Mary Azarian is an American woodcut artist and children's book illustrator. She won the 1999 Caldecott Medal for U.S. picture book illustration, recognizing Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin. It tells about the life of Wilson Bentley. She lives in Plainfield, Vermont. She produces original prints and has illustrated over 50 books.
After she graduated from Smith College, she moved to farm in Vermont. Azarian and her husband farmed horses, oxen, chickens, a jersey milk cow, a sheep, and a goat. Azarian and her husband made their three sons helped them with their gardens.
Before beginning her career as a full-time artist, Azarian taught in a one-room schoolhouse for three years. After she finished her three years of teaching, she decided she wanted to make a living selling woodcut prints. She began producing her prints by hand and in black and white. Eventually, she began adding color to her prints by hand. Finally, she found an old Vandercook proof press and began using it to produce the prints.
Beginning in the 1970s, Azarian begun illustrating children’s books. Azarian is most interested in working with simple shapes.
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John Barleycorn must die--so everyone agrees from the ploughmen to the tinker in this exquisitely illustrated edition of the old English ballad. But who will prove to be the strongest man at last?
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An alphabet book for families that lovingly celebrates traditional rural New England life, all the way from A to Z. "No matter where children live - on a farm, in the suburbs or the city - they will love this handsome book."--Smithsonian Magazine
Revealing the variety of life underground, the bright comfort of a greenhouse on a winter’s day, or the anticipation of starting seeds indoors in early spring, this striking alphabet book celebrates the simple joys of gardening. Without neglecting the frustrations—the nibbling critters and the toil—or wry, humorous moments spent in the garden.
In this Caldecott Medal–winning picture book, the true story of Wilson Bentley and his singular fascination with snowflakes is rendered in rich prose and gorgeous artwork, perfect for the holidays, snow days, and everyday.