Jeanine Murch Interview

Who or what made you want to become an illustrator?

Ever since I was a kid, I knew I wanted to be an artist—drawing and painting were always my favorite things to do as early as I can remember. I entered lots of coloring contests & took painting classes at the mall when I was in grade school, and by the time I was in high school, all of my electives were art courses. But I didn't really fully know what an what an illustrator actually was, or that it was something I could aspire to as a profession. Even when I started art school, I thought I had to become a graphic designer in order to get a job. It took hopping around a couple of art schools to figure out that I really loved making pictures and telling stories—so that's when I knew I wanted to be an illustrator and finally landed at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where I graduated with my BFA in Illustration.

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

I currently live in my hometown of Pittsburgh, PA with my husband and 2 children—about 10 miles from where I grew up. We are in the northern suburbs of the city, in a great community to raise my family. I went out of state for college and spent nearly 20 years in big cities like Philadelphia and New York before finally moving back, so it's been like starting over in a new place in some ways, while still feeling like home. Pittsburgh is a wonderful city with an ever growing arts and cultural scene, and I have found alot of inspiration both from my roots here, as well as experiencing a new life here with my family.

Outline your dream project.

My dream project would be to write and illustrate a picture book, or design an art-filled guided journal or activity book for kids where I could create cute characters, fun icons, and lots of hand lettering throughout. My favorite projects are always the ones where I can combine my illustration and lettering skills with design & layout, so these kinds of projects are right up my alley!

When you are not drawing, how do you like to relax?

I spend time with my family—we love to travel and explore new places, whether its somewhere far away or just exploring our local parks. Being fully present and having fun with my kids while getting outdoors and/or somewhere new, really helps clear my mind and recharge with fresh inspiration.

How important is it for you to be part of a creative community of people?

It's hugely important to me to be part of a creative community. Freelancing and working from home can be so solitary, and I really miss the connection of having co-workers in an office. So, I've started selling my work at local art markets and teaching classes at a local art center, both of which have given me really great opportunities to connect with all kinds of other really amazing and inspiring creatives. I also try to particpate in social media art/drawing challenges and online courses as another way to connect with other artists and get feedback on my work.

Animals feature heavily in children’s books – do you have a pet?

Yes, I have a sweet little rescue pup named Freddie Pickles! We adopted him from a shelter in New Jersey, but he was a sato —a street dog originally from Puetro Rico. He is the sweeest, most gentle, snuggly, dog, though he's also been on some big adventures and has certainly inspired some ideas for my art! When we lived in New York cIty, he broke off his leash and was lost in the Big Apple! It was the worst day of my life, but by a true miracle, we found him in less than 24 hours. The whole fiasco is a story I definitely think belongs in a picture book!

What is your favourite medium to work with and why?

I often do client work digitally with either Photoshop or Procreate, because it lends itself to quicker/easier changes and more accurate color reproduction. But, painting is what I have always really loved. My favorite medium is acrylic gouache, and I love adding little details and accents with metallic ink gel pens.

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

I have so many, it's really hard to narrow down! But some of my favorites as a kid were Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion & illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham; Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig; and all the Richard Scarry books! Those are all still favorites that I love to read with my children—they still have the same magic they did when I was a kid, and I love the illustrations.

Which area of children’s publishing excites you the most?

I actually started my career in the big publishing houses of NYC. I worked as a children's book designer for nearly a decade, before becoming a freelance illustrator. So I learned the ins-and-outs of children's publishing from basic administrative tasks, to designing covers & art directing illustrators and photogrpahers, to print and production processes. So, I truly love it all! But, I specialized in middle-grade novel covers, so I do have a sweet spot for that. And with my own work being a combination of hand lettering & illustration, middle-grade just feels like a natural fit for me.

Jeanine Murch

Children's Illustrator