Have you ever been curious about how illustrations are created and then brought to life within the pages of a book? As an illustrator, I’m excited to share my personal and somewhat unconventional process with you. It’s important to note that the world of book illustration is wonderfully diverse, with artists employing a wide range of techniques to create captivating visuals. Many contemporary books feature digital illustrations, either entirely or in part, reflecting the evolving tools of the trade. Simultaneously, many artists continue to embrace traditional methods, skillfully using pen and ink, paint, pencils, or charcoal to craft their artwork. While these methods all offer unique artistic possibilities, my heart lies with a specific approach, particularly when it came to illustrating “Your Brave Song.”
For my illustrations, I often turn to the vibrant and versatile medium of acrylic paint, applied onto large canvases – often twice the size of the final book dimensions. This deliberate choice of scale is driven by my desire to achieve exceptionally crisp and detailed imagery in the printed book. If you’ve ever experimented with Shrinky Dinks, drawing on the special paper before baking it and watching it shrink, you’ll understand the principle behind my preference for large canvases. The transformation is truly remarkable; intricate patterns and fine details become even more striking and refined as they are scaled down. While canvas might not be the most common choice for book illustrations due to storage and transportation considerations that favor illustration board or digital files, I find immense joy and artistic satisfaction in working on canvas.
My artistic journey began in the realm of portraiture, where I primarily worked with pencil and pen and ink. Over time, my creative path led me to develop “story paintings”—storybook-style artworks accompanied by snippets of written narrative, designed to enhance the imaginative experience for viewers. I showcased and sold these paintings at exhibitions and directly to clients. Illustrating actual storybooks felt like a natural progression from this foundation, and I intuitively continued to create artwork using the same techniques that had served me in my earlier artistic endeavors. Although I deeply appreciate the delicate beauty of pen and ink and watercolor illustrations, and have recently started exploring the possibilities of digital illustration, I felt a strong pull towards acrylic on canvas for “Your Brave Song.” There was a particular quality and depth I wanted to capture for this story, and canvas felt like the right medium to achieve it.
I recall when I first shared a photograph with Ann, the editor, showing me beside one of the original illustrations for “Your Brave Song.” She expressed surprise at the sheer size of the canvases. Currently, my art studio walls are largely covered with these vibrant canvases, and a few others have found temporary homes in various corners of my house, leaning against walls and adding splashes of color throughout my living space. Each canvas holds a piece of the visual narrative of “Your Brave Song,” waiting to be shared with readers and contribute to the book’s overall message of courage and self-expression.
