Illustration

I have loved writing and drawing since I was a little girl, but as I was growing up I never connected the two things. That is, I never imagined that I would one day write and illustrate books! It wasn't until after I started pursing publication as an author that I considered the possibility of also illustrating. But, despite a few half-hearted attempts at illustrating my own stories and a few illustrations published in children's magazines over the years, it took a really long time, encouragement from a dear illustrator friend, and the publication of my illustrated novel in verse, Mari in the Margins, to get me to really start focusing on what I have been afraid to do for years: illustrating a picture book!

I am a self taught artist, which is a way of trying to sound cool while saying I didn't go to art school. My learning has been through years of regular practice, lots of picture book study, and various online workshops, including the Picture Book Pro course from SVS Learn.

Ever since high school my favorite medium has been linoleum block printing, and I enjoy experimenting with different methods of making prints. I love the work of illustrators such as Eric Rohmann, Becky Prange, and Ron Allen, who use printmaking techniques in their work. 

My block print illustrations are made from hand-carved, hand-printed block prints. Often, as with the illustration below inspired by Hansel and Gretel, the block print is printed in black ink, scanned, and then painted digitally using the Procreate program on my iPad. Other times I print using colored inks.

Another technique I enjoy using often is pen and ink drawing. During my years of raising young children, it was easiest to maintain my art practice by using a medium that was easy to pick up and put down. Pencil for sketching (and a season of drawing pencil portraits) and pen for finished work. I am particularly fond of creating pen drawings of critters, such as the porcupine below.

No matter what medium I use, my goal is to create art that is whimsical and fun and doesn't take itself too seriously. Illustrations that tell a story and invite children in and ask them to stay for a while.

You're welcome to come too!

Rebecca