Bob Kolar is a local children’s author and creator who uses bright colors and fun whimsical characters to bring his stories to life. Kolar’s ideas have been turned into books, toys, games, and even TV shows for kids, which is where his creative journey began—watching TV as a kid.
“My creative journey started in front of the television,” Kolar says. “I would watch cartoons and draw. I was never very athletic or very academic, but I could draw. When you find what you do well, you keep doing it. So, I was the art kid. I grew up in a small farming community in Ohio. Becoming a professional artist was not the common career track. As a kid, my parents always encouraged my art, but as I grew up and wanted to keep doing it, they got a little nervous. I did get a break in high school—I created the banners that the football players ran through at the beginning of every home game. It was hard to watch my hard work get continually destroyed, but it probably prepared me to become an illustrator.
“I went to the Columbus College of Art and Design, and then grad school at Syracuse University where I really became interested in children’s books. I did my thesis on Where the Wild Things Are and had the opportunity to spend some time with Maurice Sendak. That sort of sealed it for me. After Syracuse, I was recruited to come to Kansas City to work at Hallmark, which was great for a while. I started doing books on the side and eventually got to the point where I could do it full time, which is what I do now, along with teaching part-time at the Art Institute. To date, I’ve created a few TV shows, lots of toys and various kid products, and 30-some books.”
His books include:
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“Stomp Stomp”
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“Give Me Back My Bones.”
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“Hey-Ho to Mars We'll Go!”
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“Big Kicks”
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“The Little Dump Truck”
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“Do You Want to Play?”
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“The Boy & the Book”
“I’ve been told that my work is graphic, animated, somewhat goofy. I’m not sure. I draw the world the way I see it. I think the sitting in front of the TV watching cartoons thing was impactful. There are a few themes that seem to reoccur a lot—there are a lot of vehicles, dogs, dinosaurs, monsters, and outer space in my work. Those also happen to be the focus of my life as a child.”
His favorite medium is books, although he’s enjoyed creating for TV as well, with his first show “Turbo Dogs” based off his book “Racer Dogs” and second show “Astroblast” based on his book series of the same name.
“Books are my first love. I can imagine a story, create new characters in a new world, write it, illustrate it, design it, and off it goes, sometimes all around the globe. I always tell my students that it’s the biggest thing that one person can create. TV stuff is different, which takes a whole village of creators and a lot of money. The people with that money, rightfully, get to make a lot of the decisions. For some reason, my work seems to be very applicable to broadcast medium. I always try to create worlds that have more stories to tell, and it’s playful. When I draw my characters, I’m always thinking about how they move and what sounds they make. I’ve had two shows based on my books, several concepts still in pitch, and I’m working on a new one right now. It’s not as intimate and personal of a process, but seeing your work moving and talking is cool, and the potential for reaching a lot of kids is amazing. Whatever the medium though, the goal is always the same: make good things for kids.”
Creating and publishing a book is a lengthy process, which from contract to finished art takes roughly a year for Kolar to complete.
“Books take a while. They always seem to evolve in their own unique way. It starts with an idea, which needs to ferment for an unpredictable amount of time. I usually start out with both writing and drawing. I make pages filled with little drawings and lines of text. Somehow a story comes out. I draft a manuscript and create some artwork to help pitch the idea. When (or if) one of my publishers picks it up, there is a standard process: finalize the text, create layout drawings, wait for feedback, redo layouts, create finished art, wait for feedback, create the cover art, wait, approve the printed samples, wait some more, then a box of books arrives on my doorstep.
“I create for children. I don’t, however, think I have any insights on children that make me qualified, other than the fact that I was a kid. I try to remember that—the things that excited me, that frightened me, that made me laugh—those are the best sources for inspiration. I try to create stories around those memories. I remember the books I read as a kid, being lost in the stories, being friends with the characters and feeling like I understood the world a little because of a book. Growing up can be hard. If you have managed to do it, you have something to offer to those who haven’t yet. Even though my work is mostly goofy, I’d like to think there is something truthful in it, maybe just a little.”
To see more of Kolar’s work, visit bobkolarbooks.com.
