07/11/2022
“Hot Cocoa with the Author”
Question: How did you approach illustrating?
Kathryn Zaks: When developing Lynx’s illustrated character, I started off by making some REALLY bad drawings. Like creepy, they were so awful. Keep in mind, I had never illustrated before and my style was, at best, confused. Then I took those really bad concept drawings and made them better by degrees until they sparked some interest in who this little cat was. Then, I began simplifying the method so I could reproduce him in different forms and in color. I used the layers tool on my program so that I could isolate each aspect of his illustration: main outline, finer details, stripes, whiskers, orange fur, and his green eyes. Then if I wanted to adjust something, I wouldn’t have to redraw everything else. I got a lot more comfortable going from a concept to a full illustration as time went on. I am sure I will continue to improve as I keep illustrating.
Question: What is some advice you would give to someone wanting to write their own children’s book but are too intimidated by the illustrating?
Kathryn Zaks: I have a few pieces of advice. First, don’t let a lack of fancy programs or art supplies, or even a background in art, stop you from just getting started. I had only drawn hyper-realistically (and not super well) and illustrating in a simpler style was completely foreign to me. I started by drawing my main character, thinking about how I wanted his personality to come through in the visuals. So, he is actually a small cat, but he acts as though he is a great big tiger, so I gave him tiger stripes, big ears and oversized paws. He is full of mischief and big emotions, so I made sure his mouth was expressive and his eyes were large and full of adventure. He is a little wild so I made his outline a little ragged. Just start thinking about how you want to convey who your character is on the inside by how they look on the outside.
My second bit of advice goes back to programs and developing a style. I developed my style and did all of the illustrating for this book on my smartphone with a free art app. I didn’t even have a stylus; I used my finger. And at first it felt tricky, but then I learned the app tools and how to zoom in and rotate the canvas and suddenly I was no longer afraid to tackle an image. The hardest part is to make yourself start on something. Don’t expect it to be good for a while, but do use it to get better and to develop better ideas. Our mistakes are priceless—they teach us so much and inspire greater future attempts.
Question: Did you enjoy working on the book from start to finish?
Kathryn Zaks: No. No, I did not. There were many times that I had to take a break from it or ask for input from others because I could no longer see it clearly. During the final layout phase I was completely fed up with it and didn’t want to look at it ever again. It was two months before it came back from the printer and I was able to see it again with fresh eyes and remember the magic that I had tried to put into the pages. By then, I fell in love with it again and could get excited about promoting it. So, if at some point you hate your creation with the fire of a thousand suns, just take a step back and don’t even look at it or think about it for a few weeks. Give yourself time to miss your characters and the creative world you were building. It will probably start calling you back after a while, and that’s when you return—when you can appreciate it again.
—-Don’t forget to check out The first Lynx Adventures book on our websit: https://www.thebookshelf-staircase.com/
