Welcome to SCBWI-MI's Book Birthday Blog!

Where we celebrate new books from Michigan's authors and illustrators.

Congratulations to Kirbi Fagan on the release of Summer of the Tree Army!

Congratulations on the release of Summer of The Tree Army! What was the experience of illustrating this book like for you? What was your favorite part? How about the most challenging?

Thank-you!!! Working on a picture book is much different than the covers I’m used to working on. I loved focusing on something longer form. The sketching phase was the most fun, curating the colors, mood, compositions and design... I was eager to jump in, so much so that I started them on the airplane to the SCBWI NYC conference!

As for challenges, illustrating a book, the number of illustrations is simply a lot of work, making art can be very physical.

As you were working, did you find yourself doing any research into the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps? What did your preparation and research look like?

Tons! Research fueled my inspiration. Sadly, I didn’t get to go to the CCC museum in Michigan due to COVID but there were plenty of resources and images I could look at at home. Because many images were in black and white I had to research colors separately. I wanted the images to be as accurate as possible, even the trucks you see in the book I matched from car color swatches from the period.

What are some of your favorite image-making tools or techniques right now?

I’m crazy about my iPad! I also recently got a tilted tray table to sit comfortably with it - game changer! I’ve never been great about keeping a sketch book and I don’t make finished work on my iPad but the iPad has got me sketching constantly!

When you sit down to work on one of your illustrations, what’s something you like to do to get yourself in the right frame of mind? A cup of tea or coffee? Maybe a certain type of music?

I start my days in the studio with journaling morning pages to clear my head. My mornings are most creative so I try not open email or anything that will take my mind away from the artwork. I often revisit encouraging mantras to help encourage me for whatever I may be going through that day, I may even write them repetitively in my morning pages. I like to be comfortable! Nothing like putting on my thick fuzzy house coat to get me settled in.

You’ve done a lot of illustration for Middle Grade and YA literature, like your work for the Dark Waters series and Memory Thief. What is it that draws you to illustration for young readers?

Illustrating for children is a powerful thing. I’m drawn to the upper elementary school and middle grade age, I think it’s because that part of my life was very formative to the artist I am today. Working on covers for these ages, I’m pulled into all sorts of fantasy worlds and escapism, what could be better?

Would you share a piece of advice for aspiring children’s book, Middle Grade, and YA illustrators?

Nurture yourself. Be kind to your ideas, soften your inner critic. There is a lot of science to suggest that when you are relaxed, that’s when ideas flow. It’s a constant struggle for me. Making it a priority to reduce stress, holding yourself gently are often overlooked as a critical part of the creative process.

What’s next for you? Where can readers learn more about you and your work?

My next big step is writing my own stories and I hope to share more about that in the future.

You can find me on Instagram @kirbifagan

And for a closer look at whats going on in the studio, my new blog, Living Canvas.

A little bit about the book:
When young Charlie Brightelot first spies the mysterious barracks in the woods near his home, he's not sure what to think. His father explains that the barracks will soon house young men serving in the Civilian Conservation Corps. President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the work relief program to help employ millions of young men during the Great Depression. Not everyone is happy to see these young men and Charlie's father questions their value. But when a fire threatens the forest, Roosevelt's "Tree Army" springs into action.

Buy it here!

A little bit about the illustrator:

Kirbi Fagan is a Metro Detroit based illustrator who specializes in creating art for readers. She is recognized for her cover art in Adult, YA, and Middle Grade fiction as well as her numerous covers for comic books on projects such as Black Panther/Shuri and Firefly.

Her illustrations are known for their magical themes, nostalgic mood and feminine heroines. Kirbi was traditionally trained as an oil painter but now works in mixed media techniques including digital drawing tools. She received her bachelor’s degree in Illustration from Kendall College of Art and Design. Outside of creating artwork she is Co-Regional Illustrator Coordinator with the Society of Children’s Books Writers and Illustrators. Kirbi also teaches illustration at College for Creative Studies in Downtown Detroit.

Represented by Kayla Cichello | kayla@upstartcrowliterary.com