Artist and Chestnut Hill resident Elivia Savadier, who has been illustrating childrens' books for 14 years, can now claim a new title - writer. Savadier wrote and illustrated NO HAIRCUT TODAY, which was published in 2005. The Society of Illustrators/New York chose to exhibit (an illustration from ) the book at its "Original Art" annual exhibit in November; The Washington Post also included NO HAIRCUT TODAY in their roundup of the season's best books for boys in May 2005.

" I am learning what being a writer means...," Savadier said. " I want to write from my heart as I illustrate from my heart."

Savadier was born and raised in Cape Town, South Africa, and has also lived in Greece and England.She has illustrated 15 childrens' books, and her work has been chosen three times for inclusion at The Society of Illustrators/New York "Original Art" annual exhibit. I LOVE SATURDAYS written by Alma Flor Ada was chosen as one of the top 25 childrens' books for the Global Society and was made into a video for Beyond the Page by Disney Educational Productions. Amongst her honors, some of Savadier's illustrations from JEWISH HOLIDAYS ALL YEAR ROUND are on permanent display on the Childrens' Floor of the Jewish Museum in New York.

Savadier's impetus to illustrate was ignited when she was pregnant with her daughter in 1991. Typically, the stories written by Savadier express the way people meet challenging situations with their children. Or as Savadier's editor, Neal Porter of Roaring Brook Press said of TIME TO GET DRESSED in the Spring 2006 catalogue: "TIME TO GET DRESSED once more demonstrates Elivia Savadier's talent for capturing the complex relationships between parent and child, with both wacky humor and exquisite tenderness."

"The most healthy and fulfilling imprint on my life is mothering," Savadier explained. Being a mother opened Savadier up to the meanings that love can hold and a connection with other children and parents. Feeling drawn into the world of childhood, Savadier imagined what the world might feel like from the perspective of children and their parents. "For me, these stories are about who we are as people in the world," Savadier said. Savadier's images grow from her perception of what each character is feeling. Focusing inward, Savadier waches the magical flow of surprises an contrasts that grow out of the union of text and image. " I am so lucky to illustrate picture books and have the freedom to create the visual dance of the book," Savadier explained. She examines what each character is experiencing inside in order to relay that feeling on paper, as opposed to focusing on what they may look like on theoutside. " I am not drawing how people look," she said, " I am drawing how people feel."

Savadier takes time to explore the text and images within the story. While concentrating on the characters, Savadier lets the line take control. She is also (moved) by the awe-inspiring landscapes and warm colors of her native land of South Africa. "It remains a life force carried deep within," Savadier said. She typically uses watercolor, pencil, pen and ink to create her colorful illustrations.

Savadier's work has been compared to the painting and glasswork of early twentieth century fine artist Marc Chagall and the drawings of modern American cartoonist Jules Feiffer. "jules Feiffer is very good at taking complex sets of emotions," Savadier explained, "and very loosely with line, and freely with word associations, serving up artwork that mirrors what people recognize as their own complexity, and are then able to laugh at themselves. Marc Chagall's work is reminiscent for his loose fantasy, color and the spiritually transcendent aspects of what he was trying to portray," Savadier commented.Uncertain that other artists have influenced her art, Savadier said her style is her own. "I am touched when people compare my art to artists I really enjoy."

The impetus for NO HAIRCUT TODAY came when Savadier was getting a haircut. The hairdresser mentioned that her son hated having his haircut, and the sentence popped into her head, " This is Dominic's Hair." With it, Savadier saw a little boy peeking over the page with just his nose, eyes and extremely wild hair showing.

In addition to her work as an illustrator, and, most recently, an author, Savadier frequently speaks to both child and adult audiences at conferences and schools about what making mistakes can create, how certain illustrations came about, how thumbnail sketches are born and how to evolve pieces into finished art, among other topics.

She is working on a series about a childs' newfound independence from his/her parents that reminds parents how to express their love, patience and humor. The next book in this series, TIME TO GET DRESSED, will be published in spring 2006. (by Roaring Brook Press)