An Interview With Linda Gunn, Book Illustrator
A Look Inside the Illustrator's Inspiration
May 2, 2009
Linda's artwork has always been awe inspiring, but her illustration for children’s books raises the bar. Here, this California artist talks candidly about her experiences in the book world.
What Made you Interested in Illustration for Children's Books?
'As a child I spent hours reading fairy tale books and devoured the illustrations. A story without illustrations rarely got read. In my mind there were two kinds of artists, a Disney artist like my grandfather and an artist that drew pictures for books. I preferred the drawings and paintings over the cartoons. In my many daydreams my adventures were real life with life like images.'
You Didn’t go to Traditional Art School; Did This Ever Prove a Problem?
'Without the traditional avenue resulting in a degree, my opportunities were limited to that of an instructor at an independent art centre, my city community centres, trade shows and private workshops.
'I visited the Disney Studio in Burbank and talked with an animator who was about to retire. He told me; "When I retire, I plan to do what you are doing. Being an animator is copy work, the hours are grueling and by the time I get home, I have no creative energy."
'I realized how lucky I was having been able to self direct my painting career by taking local college classes, visiting museums, painting and learning from my students; all while enjoying being a stay-at-home mom.
'I paint from personal life experiences with the aid of my camera, journals and sketchbooks. My style and technique is unique.'
What Were Some of the Pitfalls in Working on a Children's Book?
'Because I always worked closely with the author, there were no pitfalls. I was open to suggestions. There was once a change requested over the image of a clock adorned with rifles. I changed that to the same clock adorned with twigs. They wanted a non-violent story and felt that any depiction of guns would be out of place.'
Did you Learn Anything New?
'I learned to put myself on a strict schedule as I was given a deadline of ten large paintings in two months. I usually take two months to complete one painting. Florian's Special Gift, my first commission, reflects the story of a young mother who lost her husband to cancer. The fairy tale was written to help children deal with their grief.
'I was given artistic license. Together with my many paintings, photos, sketches of England and several reference photos of animals supplied by the two authors, I was able to speed up my painting process.'
Would you Consider Doing Cover Art for Books?
'Most definitely! Often the book cover is selected by the publisher from a series of illustrations in
the book. Non-illustrated books require a cover that gives a clue of the treasure within. The best way to get the buyer to pick up any book is to evoke their emotion.'
What Advice Would you Give Other Aspiring Illustrators?
'Keep a journal. Use it to record your visual observations as well as your sketches. Draw and paint from life as often as possible. And when visiting an art museum, write notes to yourself about your favourite painting and describe what you like most about it. If you dare, paint a copy as a learning experience.'
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