Introduction to Emulation Project

Walter Wick was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1953. He describes himself as a playful child who loved to build things and play outside. While he was in high school, he pursed drawing and painting before his brother introduced him to photography. He stayed in his home state for college, graduating from Paier College of Arts and continuing to photograph around Hartford. Later, he opened a studio in New York City but eventually settled in Miami, where his studio is located today. 

Wick is influenced by his own childhood when composing his photographs for the I Spy books. He uses bright colors that are associated with children, because he wants to appeal to his young audience while also giving them a sense of wonder. His books are intended to help children learn basic skills such as colors, shapes, and animals while letting them solve a puzzle and admire the photos in detail. The original inspiration for I Spy struck Wick while he was sorting his office and grouping together similar objects. The photographs are accompanied by short rhymes written by Jean Marzollo, who comes up with the hidden objects after Wick has taken the picture. 

I chose to replicate Walter Wick's style because I loved his books as a child, and I have good memories looking at them with my family. Additionally, the way his photographs have a cohesive theme was appealing to me since there are so many options for what the scenes could be. I didn't want to be restricted by the weather during this project either, so it worked out that all the pictures could be taken inside. 

Works Cited

"About." Walter Wick Studio, 2016, www.walterwick.com/about. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Encyclopedia.com. www.encyclopedia.com/children/scholarly-magazines/wick-walter-1953.

"How 'I Spy' Books Are Made." Youtube, uploaded by Insider Art, 22 July 2019, www.youtube.com/watch?v=sz8luEznxbM. Accessed 16 Mar. 2024.

Marzollo, Jean. I Spy: A Book of Picture Riddles. Illustrated by Walter Wick, compiled by Carol Devine Carson, e-book ed., New York City, Scholastic, 1992.

"A Tour of Walter Wick Studio." Youtube, uploaded by Walter Wick Studio, 26 Oct. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qsNexHD8Kw. Accessed 16 Mar. 2024.

"'Where do you keep all the props?'" Youtube, uploaded by Walter Wick Studio, 26 Oct. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=woCpUVZU7Ws. Accessed 16 Mar. 2024.