I refer to the kids' books on my children's bookshelves by title and illustrator "Honey, grab "Blue Ribbon Day, off the shelf ... you know the one with the illustrations by R.W. Alley..."
I go into school for a PTO event, and find myself watching a great expression on a child and thinking, oh that would be perfect to illustrate an angry mouth, or happy eyes, or prideful posture, or etc., etc.
The first thing I do when I get my SCBWI Bulletin is to see who the illustrators are.
I can't watch TV at night unless I have a sketch pad and pencil in my hand.
my brain is packed full of ideas for children's books, cartoon characters, inventions, sculptures and paintings I'd love to do if I only had the time, space, and money to indulge my passion.
I've had to make the choice between buying groceries or buying art supplies.
I know because everywhere I go, walks in the woods, the doctor's office, my kid's schools, driving on the highway, I see a story. If I can't tell that story in words, I know I can in pictures.
I know I'm an author/illustrator because I'm madly in love with the art form and I'm not happy doing anything else. Also, because I haven't thought twice about the sacrifices I've made to break into the children's book field. It's my life-- not a conventional one, but who cares?
10 comments:
I know because:
Every thing I see I look at in a different way than the others around me.
I would rather draw or paint than eat.
I see images in strange places, like tree bark, floor tiles, shadows, even waffles *:)
There is a huge file of photos from everyday life on my external hard drive...waiting to become characters and scenes in my next book.
Other authors and illustrators continually inspire me.
I speak PAINTER.
I know I'm an illustrator because:
I get excited buying news pencils and erasers.
I refer to the kids' books on my children's bookshelves by title and illustrator "Honey, grab "Blue Ribbon Day, off the shelf ... you know the one with the illustrations by R.W. Alley..."
I go into school for a PTO event, and find myself watching a great expression on a child and thinking, oh that would be perfect to illustrate an angry mouth, or happy eyes, or prideful posture, or etc., etc.
The first thing I do when I get my SCBWI Bulletin is to see who the illustrators are.
I can't watch TV at night unless I have a sketch pad and pencil in my hand.
:)
I know I'm an illustrator because:
I go to sleep and wake up thinking about illustration.
I morph people I meet into objects in my mind.
Intense color makes me well up.
On laundry day I have to empty my jeans pockets of erasers and pencil stubs.
I forget about eating, drinking, cleaning,just about everything else but the project in front of me in Photoshop.
I know because...
my brain is packed full of ideas for children's books, cartoon characters, inventions, sculptures and paintings I'd love to do if I only had the time, space, and money to indulge my passion.
I've had to make the choice between buying groceries or buying art supplies.
I dream in watercolors.
All of you, Michelle, Roberta, Mark ... amaze me with your dedication. It is true that we eat, sleep and dream art!
My art supply list is usually longer than my grocery list, Mark. I love that you dream in WATERCOLOR!
Roberta, I got such a kick out of your laundry day ritual. And I am glad no one can see how clean my house isn't when I am working on a project.
Michelle, I can just picture you at a PTO meeting drinking in the characteristics of the children and their parents too!
Thanks for the visit and the comments.
Because I think of life in terms of image and story and have problems with reality.
I know because everywhere I go, walks in the woods, the doctor's office, my kid's schools, driving on the highway, I see a story. If I can't tell that story in words, I know I can in pictures.
I know beacuse:
When I have a pencil in my hand all the problems go away
Always loved to create little characters
Love to see happy faces looking at illustrations or art in general
Love to learn everyday something new from people that I admire
I know it because...
every time I walk in a bookstore or library, it's as if all the books start whispering their secrets in my ear...
other people see small mushrooms, I see mushroom houses...
an unescorted trip to the craft store is as relaxing as a week-long cruise...
when I dream, it's in vivid color and I receive guidance & ideas for the pieces I'm meant to create...
I can envision every picture book manuscript I read in great detail...
I want to befriend every children's book illustrator who crosses my path...
I can't help it, illustrating is as natural as breathing. You can't live without oxygen...right? So there you go!
I know I'm an author/illustrator because I'm madly in love with the art form and I'm not happy doing anything else. Also, because I haven't thought twice about the sacrifices I've made to break into the children's book field. It's my life-- not a conventional one, but who cares?
Great topic Ginger!
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