Gus Gordon (born in Sydney, 1971) is a children's book illustrator and writer based in Sydney, Australia.
Gordon has written and illustrated over 70 books for children.[1]
He grew up on a farm in northern NSW and, after leaving school, worked on cattle stations all over Australia before deciding to pursue a drawing career. Gordon moved to Sydney and studied at the Julian Ashton School of Art.
Gordon's illustrations are known for their loose, energetic line work, mixed media (most notably collage) and nonsensical humour. His writing is always anthropomorphic - where animals take the place of humans in the narrative. His most recent written works include the picture books A Day With Noodles and Wendy and are published by Penguin Books Australia.
He is also a regular visitor to schools and festivals throughout Australia where he conducts illustration workshops and speaks to a wide range of audiences about children's books. He is represented by the speaker's agency, Lateral Learning.[2]
Gordon's influences are varied and diverse. They include the illustrators Jean-Jacques Sempe, William Steig, Serge Bloch, Sara Fanelli, Oliver Jeffers, Eric Carle, Leigh Hobbs and Quentin Blake. Cartoonists George Booth, and Charles Addams. Jim Henson has also been a big influence especially with regards to his character design and passion for his craft.
He lives on Sydney's Northern beaches with his wife and three children.
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