It is pretty cool to have comments about things you are least expecting.
I have placed five chapter illustrations in one of the albums on my Facebook author page, and I received a comment on one of the illustrations that I really like a lot, but never really thought of it as an eye-catcher. That chapter is number 4.
It depicts JT standing under Gregory's big, old, oak tree looking out over a field that he farms, and by his right foot, the first leaf of Fall tumbles to the ground.
In the book, the scene is used as a visual cue to let the reader know that this is where the adventure starts to get interesting. Have you ever wondered about the very first snowflake that falls from the sky on a winter's day, or for that matter the very first of anything? I have often thought about those things.
I do believe (and she may correct me) that Lauren Gallegos, my illustrator for The Mahogany Door, mentioned that the leaf falling stuck in her mind and just seemed pretty important.
It's interesting as well to play your life in "rewind" to see some of the decisions that you have made to get you to that one particular point. In that context, it IS very important. For example, one day two very dear friends of our offered to let my wife and me use a time share in Alexandria, Virginia. At first I really wasn't so sure. We had studio time to prepare for, and, if you know me, you'll understand my disdain for driving around Washington, D.C. In fact, by taking the trip I would have driven through the area twice within the last month. But I digress.
My wife immediately wanted to do it, but I really, kind of, maybe, not so sure, maybe, wanted to say no. I really didn't want to have to drive back from D.C. at night and then have to go to work (wow, I am just too exciting). I then remembered how much that our friends mean to us, so I said yes.
As I barely got the word "yes" out of my mouth, my wife immediately says, "So do you want to go see your uncle and aunt and cousins? They do live in D.C., right?" Granted there are many personal things in my life I do not talk about, so for the chance for my wife to corner ANYONE from my life and ask questions about me, she's willing to do it at the drop of a hat.
When I was younger, my family was pretty close. But things in life happen, and the separation of time takes its toll. I think we can all relate to the "I love my family, but there are some things I just don't want to do with them." I confess: I am one of those people. Yet as a gesture to my wife, I said, "I think that will be nice."
Again, if you know me, and you know my wife, you know I will say that I will be glad to do things. But it's the "doing" that is the problem. My wife promptly sends a note to my aunt, knowing that I will probably forget or wait until the day before we should show up.
Long story short: I got to meet my uncle, aunt, and cousin again and meet a couple of first cousins once removed (so I am told). I was told a hundred times that I need to get a dog, I was encouraged to talk about my book with people very interested in it, and I got to look stupid wearing a head thingy while they guessed "What I am?" And Jill got some of her questions answered. She found out that the Hunter (my mom's maiden name) apple doesn't fall too far from the tree, and that we all - I mean ALL -- have the same eyes (squinty inset ones). It was not only a nice seven hours - it was fun! Something I hope that I can do again soon.
It was a good lesson for me to revert back to the real reason I wrote the book. There are some things we have no control over, but there are some things we do. We don't have control over the first leaf of Fall making its way to Earth, but perhaps we have control over what takes place after it metaphorically floats to the ground in our lives. Saying "yes" sometimes may just be a good thing.
I was reminded a couple of times during the process of creating The Mahogany Door, the first book in my series of fantasy books for young readers, that I really need to try to do some of the things I write so eloquently about. I think those people who have reminded me of this were right. (Of course you can probably guess who that person is.)
Always,
Mark
Showing posts with label book illustrator. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book illustrator. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Interview with Lauren Gallegos : Talented Illustrator
Lauren has been working so hard on the illustrations for The Mahogany Door, the first book in a trilogy of fantasy-adventure books for young readers, that I decided to ask her a few questions. I want all who may be interested in the book to have a chance to know her - just a little.
I could not have asked for a better illustrator. Her talent and imagination have made it a pleasure and an event to open new e-mails from her, telling me that she has completed a new drawing. Each one I open sends chills down my back to think that what she captured in an amazing illustration came from something that I wrote!
I felt it very important to let Lauren have free reign on what she has drawn for each chapter. Having a professional illustrator such as Lauren draw an image that sticks in her noggin after reading a passage was very important to me because she now knew EXACTLY what to draw and how it should look.
If I'd tried to tell Lauren what to draw, it would have made the process very difficult on her, especially since she would have been trying to draw something that I pictured. I'm sure it's very hard to try to guess what someone else might be creating in his or her, mind.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Ms. Lauren Gallegos:
Mark: When did you know you wanted to be an illustrator?
Lauren: Growing up, I always loved drawing and creating. In college I decided to take the Graphic Design route of creativity, considering my attention to detail and order. However, after taking an introduction to illustration course I realized how much I missed traditional drawing and was introduced to the world of children’s books. Thinking back to my childhood, I realized how much the books I read as a little girl had stayed with me throughout my life. They were an important part of my growth, my beliefs, and my behavior. The idea of telling a story with my art from which children would read and learn important life lessons gave me a way to make a mark in this world, and I couldn’t just ignore that calling.
Mark: How long have you been drawing professionally?
Lauren: I have been doing freelance illustration for almost two years after spending most of my college years mainly focusing on developing my drawing skills and learning how to survive the business side of illustration. Although I am still quite new to the field, I feel I have had some great opportunities to learn from veterans in the field who have been generous enough to pass on their wisdom. I’m still waiting for that big Publishing House to let me know they want to publish my book, but until then, I am willing to take on projects I haven’t done before so I can be challenged, grow, gain experience, and find my niche.
Mark: What was your first professional job in illustration?
Lauren: While I was in college I was blessed to have the opportunity to do an internship at Piggy Toes Press/Intervisual Books, a small children’s book publisher in Santa Monica, California. (Most publishing houses are located on the east coast; there are very few in California) When my internship was done I was offered a job as their freelance illustrator. I couldn’t believe it! While I was there I learned a lot about the publishing industry, the process that goes into making a children’s book, and I was able to develop my storytelling skills with professional, smart people who could point me in the right direction. I am so thankful for the time I had there to learn and grow.
Mark: Many illustrators take on multiple projects to get experience, jobs, and credentials. I'm sure that there are many projects, though, that you may turn down because of one reason or another. What made you to decide to take on the Mahogany Door?
Lauren: Every offer to work on a children’s book project is enticing, but I have learned to approach these offers with caution, especially when there are so many people who want to get into publishing without doing their homework or having any understanding of what it takes to make a quality book. I decided to take on “The Mahogany Door” because it seems like a book with the potential to last. The book also has a certain feel to it that fits the kind of art I love to create -- the feeling of adventure, mystery, and drama. The characters drew me in and I wanted to make drawings that would draw in the readers even more.
Mark: So Lauren - what gave you the inspiration to draw Michael on the throne for Chapter 17?
Lauren: Michael is a character that grabbed my attention from the start. I wonder about his motivations and what’s going on in his mind. He must have a lot of internal struggles, and we see some of his emotions come out throughout the book. It’s quite a journey. I wanted to explore him a little more for this book and encourage the readers to ponder Michael a little more by showing some of his big or significant moments throughout the story. I thought the image of Michael on the throne was a good opportunity to expose some of Michael’s hidden motivations. His actions effect all the other characters and events that take place. That’s a lot of influence for one character to have!
Mark: Can you expand on the process you use to draw an illustration?
Lauren: Most of my illustrations are inspired or based on some kind of text that I have read, or song or story I have heard, or maybe even another image I have seen. I always try to incorporate some kind of symbolism within my illustrations that might seem normal and insignificant, but a lot of thought goes into what I put in my drawings. For “The Mahogany Door,” I read through the book, taking note of important moments, emotional moments, thoughtful moments, and tried to make images that either helped build the mystery of that chapter, or emphasize a significant event, or show an important moment to encourage the reader to pay close attention. Once I have sketched out the main idea of the drawing, I’ll revise it, clean it up, and make adjustments to be sure everything is proportional and makes visual sense. Then I make a value study so I know where light and shadows go. If the image is in color, I will do a few color studies as well. Once all of those parts make sense and fit together nicely, I can make my final drawing.
Mark (shameless promotion): All things being equal - and the book becomes a success - are you looking forward to drawing for the next book in the series?
Lauren: I’m very excited! I want to explore more of the characters and see the things that motivate them. The style of the book and my art seem to fit together quite comfortably, so it’s really fun for me to create images that go along with the text. I’m excited to see what happens with this book. My hope is that there will be such a demand for the next book that we can start working on it right away!
###
You can find Lauren Gallegos on the web at www.LaurenGallegos.com and on Facebook.
To see a few drawings for "The Mahogany Door" go to Lauren's blog @ http://artbylauren.blogspot.com/
The following is the before to final drawing for Chapter 17. It depicts Michael's introduction to Kali and JT as King of Godwin, First from Eden.
Notice the size of Michael's crown, as it is much too large for his head. This represents the fact that what Michael has taken on, in becoming a king, might be too big a task for him to handle. It is my experience that, sometimes, we have leaders in our own world who try to take on way too big of a job without weighing the consequence.
It's the attention to detail that Lauren brought to these illustrations that take the writing and the story to a whole different level!
I could not have asked for a better illustrator. Her talent and imagination have made it a pleasure and an event to open new e-mails from her, telling me that she has completed a new drawing. Each one I open sends chills down my back to think that what she captured in an amazing illustration came from something that I wrote!
I felt it very important to let Lauren have free reign on what she has drawn for each chapter. Having a professional illustrator such as Lauren draw an image that sticks in her noggin after reading a passage was very important to me because she now knew EXACTLY what to draw and how it should look.
If I'd tried to tell Lauren what to draw, it would have made the process very difficult on her, especially since she would have been trying to draw something that I pictured. I'm sure it's very hard to try to guess what someone else might be creating in his or her, mind.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Ms. Lauren Gallegos:
Mark: When did you know you wanted to be an illustrator?
Lauren: Growing up, I always loved drawing and creating. In college I decided to take the Graphic Design route of creativity, considering my attention to detail and order. However, after taking an introduction to illustration course I realized how much I missed traditional drawing and was introduced to the world of children’s books. Thinking back to my childhood, I realized how much the books I read as a little girl had stayed with me throughout my life. They were an important part of my growth, my beliefs, and my behavior. The idea of telling a story with my art from which children would read and learn important life lessons gave me a way to make a mark in this world, and I couldn’t just ignore that calling.
Mark: How long have you been drawing professionally?
Lauren: I have been doing freelance illustration for almost two years after spending most of my college years mainly focusing on developing my drawing skills and learning how to survive the business side of illustration. Although I am still quite new to the field, I feel I have had some great opportunities to learn from veterans in the field who have been generous enough to pass on their wisdom. I’m still waiting for that big Publishing House to let me know they want to publish my book, but until then, I am willing to take on projects I haven’t done before so I can be challenged, grow, gain experience, and find my niche.
Mark: What was your first professional job in illustration?
Lauren: While I was in college I was blessed to have the opportunity to do an internship at Piggy Toes Press/Intervisual Books, a small children’s book publisher in Santa Monica, California. (Most publishing houses are located on the east coast; there are very few in California) When my internship was done I was offered a job as their freelance illustrator. I couldn’t believe it! While I was there I learned a lot about the publishing industry, the process that goes into making a children’s book, and I was able to develop my storytelling skills with professional, smart people who could point me in the right direction. I am so thankful for the time I had there to learn and grow.
Mark: Many illustrators take on multiple projects to get experience, jobs, and credentials. I'm sure that there are many projects, though, that you may turn down because of one reason or another. What made you to decide to take on the Mahogany Door?
Lauren: Every offer to work on a children’s book project is enticing, but I have learned to approach these offers with caution, especially when there are so many people who want to get into publishing without doing their homework or having any understanding of what it takes to make a quality book. I decided to take on “The Mahogany Door” because it seems like a book with the potential to last. The book also has a certain feel to it that fits the kind of art I love to create -- the feeling of adventure, mystery, and drama. The characters drew me in and I wanted to make drawings that would draw in the readers even more.
Mark: So Lauren - what gave you the inspiration to draw Michael on the throne for Chapter 17?
Lauren: Michael is a character that grabbed my attention from the start. I wonder about his motivations and what’s going on in his mind. He must have a lot of internal struggles, and we see some of his emotions come out throughout the book. It’s quite a journey. I wanted to explore him a little more for this book and encourage the readers to ponder Michael a little more by showing some of his big or significant moments throughout the story. I thought the image of Michael on the throne was a good opportunity to expose some of Michael’s hidden motivations. His actions effect all the other characters and events that take place. That’s a lot of influence for one character to have!
Mark: Can you expand on the process you use to draw an illustration?
Lauren: Most of my illustrations are inspired or based on some kind of text that I have read, or song or story I have heard, or maybe even another image I have seen. I always try to incorporate some kind of symbolism within my illustrations that might seem normal and insignificant, but a lot of thought goes into what I put in my drawings. For “The Mahogany Door,” I read through the book, taking note of important moments, emotional moments, thoughtful moments, and tried to make images that either helped build the mystery of that chapter, or emphasize a significant event, or show an important moment to encourage the reader to pay close attention. Once I have sketched out the main idea of the drawing, I’ll revise it, clean it up, and make adjustments to be sure everything is proportional and makes visual sense. Then I make a value study so I know where light and shadows go. If the image is in color, I will do a few color studies as well. Once all of those parts make sense and fit together nicely, I can make my final drawing.
Mark (shameless promotion): All things being equal - and the book becomes a success - are you looking forward to drawing for the next book in the series?
Lauren: I’m very excited! I want to explore more of the characters and see the things that motivate them. The style of the book and my art seem to fit together quite comfortably, so it’s really fun for me to create images that go along with the text. I’m excited to see what happens with this book. My hope is that there will be such a demand for the next book that we can start working on it right away!
###
You can find Lauren Gallegos on the web at www.LaurenGallegos.com and on Facebook.
To see a few drawings for "The Mahogany Door" go to Lauren's blog @ http://artbylauren.blogspot.com/
The following is the before to final drawing for Chapter 17. It depicts Michael's introduction to Kali and JT as King of Godwin, First from Eden.
Notice the size of Michael's crown, as it is much too large for his head. This represents the fact that what Michael has taken on, in becoming a king, might be too big a task for him to handle. It is my experience that, sometimes, we have leaders in our own world who try to take on way too big of a job without weighing the consequence.
It's the attention to detail that Lauren brought to these illustrations that take the writing and the story to a whole different level!
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