muhammad Ali." The book is due out this spring.

Eric is now working on his sixth picture book "David Gets His Drum" by the late jazz musician David Panama Francis.

Eric Velasquez lives and works in Hartsdale New York with his wife Deborah.