In this months Blogs from around the World I am pleased to be in my home country and to be able to introduce a very talented and also very lovely illustrator. If you haven't seen any of Lynne Chapman's work before you have indeed been missing out.
From her amazing children's book illustrations to her inspiring sketches, she is not only a talented artist but a great blog writer too! So please, grab a cuppa, have a read and enjoy!
Lynne at her drawing desk
Where is home for you?
Sheffield
What’s the best thing about your job?
I’m very lucky to have such a creative job, one that not only allows me to use my love of drawing, but also to indulge my sense of humour. It’s especially lovely to have such a tangible end result, which I can then share with children.
Dragon’s dinner
Illustration from Dragon’s Dinner written by Susannah Corbett (published 2009 by Hodder)
Do you listen to music whilst you work and if so is there anything which helps you create?
While I am working on my pastel artwork, I listen to talking books, which keep me calm and content, and stop me stressing too much. I listen to music while I am doing my roughs though, as the continual problem-solving and occasional deep concentration make it impossible to follow a story.
Pteradons
From Gnash, Gnaw, Dinosaur! written by Tony Mitton (published 2009 by Macmillan)
What were your favourite books to read as a child?
My first love was Dr Seuss, especially The Cat in the Hat. Later, I was a big fan of Enid Blyton, initially her younger series like The Faraway Tree and The Wishing Chair, then the Famous Five and Secret Seven books. After that I remember getting very into Agatha Christie.
Bears on the Stairs
My newest release, written by Julia Jarman (published 2010 by Andersen Press)
How did you become a children’s illustrator?
My degree was in Printed Textiles, but I got fed up with always being asked to paint flowers; I wanted to draw all sorts of things. I specialised in various different kinds of illustration before I found children’s books, including 10 years as a freelance Editorial Illustrator. That taught me how to interpret text and to illustrate the meaning behind the words, rather than the words themselves, which has made me a better book illustrator.
I got my first book after taking a speculative folio of illustrations to show various children’s publishers. I’d done a pastel drawing of some singing dogs and Gullane had the text for The Show at Rickety Barn by Jemma Beeke, which stars Jasper, a cat who fancies himself as a singer. Gullane’s Art Director could instantly see what I would do with Jasper and the rest is history.
Jasper-sings
Jasper the cat from The Show at Rickety Barn (published 2000 by Gullane)
You illustrate in pastels, but do you use any other mediums?
Not for my picture books. However, I draw and paint all the time in sketchbooks, just for fun. That is where I can experiment, using whatever medium I fancy. I used to prefer 3B or coloured pencils, but in recent years I have started to sketch with ink and watercolours too, which I’ve discovered is great fun.
Space-hens
Illustration from When You’re Not Looking! (published 2004 by Gullane)
How did it feel to see your first published book?
Fantastic – of course! I was already used to seeing my work in print, but there is something very special about the high quality printing in a picture book and the fact that it is a stand-alone object. I love that it will be taken off into people’s homes and start a life of its own.
Itch to Scratch
An Itch to Scatch, written by Damian Harvey (published 2005 by Gullane)
You must have great fun when you do the school visits.
School visits are a delightful discovery. I had no idea I would be able to work with children, in fact the idea terrified me at first! I have done hundreds now though, and they are great fun. They are also the perfect antidote to spending the rest of the time working on my own.
Giddy-Goat
Illustration from Giddy the Great written by Jamie Rix (published 2006 byOrchard)
Are there any other children’s book illustrators in your field that you admire?
Way too many to mention them all. I love looking at other people’s work and it always seems so much more exciting than my own! Shaun Tan’s evocative and brooding images have always been a favourite, I love the richness of Dave McKean’s illustrations, David Melling’s humour, Mini Grey’s crazy attention to detail, Jason Chapman, Anna Laura Cantone, Sarah McIntyre, Lane Smith….
Crocs-on-desk
Artwork from Baby Goes Baaaaa! (published Apr 2012 by Egmont)
Your sketches of people on the train are wonderful. Do people mind you sketching them?
People mostly don’t seem to mind. I never ask permission though. If I do that, I end up drawing a portrait, which is a totally different thing - people are no longer natural, plus there's suddenly an expectation on me to achieve a likeness (as well as a need to make sure it's flattering!), which can make things quite stressful and spoil the enjoyment. My 'victim' often works out what I’m up to halfway through, but they tend to hold their original position and carry on with what they were doing.
Starbucks-Tom
Sheffield SketchCrawl, Jan 2011: my sketch of Tom, our youngest member at 10 years old
Sketchcrawl-lunch
Sheffield SketchCrawl, Jan 2011: people wouldn’t even stop drawing for lunch!
Your sketches of people on the train are wonderful. Do people mind you sketching them?
People mostly don’t seem to mind. I never ask permission though. If I do that, I end up drawing a portrait, which is a totally different thing - people are no longer natural, plus there's suddenly an expectation on me to achieve a likeness (as well as a need to make sure it's flattering!), which can make things quite stressful and spoil the enjoyment. My 'victim' often works out what I’m up to halfway through, but they tend to hold their original position and carry on with what they were doing.
Train-sketch
Pencil sketch done on a train
Other than your sketches and your illustration, do you paint for pleasure?
Not at the moment – there just isn’t time. I think if I ever stop illustrating, or have major gaps between books, I will do more painting.
If only I lived nearer I would love to join the SketchCrawl. How did that come about?
SketchCrawling – drawing as a group, out and about - was started several years ago in San Fransisco, by Enrico Casarosa, and it is now an international phenomonon. It is about sharing a love of sketching and empowering one another.
I first heard about it through my association with the international sketching group Urban Sketchers. It sounded a fun idea, so I arranged one here in Sheffield, last September. I had no idea if anyone would turn up, but 25 people came. We all enjoyed it enormously – it’s a great way of turning a solitary activity into a group event and many said that drawing as a group gave them the confidence they needed to sketch outside. Everyone wanted to do it again ASAP, so I have been holding them roughly once a month ever since.
Work-in-prog
Me working on Dragon’s Dinner
Now that Baby Goes Baaaaa! is heading to the publishers, what’s next for you?
I am currently working on the sequel, which will come out in the summer of 2012, hot on the heels of Baby Goes Baaaaa!, (published in April).
You can find Lynne's wonderful light-hearted blog
here or click
here for her website. If you are interested in watching some short films (which I have found really great) then please click
here. And you can buy Lynne's books
here.
Hope you all have a great weekend!
Helen
