The Illustrator’s Notebook

By Mohieddin Ellabbad

Summer 2008 | ArteZine

Three pages from the Egyptian master illustrator’s book on visual culture. Intended for children, yet equally insightful for adults.

Mohieddin Ellabbad was born in Cairo, Egypt, where he studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts. Before completing his degree he began work as a caricaturist for Roz al-youssef and Sabah al-khayr weeklies. He also wrote and illustrated his first book for children, published in 1961. In 1974, he co-founded the first Palestinian children’s book publisher, Dar Al Fata Al Arabi. He has also worked as art director, author, illustrator and designer for many other publishing companies as well as for newspapers and magazines in Egypt and other Arabic-speaking countries. Mohieddin’s books have received numerous prizes, including three prizes for the best children’s book in Arabic from the Beirut Book Fair and a silver medal from the Leipzig International Book Fair. The Illustrator’s Notebook won the prestigious Golden Apple award at the Biennial of illustration in Bratislava, the Octogone de Chêne from the Centre International d’Études en Littérature de Jeunesse in France, and the Bern Blaue Brillenschlange award. Mohieddin Ellabbad lives in Cairo, Egypt.

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