Illustrators

What is the oldest picture, drawing or painting of yours still in existence?

I believe my mother saved a drawing of our church I did in Sunday School when I was about four; it wasn’t for the art, though. I had crayoned a charmingly precocious question about the Sunday School lesson below the picture. 🙂

Who was the first person to say you had a real talent for illustration?

I think I always drew, and my family sort of took it for granted and never thought to discuss it, particularly. The first person to really encourage me was a junior high art teacher (who was probably just thrilled to have someone in his class who actually wanted to be there). I remember you and the cafeteria murals you let me work on, Mr. Baltzegar!

Did you have other encouragers along the way?

When I went back for my BFA (had graduated in English the year before), I was a graphic design major–which at that time was part of the fine arts curriculum. My design professors encouraged me, but it was my drawing instructor, Clark Stewart, who planted the seeds of an illustration career. (Gosh, I can’t believe I’m remembering these names!)

You’ve transitioned from graphic designer of business publications to children’s picture book illustrator. Was that an easy transition for you?

Mentally, yes–I had been wanting to try illustrating for children for–oh, years and years. It took the internet to make it possible, since I was located in the Southeast, nowhere near any book publishers.

In practical terms, it took about a year to pull together a portfolio of samples. I had been doing publicity for my daughters’ dance company and designing orientation packets for a local university–that was as close as I had been to illustrating for children until then.

How do you feel about the future of the picture book industry?

Well, I think the new delivery systems are tremendously exciting. Anything that encourages reading is good–and the interactive platforms will be particularly useful for a whole range of concept books and nonfiction publications.

I do think of picture books as an art form, and I think holding a printed book and turning the pages engages a child in an important way. I’ve heard speculation that printed books will become more like artisan objects, lovingly crafted–and expensive. That might be an attractive notion artistically, but I’m not in any way a book snob: I hope there are always mass-produced books on sale at grocery stores and similar outlets, books every child can afford to own.

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