Santa is our culture's only mythic figure truly believed in by a large percentage of the population. It's a fact that most of the true believers are under eight years old, and that's a pity. Chris Van Allsburg More Quotes by Chris Van Allsburg More Quotes From Chris Van Allsburg At one time, most of my friends could hear the bell, but as years passed, it fell silent for all of them. Even Sarah found one Christmas that she could no longer hear its sweet sound. Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me, as it does for all who truly believe. Chris Van Allsburg life-changing christmas sweet I write for what's left of the eight-year-old still rattling around inside my head Chris Van Allsburg eight writing years The idea of the extraordinary happening in the context of the ordinary is what's fascinating to me Chris Van Allsburg fascinating ordinary ideas its not bad to be different. Sometimes it's the mark of being very very talented. Chris Van Allsburg mark different sometimes Some people may contend that there is no image more charming that a child holding a puppy or kitten. But for me that's a distant second. When I see a child clutching a book... to his or her tiny bosom, I'm moved. Children can possess a book in a way they can never possess a video game, a TV show, or a Darth Vader doll. A book comes alive when they read it. They give it life themselves by understanding it. Chris Van Allsburg tv-shows book children The opportunity to create a small world between two pieces of cardboard, where time exists yet stands still, where people talk and I tell them what to say, is exciting and rewarding. Chris Van Allsburg opportunity two people I don't think ordinary things are very interesting, so I try to imagine a world that is less ordinary. Chris Van Allsburg trying interesting thinking The Polar Express is about faith, and the power of imagination to sustain faith. It's also about the desire to reside in a world where magic can happen, the kind of world we all believed in as children, but one that disappears as we grow older. Chris Van Allsburg magic imagination children An award does not change the quality of a book. Chris Van Allsburg awards change book Following my muse has worked out pretty well so far. I can't see any reason to change the formula now. Chris Van Allsburg muse change reason At first, I see pictures of a story in my mind. Then creating the story comes from asking questions of myself. I guess you might call it the 'what if - what then' approach to writing and illustration. Chris Van Allsburg illustration asking-questions writing If you don't know where you're going, stop racing to get there. -- from Just Desert by M. T. Anderson Chris Van Allsburg desert racing knows The inclination to believe in the fantastic may strike some as a failure in logic, or gullibility, but it’s really a gift. A world that might have Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster is clearly superior to one that definitely does not. Chris Van Allsburg doe monsters believe My ideas are not meant to suggest dreams or reality, but a surreal quality. Chris Van Allsburg dream reality ideas I've always thought of the book as a visual art form, and it should represent a single artistic idea, which it does if you write your own material. Chris Van Allsburg writing book art The Polar Express began with the idea of a train standing alone in the woods. I asked myself, What if a boy gets on that train? Where does he go? Chris Van Allsburg what-if boys ideas Though I’ve grown old, the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe. Chris Van Allsburg bells doe believe Some artists claim praise is irrelevant in measuring the success of art, but I think it's quite relevant. Besides, it makes me feel great. Chris Van Allsburg praise art thinking I think most people agree there is a component of skill in art making; you have to learn grammar before you learn how to write. Chris Van Allsburg writing art thinking I'm not a perfectionist. I'm just very observant. Chris Van Allsburg observant perfectionist
