May 12, 2010
I just finished inking in all the drawings for “The Nutcracker.” I had so much fun doing these illustrations, which is strange because I absolutely did not want to do this story. I had seen the ballet and had taken Mikayla to see it when she was younger and we both had the same reaction– we thought it would never end. Mikayla kept asking ”When are they going to start talking??” And for some reason, several things just creeped me out– the evil-looking toymaker, the 7-headed rat king– good grief, who dreamed this stuff up?? (It was E.T.A. Hoffmann, whom I’m sure was a lovely man) I found out I was not alone in my thinking: every time I would tell someone I was going to illustrate the Nutcracker, every single person, save one ballet-o-phile, said “Oh, good– can you make it so it’s not so creepy?” Harper Collins was nice enough to give me complete free-reign on the illustrations and I had so much fun– I don’t think I’ve ever finished the drawings for a book so quickly! I made the toymaker charming and friendly, the Rat King only has one head and of course everyone lives happily ever after (Although Marie’s little brother Fritz is still kind of a jerk).
I’m sure there will be some purists out there who like The Nutcracker just the way it is. For them I put in all the other elements of the story in the illustrations somewhere– a little Nutcracker Where’s Waldo, if you will. Plus they can go sit through that ballet if they want the whole effect. I’ll be home with Mikayla reading my cute, cozy, warm and fuzzy version and I hope you will be, too! But it won’t be out until Fall 2011. This year you’ll be able to get my new Fairy Tale book, and I’ll show you some illustrations from that as we get closer to its’ release. But for now, here’s a little sneak peek at “The Nutcracker.” Leave a comment and let me know if you like it.
Click to Enlarge
~Mary
I’ve only see the Nutcracker live once and was not taken with it…watched it on TV–yawn! BUT love the music! ME’s illustrated version, I’m sure, will make me appreciate the rest of it! I’m still groovin’ from the 4 day weekend in St. Louis at the Home Companion Workshop where I saw the drawings live! Can’t wait for the book!
Okie doke….just had to respond. I LOVE ballet, so the creepy-ness kinda went over my head, but thought you would like to know about a unique Nutcracker presentation. My daughter (age 12) was priviledged to participate in South Tulsa Children’s Ballet’s Nutcracker. This production in performed entirely by children (ages 3 to 18) and is geared toward children while keeping the classic elements of the story. In this production, too, the mouse king has only one head and the toymaker is a lovable buffoon with lots of cool presents for the party-goers. The children make it something patrons (not just parents) like to bring their children to see every year. I am so tickled you are doing a Nutcracker! It will be a hit around here, I am sure!
I love the monkey.
My girls and I have always loved the “Nutcracker”, one of them even performed as a flower. Yet, some of the images also were uncomfortable to us, too. (Sort of like some of the old Mother Goose that my Grandmother read to me that I don’t read to my grandchildren.) So, thanks for brightening up a beloved ballet. ‘Can’t wait. I love everything ME!
I love the illustrations! I’ve been to the ballet performed by several different companies – each has their own interpretation of the costumes as they see they should be. Who says they have to look scarey or unappealing! I’m thrilled you were given the green light to illustrate as you felt inspired to do. It will definitely be a book I’d give to my granddaughters to introduce them to the world of ballet, especially a Christmas ballet. Thanks for sharing your creativity with the rest of us. Now. . . when will these be converted to cross-stitch charts so I can stitch them for my little granddaughters?
FABULOUS! I’d love to have sheets uncoloured and colour them in myself – no matter how old I get, I still love to colour.
Brilliant!! I can’t wait to see the finished product! Thank you for “Breit”ening the world!
Wonderful, as usual! I look forward to adding this book to my collection – and to the collections of my grandchildren. I have and enjoy all your books.
Thanks so much for the preview! Can’t wait!
All of your art is lovely and enchanting…so why not the Nutcracker? We wouldn’t expect anything less, my dear, dear lady! I’m thinking they better publish lots since we all are just waiting to get our hands on it! And thanks, too, for having it up on the board for the tour…very exciting!
Always love your work. I do not feel so bad now that I know a lot of people didn’t “love” the Nutcracker. I had thought it was just me!
In Kansas City every Christmas they have a production of Nutcracker. I got to finally go see it about 4 years ago with my daughters & granddaughter(we wanted to have a “special memory” for Christmas). I did love the ballet dancers proformance but sadly that was all. Keep up the great work, Mary!
Oh, Mary, your granddaughter and mine had the same reaction! In a stage whisper, my 6 year old Katie said, “Grandma, when are they going to say something?” I personally love “The Nutcracker” and can’t wait to see your illustrations! I’m sure it’ll be the awesome when it is “Engelbreit-tized”!
My life has been filled with your art for years. And let me say, it improves any circumstance and brightens every day! Thank you for being you!
Awesome! I love your Nutcracker illustrations! I was so excited to hear you were doing this book! I’ve always loved your illustrations. I love the Nutcracker but I have never found a suitable book to purchase(that wasn’t creepy!). I can’t wait to get your book! If you ever have the opportunity, please go see the Nutcracker ballet in Boston – the costumes are fun and beautiful(not creepy!)
Love the look. Would even want to purchase a color book version as well as the finished book. 2011 seems a long way off.
I would love to see your version in animation! It would be great to have a lovely film version with your images instead of the old creepy ones. While I imagine you are super used to it, I would find it extraordinarily difficult to work on December holiday images in the midst of late spring!
Love your art, the book will be fantastic looking forward to it..
I also miss the magazine any plans for the future, to restart?
You made it sooo fun…
Great illo! I agree, it’s too creepy…and long! Just the ads alone bug me. It’ll be nice to have a sweet, cozy version for us non purists.
You go girl! I agree with Jane – have never cared much for the Nutcracker story. Have only seen parts of the ballet on TV which I didn’t like. Looking forward to YOUR version! Your Fairy Tale book sounds great! I love childrens’ books so much! We have no children ourselves but “kiddie lit” was one of my favorite classes in college. My mom was so wonderful about getting us the most beautiful books when we were kids! She didn’t have access to many as a child, having lost her own mom at 4. So she made the extra effort to make our childhood years very special. So she bought gorgeous books and read them to us. I knew who all the big publishing houses were by the time I was 5 as she always read the title page, too! Keep up the good work. Really miss Home Companion but I know you’re now in a different place now, right?
I am so happy that other people finally said they thought the Nutcracker was creepy. I have been saying that for years and everyone denied it! Anyway I know that ME will make it perfectly wonderful and fun and lovely. Thank you Mary!
I seem to be the exception but I have ALWAYS loved The Nutcracker, and it has been a tradition for my daughter and I to try to see The Nutcracker ballet every Christmas. So, this news of a book with your drawings is wonderful! I enjoy your work so much and I make sure I have a little ME somewhere near me at all times. Thank you, Miss Mary, for making me smile.
I bet I just love the book. I enjoy your illustrations so much.
I too never cared for the Nutcracker very much. I
til now have never said it to anyone. I love all
your drawings and was so sad to see the magazine
go. I can’t wait to see it finish. I am a long
time fan. Jane
It makes me soooo sad to think that you had a negative experience with seeing the Nutcracker … not every one has a 7 headed rat king … yuk! … growing up in San Francisco, every year I went to see a beautiful Nutcracker … what a shame that they made it creepy and scary … it should be a source of much joy and happy shivers at the beauty of it all … I cannot wait to see your book! The Nutcracker ME’d is going to be a delight!!!!
I haven’t seen your rendition, but I can imagine what it will look like. If it is anything like The Night Before Christmas, it will be wonderful, can’t wait to getr it.
Thanks for sharing your talent!
please please can you do another color book ===
Please come back to Nashville with the Fairy Tales this fall, anxiously looking forward to seeing them. Thank you for being so committed to your craft!
Mary,
If you are illustrating it, I will be buying it! Not sure which version of the Nutcracker you saw, but my daughter was in a local production of it, and it was not creepy at all. So sorry you had such a bad experience. I look forward to seeing what you come up with.
Cathy
Looking at the above sketches, it’s definitely children friendlier! I love, can’t wait to see the book.
I’m so glad you’re sharing part of it now!
Thank you
I soooo wanted to like it because it’s a classic. However, I fell asleep! I have been a big fan of yours for many years and look forward to getting your book when it comes out.
My daughter had the same reaction when she was small and we took her to see The Nutcracker- she wanted to know why they didn’t talk and when would they??? Love your sneak peek – can’t wait to see the finished product!!
What a thrill to see them in person at your studio! But surely continue the sneak peeks! Thanks so much for sharing your little secret with us. I never cared for it [Nutcracker] much either, although I enjoy the music. The ME touch will do the trick, as always, I want to jump into your pictures. Mary makes everything Merry!
Saw all of the drawings for the book at the studio tour during the FABULOUS workshop weekend – so ME – happy, playful and enchanting! can’t wait to own the book!
Oh goodness yes!! Make it an Engelbreit version. I do like your drawing.
I will try to wait patiently to see how you turn “The Nutcracker” into your magical ME world.
There are just some things in life that will always “creep me out”. I put cymbal monkeys,clowns, and circus performances in this category. heehee Thanks for sharing this sneak peek. xo
PS I really,really miss Home Companion.
LOL! I love your honesty!! I was bored to tears when we went to see it too!!! I enjoyed seeing the beginning process of your version and can’t wait to buy the book!!
Wow, Mary, I can’t wait to see the finished pieces! I know what you mean, sometimes the projects I dread the most are the very ones I end up loving.
So much more cheerful and enchanting as only you would do. Like you, the Nutcracker was never a favorite. It might become one by the Fall of 2011, though!
Ha! I had the exact same reaction to seeing the nutcracker as a kid. I really thought it was terribly boring. As an adult friends of mine were going to go see it and invited me and my husband and I had to politely decline remembering how awful I thought it was.
Glad to see you’re giving it the “ME” special treatment. Looking forward to seeing the book in print. Thanks for sharing the story behind the art!
Adorable, as usual! I can’t wait to add the book to my collection. By the way, I agree with the “will it never end???” comment!!!
Sweet! I can’t wait to get it for my kids! We have watched every film version of the Nutcracker! My Kids and I love the Nutcracker prince cartoon with Keiffer Sutherland as the prince. We are anticipating your version!
They are fantastic illustrations. If only you were planning on making these into a fabric line. I can see quite a fun quilt already using this as the basics! So fun!
I think this is GREAT! I already own your mother goose book and the night before christmas. I LOVE THEM! I can’t wait to get my hands on more of your books.
Cheers from Canadas west coast.
I can hardly wait to see a (new) book that you have illustrated!
When will it be out?
Thanks, JolieAnne
Oh how exciting! I love your books. Will you do a screen saver from this book?
I absolutely love your stuff! Thank you for your wonderful art
GORGEOUS!
I never have bought this story for my kids or grandkids. Now I know what I was waiting for
I’ve never seen the ballet, so I think I’ll love seeing the new book when it comes out
): 
I’m so glad you have this blog 
I LOVE that you de-creeped it! I have looked at these characters more than once and thought “What were they thinking?”. Can’t wait to see the finished product… Thank you for being a “gentle grandma”!
How fun! And I’ve never seen a multi-headed mouse King in the Nutcracker. I think I heart Ballet West!
Wow mary! I LOVE this!! it’s going to be gorgeous all colored up. I think you did a fabulous job.