Artist James Ransome is a huge Parliament-Funkadelic fan. So much so, that one of their tunes provided the soundtrack when Ransome accepted the Society of Illustrators' gold medal during a virtual ceremony on Thursday.

For his acceptance speech, the prize-winning illustrator held up cue cards with his thanks, while bopping to the music. "That's what will come on sometimes when I'm painting, which is a little different from when I'm illustrating," he said. (When he illustrates, he listens to jazz.)

Ransome is well-known and loved for his illustrations, especially for his many children's books. But at age 60 he recently earned an MFA, and is developing a parallel career as a painter. His gold medal was for Who should own Black Art -- a painting and book jacket — and his acceptance speech acknowledged some of his influences, including his mentor, Jerry Pinkney, a member of the Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame.

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