Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 7 · column 4 of 6 · from the scan, no model involved
Also on display at the show is the palomino rocking horse modeled by Bittinger who did not want to infringe on any copy write laws by using another artist’s model.
He said he learned to sculpt and carve wood in classes taught by Charles Flickinger at Olde Way. He said he considers Flickinger an excellent teacher and that sculpting is far easier than painting.
Several local children as well as Norman and Sandra Cartwright-Brown’s Jack Russell terrier, Nellie, were models for the illustrations. Oliver Brass, Bittinger’s neighbor, was the model for the main character as a young boy and later as his son (with red hair). Steve von Fange was the model for the boy as he appeared as a 12-year-old.
Bittinger said his idea for the cover was originally turned down by his editor at Scholastic Press, Diana Hess, but ultimately was chosen for the cover. The most difficult illustration, Bittinger said, was the last page which originally showed birds flying in
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