Carl Chaiet was born in Manhattan and raised in Mount Vernon, New York. He could view the spire of the Empire State building from his bedroom window, and the outline of New York City’s skyline. It was this early image that sparked his creativity to draw worlds that exist yet are transformed by his imagination. Bridges, trains, remnants of architecture from the 1930’s, his Grandmother’s china, his father’s automobiles have all made appearances in his children’s books. Chaiet began to draw early in his childhood and he credits drawing as the skill that propelled him to pursue art receiving a BA from Hunter College and MFA from Lehman in the Bronx. He has taught art in both high schools and colleges.