“Yancey is a multi-talented illustrator. His work is not only innovative and creative, but he can also follow styles of other illustrators, depending on what’s needed. Read More...We have worked on many children’s book projects together from serious ‘how to’ illustrations for our Space University and Undersea University series to delightful, zany, and yummy illustrations for our Kids Cooking 10-book series. Another project that required Yancey’s skillful illustrations was our ‘I Can Read’ series, which were activity workbooks based on 28 children’s books, where Yancey had to emulate the style of each illustrator. Yancey is a pleasure to work with, and we have developed an easy rapport.”
- Peggy Gardner, Senior Designer - Scholastic, Inc.
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“Yancey Labat has been my illustrator & partner-in-crime on at least 6 highly-regarded non-fiction book series that I designed for Scholastic. The rub was Read More...that these were each 10- or 12-book cycles, a great amount of material, that demanded very quick turnaround with the same flair that consumers associate with Scholastic. Yancey was somehow able to do dozens of beautiful, witty, contemporary-looking illustrations that really put the icing on our different cakes—with unfailing good humor, patience, & persistence. He was always there for us with style & flair to spare.”
- Lee Kaplan, Associate Art Director - Scholastic, Inc.
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“I have worked with Yancey on Chronicle Books’ World Almanac Puzzler Deck series. Chronicle was updating the look of the series, and brought Yancey Read More...in to help take it from a fairly simple graphic look to a more animated, active illustration style. Yancey’s illustrations have been well-calibrated to the different age levels of the different decks, fun, and, from a production standpoint, really easy to work with. Yancey has also been at ease with the tight turnarounds of the series, making my work on design and layout of the cards much easier.”
- Holly McGuire, Designer - McGuire Barber Design
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“Yancey is without a doubt one of the most skilled, reliable, and efficient illustrators I’ve ever had the good fortune to work with. Over a number of book Read More...projects for young children which required specifically detailed and accurate image support, he cheerfully provided flawless work which was technically impeccable without ever being dry or commonplace; no less impressive is the fact that his pieces often arrived well before the deadline hit! More than once—indeed more than thrice—this quick-witted lad (very quick and very witty!) has swept in at the eleventh hour with his cape and his pen, and kept the wolves from the door of my straw house. He consistently delivers thoughtful and stimulating work, requires very little direction to immediately grasp and fulfill a concept, and patiently endures the wheedling revision requests of the most ridiculous, harried art directors in town (not to name any names, ahem). It would be my great pleasure to collaborate with him again, and I hope I will!”
- Tracy Sunrize Johnson, Designer - Chronicle Books projects
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“I had the pleasure of meeting Yancey while we both consulted for a book project with Scholastic. As a magic book for children, the project required Read More...many visual illusions, intricate illustrations, and unusual diagrams (all of which involved concepts foreign to Yancey). He attacked the project with great enthusiasm and was able to push his artistic skills in a new direction in order to accomplish what must have been very challenging illustrations. He’s fast, easy to work with, and has a great work ethic—I was so eager to work with him again, I hired him a year later to do work for a toy company with me. Again, the results exceeded expectations.”
- Ryan Oakes, Magician - Solid Oak Productions, Inc.
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“What is especially pleasing about working with Yancey Labat, in addition to his exceptional versatility and virtuosity, is his pleasant nature. He Read More...really wants to please—and does, and works as hard as any artist I’ve seen to meet your expectations. I remember once when working on the pictures for the Groovy Girls chapter books (50 pictures per book, one book a month, for eight consecutive books), there were a few changes needed to the pictures in one story because of last-minute revisions to the text, and the art department said it wouldn’t be possible for Yancey to make the revises (not now anyway) because he had many other projects he was working on, and deadlines to meet, and besides he was going on vacation the next day. And we just asked them to ask him anyway, just in case he could make it work. Sure enough, the revisions to the art were done, overnight, in almost less time than it took to convince the art department to ask him if he could. That’s what working with Yancey is all about.”
- Susan Bishansky, Former Editorial Director - Scholastic Book Clubs
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“I’ve had the great pleasure to work with Yancey on a number of licensed and proprietary book series at Scholastic Inc: Detective Academy, Finding Nemo Read More...Undersea School, Marvel Super Heroes Collector’s Club, Groovy Girls Sleep Over Club, Treasure Hunters Club, and others. All of these book series were brought to life by Yancey’s brilliant artwork. From a highly detailed street scene of an undercover operation to an original Spider-Man illustration honoring Stan Lee to a colorful birthday party bash featuring the Groovy Girls—Yancey can truly do it all! For every project he takes on, Yancey strives for perfection. His enthusiasm is contagious and his creativity is inspiring. (And did I mention he can work at the speed of light?) Yancey is a true joy to work with and I look forward to collaborating with him on many more projects!”
- Laura Uyeda, Former Editor - Scholastic Book Clubs
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