Jennifer Love Interview

Who or what made you want to become an illustrator?

I have been a doodler since the age of 3yrs and I never turned back. Of course, it all started with a strip of blue sky at the top, a corner of sun in the upper left corner and grass that was just one row of green vertical lines at the bottom. Thank goodness I grew out of that phase. During the summer from age 12yrs to 17yrs, I stayed with cousins in Delaware. The oldest cousin was an artist who attended Rhode Island School of Design. It was her room I stayed in. On her dresser was a small handmade children's book that she had written and illustrated. I never tired of reading the story and looking with awe at her illustrations. From there it was clear to me what I wanted to do as a career.

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

I currently live just north of Cape Cod in Hingham, Massachusetts. I have lived here since 1983 when I went off to Emerson College. I was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and lived in the North Hills suburb until I was 12yrs old. I moved to Port Washington, New York and stayed for just under a year. From there, I went to New Haven, Connecticut where I started the 8th grade but then moved the following April to LaGrange, Illinois. I spent summers from the age of 13 to 18yrs with cousins in Delaware. When I was 17yrs old, I moved to Cape Elizabeth, Maine where I attended and graduated from Cape Elizabeth High School.

Was creativity part of your childhood?

I had a lot of alone time while I was growing up and a huge imagination to fill the void. I found endless possibilities for creativity. I used to build cars out of paper grocery bags. I'd cut windows in one bag to go over my head and then I'd attach a hood and a trunk and "drive" around the house. The jig was up when my mother found out I used an entire roll of aluminum foil to cover the outside of my vehicle.

Which books from your own childhood really stand out?

I had lots of great books with colorful illustrations but my favorite was A Child's Book of Poems illustrated by Gyo Fujikawa. I loved that book-the illustrations helped to bring the poetry alive. Those two things helped give me a fascination with illustrations and an appreciation for poetry. Another book I remember fondly is Ladybug, Ladybug by Kathleen N. Daly and illustrated by Susan C. Smith. The attention to detail was extraordinary thus making it a book I perused often. And of course, there's Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown and illustrated by Clement Hurd. That book holds such a dear memory of my mother reading it aloud and then asking me to point to different things in the drawings.

What is your favourite medium to work with and why?

I have a lot of different mediums I like to use or experiment with. There are 3 that I have always liked sketching with because they travel well and they're not difficult to clean up. Graphite, colored graphite and colored charcoal. Each one is easy to work with, blendable and forgiving. But I'd have to say that watercolor markers and watercolor pencils are my favorite. Almost all of my cartoons are done with watercolor pencils and ink. I feel like I have so much more control when laying down my colors that I don't have using just regular watercolor. Watercolor markers can be a challenge but I love the effects I can achieve especially if I use mineral paper. There's a lot of adding on and wiping away but the final piece is always interesting to me.

How many times do you tend to draw a character until you are happy with it?

I probably do 3 or 4 drawings unless it's something I've drawn before. I always do a preliminary drawing to make sure I have the ability to draw the subject. I do tend to just keep reworking the same drawing until I get it right. I learned that starting over and over again doesn't help as much unless there's something significant to change.

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

My speed always depends on what the subject and the medium are in order to figure out how long a project itself will take. Some things take a few days while others might take a few weeks. I work better when I have a definitive deadline as opposed to an open ended one. I always try my best to finish a project in a timely fashion.

What do you hope children take away from your drawings?

I hope to spark excitement, wonderment and humor with my work. I would love to have my art be a happy memory as they grow up and have their own families. I'd like to create memorable art. Children's books open the door to the imagination; not just the words but also the illustrations. I'd like my work to have that kind of affect on children of all ages.

What do you do in your spare time?

When I am not creating tangible art, I volunteer at a nonprofit radio station geared towards the visually and mobility impaired. Each week I go and record poetry and prose to be broadcast. Not only do I recite contemporary and classic poetry but I am also able to record my own poems. I'm also an actor in old time radio plays. These performances are aired statewide by the Audible Local Ledger Actors Workshop and the Talking Information Network . The shows provide entertainment for those who might not have any other outlet for entertainment.

What is your favourite children’s book and why?

I used to read storybooks on the radio for the visually impaired. It was one of my favorite things to do because I could do different voices. Plus, it gave me an excuse to read my favorite stories aloud without raising any uncomfortable questions. Of all the hundreds of books I read the one that I kept coming back to was The Jester Has Lost His Jingle. This book was written and expertly illustrated by David Saltzman. David created this book as a senior year project while attending Yale University. Before he was able to complete and publish it, he succumbed to Hodgkin's disease. The book was published posthumously. The story, written as a poem, is so clever, warm and funny. David's illustrations are so bright, colorful, creative and fun to look at.

Have you visited any schools to speak or hold workshops?

I have volunteered on several occasions at an elementary school that doesn't have an arts program. I taught a drawing workshop for 4th and 3rd graders using basic shapes to form more complex shapes. I loved this program and watching the kids figure out that drawing is possible for anyone. I took lines, triangles, rectangles, circles and squares and showed them how to create a rocket ship, a castle and a lighthouse. Soon, the kids were drawing castles with princesses and lighthouses on rocks with triangle shaped waves. One child even put a shark in his drawing. At the outset of the class, one of the students was upset that he was lousy at drawing. By the end of the workshop he had grabbed a book about insects and, using that basic method, was able to effectively draw his favorite bug.

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

I did not go to school to become a visual artist. I have taken some classes here and there but for the most part, I'm self taught. I had a lot of fails along the way but it didn't stop me from doing what I love. I've spent a lot of time practicing different techniques and I'm always up for a challenge. Many people have asked me to do something for them and I almost never say "no" even if it's something I have no clue about. I simply can't help myself!

What things affect your creativity?

Life in general is a huge part of my artwork. I will see something that seems ordinary but somehow I manage to see humor or beauty that inspires me to create. I was listening to a sermon in church one Sunday. The minister asked all of us to close our eyes and imagine what God looks like. For some reason I instantly thought of a huge vine growing. Within the vine I could see all of creation with the possibility of more things being added. I had to paint and share it; to remind people that God is not one thing but, rather, everything. It now hangs in a room at the Cathedral of Saint Luke's in Portland Maine.

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

It's important for me to find and be in creative community groups. It's nice to share ideas and get honest feedback from people who may have the same kinds of experiences. I'm completely blessed to have several creative people in my own family. I also think it's important to get encouragement that helps to push me forward.

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

I love animals! I have two cats, Cleo and Rigby. I have spent a lot of time sketching and painting both of them. But I also illustrate a goodly amount of insects, fish and animals in cartoons doing silly human-like things. Gary Larson was a huge influence on me. I have done pet portraits for people; I'm glad I've been able to do that. The joy on people's faces when they take the final piece in hand is priceless to me. I also draw birds which seem to be popular.

Jennifer Love

Children's Illustrator