Ness, Evaline (1911-1986), was an American illustrator and author of children’s books. Ness illustrated more than 60 books, writing 16 herself. She worked in a variety of techniques, including chalk, ink wash, lithograph, and woodcut. Critics praised her style for its poetic realism and originality.
Ness’s peak period as an illustrator was the mid-1960’s. She received the 1967 Caldecott Medal for her illustrations for Sam, Bangs, & Moonshine (1966), which she also wrote. The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually to the best picture book by an American artist. Sam, Bangs, & Moonshine is the story of Samantha (or Sam), a fisherman’s lonely daughter who gets into trouble for her constant lying. The book is noted for the expressive, sympathetic illustrations of the sad little girl.
Ness also illustrated a number of books that were runners-up for the Caldecott Medal. These books were Thistle and Thyme: Tales and Legends from Scotland (1962) and All in the Morning Early (1965) by Sorche Nic Leodhas (the pen name of the Scottish writer LeClaire Gowans Alger), A Pocketful of Cricket (1964) by the American author Rebecca Caudill, and Tom Tit Tot: An English Folk Tale (1965) by the American librarian and author Virginia Haviland.
Ness illustrated the work of many other leading children’s authors. These authors include the Americans Elizabeth Coatsworth (Lonely Maria, 1960), Eve Merriam (Funny Town, 1963), Lloyd Alexander (Coll and His White Pig, 1965), and Margaret Wise Brown (The Steamroller, 1974). In addition, Ness illustrated a book by the English poet Walter de la Mare (The Warmint, 1976) and two books co-written by the American poets Maxine Kumin and Anne Sexton, Joey and the Birthday Present (1971) and The Wizard’s Tears (1975).
Ness was also an architectural designer and created paper houses for children. These houses were published in several “To Cut Out and Color” books, including This Is a Paper Palace to Cut Out and Color (1976), A Victorian Paper House to Cut Out and Color (1978), and A Shaker Paper House to Cut Out and Color (1979).
Ness was born on April 24, 1911, in Union City, Ohio. Her maiden name was Evaline Michelow. After divorcing her first husband, she married the famous American crime fighter Eliot Ness in 1938. They divorced in 1946. Evaline Ness studied art at the Art Institute of Chicago from 1933 to 1935; the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., from 1943 to 1945; and the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome in 1951 and 1952. She was an illustrator for advertising agencies and fashion magazines before turning to children’s literature in the 1950’s. Evaline Ness died on Aug. 12, 1986.
