Blog Tour

I was invited by Anneliese Juergensen to join a blog tour of writers and authors describing their writing process by answering four questions. I had the pleasure of meeting Anneliese at my local SCBWI critique group a couple of years ago - Please, check out her work at AnnelieseJuergensen.com


What am I working on now?
As a writer/illustrator I have been working on a picture book idea entitled Sisters. Sisters depicts the relationship between two best friends after one of them goes back to her home country.
For the illustrations I have been exploring different mediums - I enjoy making three-dimensional cut paper collages as much as I do drawing with graphite pencil, or painting with gouache. Deciding which medium will be most appropriate to translate the mood of the story requires careful consideration.

Book dummy for Sisters.

Testing media for the illustrations of this story:
1. Pen and watercolor  2.Gouache  3.Cut paper

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

The stories that I write are definitely influenced by the children's books that I loved to read when I was a child. Most of the times they were picture books about hope, love, happiness and friendship. Thought provoking text and delightful illustrations made me go back to them again and again. Among my favorites were two Swedish books published in 1973, En vän and Att bli glad, both by Leif Kristiansson with illustrations by Dick Stenberg. 

Here, I am working on a cut paper piece.

Why do I write what I do?
Often I write about friendship. I am captivated by it's selfless and long lasting nature. Revisiting these ideas while I write reassures me that we are not alone, that we have, had or will have a friend at some point in our lives who will make us see the world in a beautiful way. And that is what I want to share with the reader.

Pencil sketch.

How does your writing process work?

For me, pictures and words usually arrive at the same time. I write down and draw my ideas on a storyboard format that shows every page at a thumbnail size. The storyboard is where -for the first time- pictures and words come together. Later, I make a book dummy, which is a homemade version of the book that I envision. This step is extremely helpful because it allows me to take in consideration the many variables that make a book a true multidimensional object. Turning the pages of the book dummy gives me a chance to experience the story's progression in the same way the finished book will.

Storyboards.

Finished illustration in cut paper.

Thanks for visiting!

I am honored to introduce you to three amazingly talented children's book illustrators and authors who accepted to take the baton from me. They will be writing about their own work next week. Make sure you visit their blogs!

Judith Moffatt

Judith Moffatt is a teacher, illustrator and author. In two decades she has illustrated over 50 books for children in her 3-dimensional cut paper style. In addition to illustrating, Judith loves teaching and has been part of the RISD Children’s Book Illustration certificate program for seventeen years. Five years ago, Moffatt had a life-changing experience that transformed her outlook on life and art. She began exploring different materials and styles. Now her art spans from young children to adults and her mediums and techniques are numerous. To learn more about Judith's work visit http://www.judithmoffatt.com/

Meg Sodano

As a natural science illustrator, Meg Sodano brings the outdoor world into her children's book illustrations. She wants to encourage kids and adults alike to get outside, explore the animals and environments around them, and have adventures that help them build a great appreciation for nature. Her recently published picture book, Georgia Goes to Lunch (written by commercial pilot and philanthropist Andrea Coppick), is less about nature and all about adventure. It tells the story of one very special day in the life of a 7-year-old girl, complete with a sports car and private plane. Meg also creates detailed biological illustrations and custom animal portraits. To see her portfolio, hop over to msodanoillustration.com. Check out her blog to read about her illustration process: msodanoillustration.com/updates.

Anne P. Wert

Anne is an illustrator, writer, reader, runner, volunteer, and mother. A former elementary teacher and lifelong painter, with pieces in private collections around the world, Anne came to children’s books naturally. She attended Parsons School of Design in Paris and is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design Children’s Book Illustration Certificate program. Anne is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. You can see her artwork and blog at www.annepwert.com