Illustrator Our chat with Laura What do you love most about kids books? I love the pictures! I find it amazing how a story can be told in very few words because so much of the narrative is in the illustrations. When I was a child, picture books really sparked my imagination and made me want to become an illustrator. Did you have a favourite childhood book? As a child I loved Richard Scarry books more than anything. I always enjoyed reading, but I was definitely more interested in the pictures and in creating my own stories. Scarry’s busy scenes kept me amused for HOURS! How many books have you done? I just had a quick count and I have illustrated 20 books, with two out next year! I feel very grateful to have been given the opportunity to work alongside some fantastic writers and publishers over the last few years and I’m really looking forward to the future. What age did you start to enjoy illustrating? I can’t think of I time when I have not enjoyed it! Do you have a favourite object/thing to draw? Cats are definitely my favourite thing to draw. They inspire me so much! Sometimes I make up cat characters up in my head or sometimes I am inspired by real-life moggies. Almost all of my neighbours own a cat, so there are many, many feline visitors to my little garden throughout the day. Oddly enough, they all seem to get along with each other really well! Does it take long to complete a book? It can take anywhere between 4 and 7 months for me to finish a picture book. I often start with sketches to make sure I get the main character just right. Once the they are finalised, I create very rough pencil sketches of the whole book, followed by more detailed sketches in ink. When the sketches are signed off by the client and any changes made, I start on colour artwork which is the most time-consuming part. It’s a long process, but it’s so rewarding to see my work in print. I never get tired of it! Are you friends with other authors? Yes! I used to share a studio with author/illustrators SandraDieckmann and Sophie Gilmore who create the most BEAUTIFUL books. I tend to meet other illustrators quite regularly via meet-ups and at publishing events and I am always struck by how lovely and supportive illustrators are of each other. Have you ever read a book before, that you didn't like? I know how much hard work goes into writing and illustrating and how incredibly nerve wracking it can be to release your creative endeavours into the world, so even if something isn’t quite to my tastes, I always try to appreciate the effort that’s gone into publishing it. Have you ever thought about illustrating older novels for children or adults? Oh yes! I would love to do fiction work for older children. I adore black and white illustration! Any new up coming titles coming out soon, that we should be looking out for? Mummy’s Suitcase written by Pip Jones is out now! The book is about a little girl called Ruby Roo who’s Mummy is going away for three whole days, so she decides to pack a suitcase with all the things she knows her Mummy loves best. Hop Little Bunnies, by Martha Mumford is another recent title that I hope your readers enjoy. It is based on the popular nursery rhyme 'Sleeping Bunnies' and is perfect for very young children. BARNEY_INS_LAURA-6 From Quick, Barney, RUN! by Pip Jones and published by Faber and Faber MUMMY'S SUITCASE_UK_PB-9 and MUMMY'S SUITCASE_UK_PB-9 MUMMY'S SUITCASE_UK_PB-15 From Mummy's Suitcase by Pip Jones and published by Faber and Faber. Thanks for chatting with us Laura, great answers! Fo more information on Laura: www.laurahughes-illustrator.co.uk Books here. Instagram @laura_a_hughes You can find Laura Hughes books at www.booktopia.com.au www.bookdepository.com www.amazon.co.uk www.amazon.com.au www.dymocks.com.au www.angusrobertson.com.au www.fishpond.com.au
1 Comment
Katie Burman
16/7/2019 09:15:48 pm
Richard Scarry was one of my absolute favourites as a child too. Another great interview. 🙏😀
Reply
Leave a Reply. |