Jon J Muth
Jon J Muth is an American comics artist and children's book illustrator who is known for his painted artwork.
Career
Muth studied stone sculpture and shodō in Japan; and studied painting, printmaking, and drawing in England, Austria, and Germany.In the comics industry, his works include J. M. DeMatteis' graphic novel Moonshadow, Grant Morrison's The Mystery Play, Neil Gaiman's ' with Michael Zulli and Charles Vess, Mike Carey's Lucifer: Nirvana and Swamp Thing: Roots. He worked with writers Walt and Louise Simonson and co-artist Kent Williams on Havok and Wolverine: Meltdown in 1988. That series was a result of Williams and Muth's desire to work on a project together. Muth received an Eisner Award in the category "Best Painter/Multimedia Artist " in 1995 for his work on The Mystery Play. In addition, Muth has had an award-winning career as a children's book writer and illustrator. He explained that "A sense of joy is what moved me from comics to picture books. My work in children's books grew out of a desire to explore what I was feeling as a new father." He received a Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators in 1999 for his illustrations in Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse. Muth created a version of the stone soup fable set in China and illustrated cards for the ' collectible card game. In 2005, Muth collaborated with author Caroline Kennedy on A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children.
Art collections
- Vanitas: Paintings, Drawings and Ideas Tundra Publishing, 1991
- Pictures Places Stone Allen Spiegel Fine Arts, 1993
- Koan: Paintings by Jon J Muth & Kent Williams with Kent Williams, Allen Spiegel Fine Arts, November 2001,
Children's books authored and illustrated
- The Three Questions, Scholastic Press, April 2002,
- Stone Soup, Scholastic Press, March 2003,
- Zen Shorts, Scholastic Press, March 2005,
- Zen Ties, Scholastic Press, February 2008,
- Zen Ghosts, Scholastic Press, September 2010,
- Hi, Koo!, Scholastic Press, February 2014,
- Zen Socks, Scholastic Press, September 2015,
- Mama Lion Wins the Race, Scholastic Press, August 2017,
- Zen Happiness, Scholastic Press, January 2019,
Children's books illustrated
- Come On, Rain with author Karen Hesse, Scholastic Press, March 1999,
- Putnam and Pennyroyal with author Patrick Jennings, Scholastic Press, November 1999,
- Gershon's Monster: A Story for the Jewish New Year with author Eric A. Kimmel, Scholastic Press, September 2000,
- Why I Will Never Ever Ever Ever Have Enough Time to Read This Book with author Remy Charlip, Tricycle Press, September 2000,
- Our Gracie Aunt with author Jacqueline Woodson, Jump At The Sun, April 2002,
- Old Turtle and the Broken Truth with author Douglas Wood, Scholastic Press, October 2003,
- No Dogs Allowed! with author Sonia Manzano, Atheneum Books, April 2004,
- A Family of Poems: My Favorite Poetry for Children with author Caroline Kennedy, Hyperion Books, September 2005,
- I Will Hold You 'till You Sleep with author Linda Zuckerman, Scholastic Press, October 2006,
- Mr. George Baker with author Amy Hest, Walker Books, June 2007,
- A Family Christmas with selection by Caroline Kennedy, Hachette Books; First Edition edition, October 2007,
- Stonecutter with author John Kuramoto, Feiwel & Friends, April 2009,
- The Christmas Magic with author Lauren Thompson, Scholastic Press, September 2009,
- City Dog, Country Frog with author Mo Willems, Hyperion Books, June 2010,
- Poems to Learn by Heart with author Caroline Kennedy, Disney-Hyperion; First Edition edition, March 2013,
Comics/graphic novels
- Epic Illustrated #12, 19–21, 24, 31, Marvel Comics, June 1982 – August 1985
- Moonshadow #1–12 with author J. M. DeMatteis, Marvel Comics/Epic Comics, March 1985 – February 1987, collected as The Compleat Moonshadow which also includes Farewell Moonshadow, DC Comics, February 1998,
- Dracula: A Symphony in Moonlight and Nightmares, Marvel Comics, 1986, ; NBM Publishing, January 1993
- New Mutants #62 with author Louise Simonson, Marvel Comics, April 1988
- Havok and Wolverine: Meltdown #1–4 with authors Walt Simonson, Louise Simonson and artist Kent Williams, Marvel Comics/Epic Comics, 1988–1989, collected edition March 2003,
- M #1–4 based on the screenplay by Fritz Lang, Eclipse Comics, 1990–1992, collected edition Abrams Books, April 2008,
- Ray Bradbury Comics #5 comics adaptation of Bradbury's story "The April Witch", Topps Comics, October 1993
- The Mystery Play with author Grant Morrison, DC Comics, January 1994,
- The Mythology of an Abandoned City Tundra Publishing, June 1994,
- contributed the story "Exiles" with author Neil Gaiman, DC Comics, December 1996,
- Swamp Thing: Roots DC Comics, March 1998, 978-1563893773
- Silver Surfer #139–145 with author J. M. DeMatteis, Marvel Comics, 1998
- 9-11: Artists Respond, Volume One "Prayer" two-page story, Dark Horse Comics, January 2002
- Global Frequency: Planet Ablaze contributed the story "Big Skys" with author Warren Ellis, DC Comics, February 2004,
- Lucifer, Book 11: Evensong contributed the story "Nirvana" with author Mike Carey, DC Comics, January 2007,
- Author: Stanislaw Lem, Illustrator: Jon J Muth, Translator: Michael Kandel, Graphix, October 2019,
Book awards
- Moonshadow: The Definitive Edition
- *2019, Broken Frontier Award, Best Collection of Classic Material
- Hi, Koo!: A Year of Seasons
- *2016, Beehive Book Award, Winner in the Poetry Division
- Zen Socks
- * 2015, A Junior Library Guild Selection
- City Dog, Country Frog
- *2010, A Junior Library Guild Selection
- A Christmas Magic
- *2010, Ohioana: The Hamilton County Committee Program; In honor of Hamilton County Authors and Composers
- Stonecutter
- *2010, Ohioana: The Hamilton County Committee Program; In honor of Hamilton County Authors and Composers
- Zen Ties
- * 2009, Illustrator of the Year, The Children's Choice Book Award
- * 2009, The Frances & Wesley Bock Book Award, Neumann University
- *2009, Children's Choice Book Awards, Children's Book Council
- * 2008, Children’s Picture Book Award, New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association
- Zen Shorts
- *2006, Caldecott Honor Book, The Association for Library Service to Children
- *2006, Book Sense Book of the Year, American Booksellers Association
- *2005, Children’s Picture Book Award, New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association
- The Three Questions
- *2002, Children's Media Honor, Achievement in Picture Books, Parent's Guide to Children's Media, Inc., Board of Directors
- Gershon's Monster: A Story for the Jewish New Year
- * 2000, Sydney Taylor Book Award, The Association of Jewish Libraries
- Come On, Rain
- * 1999, Gold Medal, The Society of Illustrators
- The Mystery Play
- *1995, Best Painter, Will Eisner Comics Industry Award
- The Mythology of an Abandoned City
- * 1993, Best Graphic Album nomination, Will Eisner Comics Industry Award