Tao Nyeu is one of only two artists featured here on yorkrules whom I have actually met (Brendan Lott being the other.) She was showing illustrations from her upcoming children’s book Wonder Bear in a studio space along this year’s Brewery Art Walk. The clarity, creativity, and vibrancy of her art impelled me to ask if she would share it here on yorkrules. Happily, she agreed.
Who is Tao Nyeu?
Hello. I am a children’s books illustrator and writer.
Why do you create?
I create to keep myself entertained, otherwise I may melt into a puddle.
Hang on
Where the Wild Things Are, Goodnight, Moon
and Corduroy
all helped to define the person I have come to be. As a soon-to-be-published children’s book author and artist (Wonder Bear
will be available September 18, 2008,) you will have your own formative effect on children. What do you think about that?
I think it’s extremely exciting. I just hope the effect is a positive one.
Summer Sonatina
Your visual style is youthful. Do you think it will age as you as you mature creatively, or remain forever young?
I do hope that I mature creatively, but I’ve given up on mature mental development. It hasn’t happened yet, so I don’t think it ever will. I guess I missed the boat on that one. When I make an image I concentrate on entertaining myself. It just so happens that I am on the same wavelength as people around 30 inches tall.
My Favorite Sock
In the short-term, you’ve got your children’s book coming out. What’s atop the to do list in the long-term?
Creating children’s books has been the long-term goal for a very long time so I’m very excited to finally be here. I just want to continue to think up stories and create exciting artwork. I’ve only just begun, so I have a lot of exploring to do.
My thanks to Tao for sharing her work. Please visit tao-illustration.com for more.



