I want to address a question I have been asked by many people. It came up again last night as I was showing the proof copy of my newest children's book.....When I Am Quiet, to a group of creative friends. My dear friend and collaborator, Rose Gauss, did an amazing job on the beautiful illustrations. The group had seen some of my drawings on the wall and know I take art classes and make my own note/greeting cards with my drawings. Even though they LOVED Rose's illustrations, they asked why don't I do my own illustrations? The answer is very simple. When I draw, my art is very detailed and precise. Like this:
That might look good hanging on someone's wall or for the front of a note card, but it would bore a child to death. I have tried to be whimsical and less "controlled" in my drawings but it just isn't in me.
Rose is an illustrator. She can draw amazing whimsical, carefree characters that I simply don't know how to do. In illustrating you have to be able to project action, emotions, facial expressions, etc that would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, for me to do even though I can draw. My art is VERY different from what would best fit a children's book. Now look at two of the pages from the new book and you will see how very different Rose's gifting is from mine.
Rose creates images that engage the imagination and makes the child want to read more. She is perfect for what I want to portray in my books. She “sees” what I write. I am thankful we are a team……and very blessed by her talent. We have a tacit agreement. She won’t ask me to do her job and I won’t ask her to do mine! We are both very comfortable with our gifting and collaborating to create something we both can be proud of.
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