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SCBWI received more than 150 entries from illustrators for the 2011 Tomie dePaola Award. This year's contest asked illustrators to create an original piece interpreting the opening of Johanna Spyri’s HEIDI. "I want to see an image, a style, a vision that I’ve never seen before!" Tomie said. "I want to be surprised, excited and--VERY jealous that I didn’t think of that way to illustrate it."

The winner, chosen by Tomie dePaola himself, is Katia Wish. Katia wins a $1,000 gift certificate for art supplies, plus full tuition, transportation and accommodations to the SCBWI Annual Winter Conference. Her winning piece will be featured at the exhibition in New York.

"The composition of Katia's piece is very striking, as is the point of view," said Tomie. "I like her painting style and the figure of Heidi is full of life. I also like the way she placed Heidi's face against the black skirt of the adult figure. The vertical shape of the illustration gives the viewer a real sense of the mountains and I love the way Heidi is being 'pulled' into the picture."

Congratulations, Katia Wish! Here is her winning entry.
 

Here are three other entries that Tomie dePaola found noteworthy with commentary from him. They are the work of Julie Phillipps, Bradley Cooper, and Nancy Davis.
 

Tomie said: "The piece submitted by Julie Phillipps stands out because of her fabric collage technique, incorporating the landscape into the coat. Very nice."

 

Tomie said: "Bradley Cooper's piece is more realistic. Very nice rendering of Heidi's face, full of emotion. This style would be very suitable for an older child or even an adult book."

 

Tomie said: "Nancy Davis used a cut paper technique, but it is her very simple, stylized interpretation that caught my eye. Very child-like and perky."

Congratulations to the winner and honorable mentions!