Kimmie Fransson

Children's Illustrator

Interview

Who or what made you want to become an illustrator?

I have been an arist my whole life but in my early twenties I came across a video featuring the illustrator Nick Harris, in which he discussed his career as an illustrator. Prior to this encounter, I had never considered the possibility of pursuing a career as an artist. As a child, I was under the impression that only affluent and exceptionally fortunate individuals could work in the field of art, and that artists were commissioned by publishers to create illustrations for books, often without compensation. However, upon witnessing Nick Harris's discussion, I realized that this perception was inaccurate. While I may have been exposed to this idea previously, it was the first time that it truly resonated with me and prompted me to change my beliefs.

How and why did you decide to pursue illustration as your career?

I have a profound passion for painting, drawing, and storytelling, My passion was created and influenced by the presence of art and artists in my life since childhood, igniting the desire to emulate their creativity and skill.

Did you attend art school or undertake any other formal artistic training?

No I have not.

Where do you currently live and where did you grow up?

I live in a small town down in southern Sweden, and funnily enough, I grew up just a minute away from where I live now.

Was creativity part of your childhood?

It shaped my entire childhood. Drawing, painting, and building things were constants. Since my parents were musicians, I spent a lot of time with my grandparents as a kid. Every Saturday, my grandma and I would craft our own children's books together. I'd often paint portraits of my family and venture into the forest to sketch the trees.

Who or what have been some of your major artistic influences?

The list is quite extensive, but here's a condensed version: My absolute artistic heroes are Josh Kirby, Paul Kidby, and Frederic Pillot.

Which books from your own childhood really stand out?

I must mention "The Town Musicians of Bremen" by the Brothers Grimm and a Swedish collection of books titled "Bland Tomtar och Troll" (Amongst Gnomes and Trolls)."

Do you have a favourite picture book or recall one of the first picture books you saw?

Yes, and I still have it. It's a collection of Grimm's stories.

Who or what has been your greatest mentor?

Definitely everyone at SVS Learn.

What was your first commission as a professional illustrator?

It was a cover for a heavy metal magazine.

Describe your working technique and how you came to perfect it.

I begin my process with thumbnails, then refine them into sketches, followed by further refinement into more polished sketches. After that, I delve into color studies before progressing from sketch to finished painting.

What piece of software or hardware could you not live without and why?

I rely heavily on InDesign; it's the perfect tool for creating books, layouts, and various other design projects. Additionally, my Plustek scanner is indispensable for digitizing and preserving my artwork.

What is your favourite medium to work with and why?

Acrylics, without a doubt. It's like painting digitally on paper, if there's something you don't like, you can simply paint over it.

Do you keep a sketch book?

Yes!

How long does it take on average for you to finish a spread, from initial sketch to final colour?

The duration required varies depending on the complexity of the image, typically ranging from two days to a week.

Which project has been most instrumental in developing your personal style?

It was a project I initially had reservations about. I was tasked with ghost illustrating five books, meaning I had to mimic another artist's style for the entirety of five children's books. Despite my reluctance, I took on the project due to the financial incentive, which was substantial. My versatility in painting across various styles had earned me the project, but I found myself disliking this particular one immensely. Fortunately (or unfortunately), the publisher ultimately decided to proceed with only one of the books, which meant I only had to illustrate one. Following that experience, I dedicated two years to refining and developing my own unique art style while staying true to the influence of my artistic heroes.

Are you an author/illustrator?

Certainly, but I don't find myself identifying as an author per se, yet occasionally, I do craft narratives to complement my illustrations.

Are there any children’s classics you’d love to illustrate and/or re-tell?

The Town Musicians of Bremen, Little Red and Puss in boots.