The Big Day Arrives

January 15, 2011 at 1:07 pm John Martz Leave a comment

Posted by: John Martz
Book: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (purchase on Amazon)

This was to be the illustration that finally introduced Mr. Willy Wonka. But a few hours at the drawing table left me unhappy with every likeness I came up with. It has proven to be a difficult task to stay true to the text, and create something original, without also being influenced by Quentin Blake’s illustrations and both Gene Wilder and Johnny Depp. So instead, I decided to draw all the kids again as a warm-up exercise. It’s a bit of a departure, stylistically, from the existing entries. Consider it an appetizer for the next illustration which will indeed introduce Willy Wonka, and perhaps several of his tiny Oompa Loompas.