Lowcountry artist Clay Rice combines his multifaceted artistry into his first children’s book, The Lonely Shadow
Paper, rock, scissors—Clay Rice manipulates two of these on a near-daily basis. The Charleston-based folk artist has created literally thousands of paper silhouettes, mostly of children’s profiles, for more than twenty-five years. But while he’s renowned for his cutouts, in paper and in steel (the South Carolina State Museum owns several pieces), he never aspired to be a visual artist: “It took me a while to realize that it was a talent. I’ve never thought much about the difficulty.”
In actuality, what blossomed into Rice’s livelihood and eventually gained him national recognition was his way to make a few extra bucks during summers home to the Grand Strand from Belmont College in Nashville. He was at Belmont to shape a career songwriting and music—his first artistic love. But the artist has a strong creative bloodline and cashed in on the natural talent passed down from his grandfather, Carew Rice, whose sensibility and dexterity with silhouettes amused young Clay: “He made it look so easy.”
So, at twenty, Rice decided to pursue the family business. Since then, he has cut thousands of silhouettes on the spot and traveled the country telling stories, singing original tunes, and brandishing his grandfather’s turn-of-the-century pocket scissors.
The artist now offers a new packaging of his work: children’s books. The medium allows a single fit for his myriad talents. This first book, titled The Lonely Shadow and published by Charleston-based Joggling Board Press, is the story of a shadow looking for a companion and a boy searching for his shadow. Rice incorporates detailed cutting-work atop pastel scenes for colorful dimension.
But, as special as his illustrations are, the surprising standout is the writing. After all, Rice is a songwriter and performer, giving the text a rhythmic, near lyrical quality that he attributes to his honed musical talent. “The writing is really what got me interested in children’s books. That’s the quick part.”
And, much like songs, Rice’s stories have a richness that will entertain children and inspire adults. “I try to write poignantly about simple things in life. They’re about things you see around you every day and many times take for granted.” Rice says his message also deals with self-reliance: “Think outside the box and work hard, and you will achieve your goal.”
But while his stories come nearly effortlessly, Rice concedes the illustrations do not. “They can be real bears to illustrate. Each one takes on its own personality. Hours and hours have gone into the illustrations.”
Amusing words for one who has been working with paper since he was about seven years old. But, with books, Rice has managed to present himself fresh artistic challenges. And though The Lonely Shadow is receiving critical acclaim, the artist-musician-author has at least twenty more stories in mind. He’s working on his second book—Mama, Let’s Make a Moon—due out this fall.
Through this vein, Rice is honoring the spirits and artistic revelations of those who came before. He credits children’s authors Eric Carle and Shel Silverstein as inspiring examples, as well as his mother, Katherine, an elementary school teacher who, Rice says, “Instilled a sense of dreaminess and wonder into how we thought as children. I try to thread that into my children’s books. It’s a feeling.”
IMAGES COURTESY OF CLAY RICE
