Bill Thomson Papers

Collection

Identifier: 2010-0049

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The Bill Thomson Papers consist of sketches, finished artwork, models, advertising artwork, and artwork created during Thomson's student days as well as documenting his life as a professional illustrator. There are also five panels documenting the creative process in the life of a brochure.

Dates

undated, 1979-2010

Access

The collection is open and available for research.

Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish from these Papers must be obtained in writing from both the University of Connecticut Libraries and the owner(s) of the copyright.

Biography

Born in Waterbury, CT, in 1963, Bill Thomson has created artwork for advertising, book, and editorial clients across the United States. Thomson’s recent work has focused primarily on children’s books, illustrating Karate Hour, Building With Dad, Baseball Hour, Chalk and Soccer Hour for Cavendish Children's Books. Thomson's artwork has received numerous awards and recognition in the country’s most prestigious juried illustration competitions, including those sponsored by the Society of Illustrators (NY), the Los Angeles Society of Illustrators, Communication Arts, Step Inside Design and Three By Three. Thomson has also received Gold and Silver Awards from the Los Angeles Society of Illustrators and the Connecticut Art Director’s Club, and his work has been exhibited in numerous group shows in New York and across the country. Thomson was the winner of 2009 Connecticut Book Award for Children’s Illustrator and was also a finalist for the award in 2005 and 2007. His books have received accolades from the National Parenting Publications (Gold Award), the International Reading Association (Children’s Book Award Notable), the American Library Association (Children’s Book Notable and Booklist Editor’s Choice), and been nominated for state book awards in Indiana, Ohio, Utah, Washington, South Dakota, Kentucky, South Carolina, Delaware, Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky and Iowa. Bill Thomson is an Associate Professor of Illustration at the Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford where he received the Award for Outstanding Teaching in 2004. Thomson lives and works in Southington, Connecticut, with his wife, Diann, and their three sons, Billy, Nik, and Ethan. To see more of Thomson’s artwork, please see http://www.billthomson.com or his blog at http://billthomsonillustration.blogspot.com/.

Extent

19.5 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Bill Thomson Papers contain artwork spanning from his high school days in Southington, CT to his recent picture books, Building with Dad, Chalk, Baseball Hour, Karate Hour and Soccer Hour. The collection contains sketches, models, finished artwork and illustrations from his work as the illustrator working with his wife Diann, who is the graphic designer for their firm Thomson Illustration and Design.

Arrangement

The Papers are arranged in two series, with Series I containing the bulk of the collection in seven boxes generally arranged by book project. Series II consists of the works of art in Art Storage.

Series I: Preliminary and Finished Artwork, Photographs, Research Materials ( 1979-2010)

Series II: Exhibit panels and paintings (undated)

Acquisition Information

Bill Thomson began transferring his papers to the Northeast Children's Literature Collection in 2010.

Related Material

Archives & Special Collections has a substantial collection of materials pertaining to children's literature and associated artwork. For detailed information on these collections please contact the curator or ask at the Reading Room desk.

General note

Published Works:

Missing Title

Karate Hour, Marshall Cavendish, 2004.
Building with Dad, Marshall Cavendish, 2006.
Baseball hour, Marshall Cavendish, 2008.
Chalk, Marshall Cavendish, 2010.
Soccer Hour, Marshall Cavendish, 2011.

Subjects

Authors Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Children's literature Subject Source: Fast
College teachers Subject Source: Fast
Connecticut (state) Subject Source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
Correspondence Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Drawings (visual works). Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Fliers (printed matter) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Galley proofs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Illustrated children's books Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Illustrations (layout features). Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Illustrators Subject Source: Fast
Monographs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Notebooks Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Notes Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Photographs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Posters Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Publications (documents) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Sketches Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Southington (inhabited place) Subject Source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
Waterbury (Conn.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Works of Art Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
manuscripts (document genre) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus