Interview with John Rodriguez, BIPOC Scholarship Awardee and Featured Illustrator

In this third of our series on our BIPOC scholarship awardees, we meet John Rodriguez—an exciting illustrator and multimedia artist. In addition to his interview, John delights our imagination by sharing a few exciting, action-packed illustrations that promise to grab his young readers’ attention! Marvel and enjoy, everyone!

 

Isabel Estrada O’Hagin

SCBWI-MI Outreach Coordinator

 

 

1.    How has the SCBWI membership been useful to you? 

Being a member of SCBWI has enabled me to expand my network of relationships with authors and other illustrators in the state of Michigan. The newsletters have been very informative and there have been opportunities for me to learn about how other professionals are trying to grow their business.  

 

2.    We’d like to get to know you! Tell us about your past creative work in the area of children’s literature or related areas of interest or expertise. You can also tell us about your studio or workspace.

I am working on growing as an illustrator of children’s literature. My recent interest started to develop after having children and spending time helping them to grow their imaginations. One of my children began to show interest in storytelling. So, we began to work on sketches toward a book production. After working with him on this project, I realized that I had a lot to learn in this growing industry. 

It is important to me to work on projects that showcase Black children. For a short time, I worked on putting together comic strips and illustrations featuring a young Black boy. This helped to further the conversation about what life can be like for Black boys. It is fun and filled with love and family.

 

I primarily work at home. I use a variety of media to create my pieces. This includes traditional mediums such as watercolor, acrylics, and oil paints. Most recently, much of my work has been on my iPad using the Procreate app with an Apple Pencil. Using this tool allows me to produce work at a faster pace and doesn’t have any significant prep time or clean-up. You still have to be able to illustrate and understand color theory to produce artwork. It allows me to work anywhere I enjoy.

3.    What in your childhood or youth piqued your interest in writing or illustrating? What were some of the major influences that led you to this road? 

 Drawing was always accessible. Since paper and pencils were readily available, it was an easy way to engage in something productive while waiting for time to pass or keeping myself occupied when being a noisy child wasn’t an option. I was very much inspired by early 80s cartoons such as Thundercats, Transformers, He-Man, Teenage-Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the like. I wanted to be able to draw these characters and tell my own stories. I am happy to say that I still engage with cartoons and continue to enjoy animation and the visual arts. 

 

4.    Please share anything about your current projects or what’s ahead in your creative work. We’d love to hear about it! 

I am currently working on a project with the Ann Arbor District Library where I am creating a visual piece that represents Michigan culture. Most recently, I designed the artwork for Ann Arbor’s 2022 Juneteenth Celebration.  Since I am a multimedia artist, I do a variety of work including photography and video production, as well as illustration. 

Other samples of my work can be found at:

johnrod.myportfolio.com

Instagram: @bruinprophet

Facebook: @jrartsite 

John Rodriguez is a marketing and communications professional at the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. John holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). John is of Afro-Caribbean descent, having been born in the U.S. Virgin Islands. He is a husband and father of two young boys. His work as a visual artist explores the dynamics of culture and emotions through portraiture and storytelling that build community awareness and challenge stereotypical narratives.

BIPOC Scholarship

This scholarship awards a one-year membership to SCBWI for new members who identify as BIPOC kidlit creators.

Qualifications: Must be a Michigan resident, at least 18 years of age, who identifies as BIPOC and is a writer and/or illustrator of children’s literature.

Award: A one-year membership to SCBWI.

Applications Accepted: September 1st – October 1st (via a link that will be posted here).   Awardees will be notified on or before Oct. 15th.

To donate to this scholarship, click or tap HERE.

Welcome Aboard, Rita Seay!

In the second of our quarterly interviews with last year’s BIPOC Scholarship awardees, Rita Seay will amaze you with her background and experiences. We hope to hear more about Rita’s creative endeavors in children’s literature in the near future! Take a few minutes to learn more about one of our new members and welcome her to SCBWI-MI!

- Isabel Estrada O'Hagin, Outreach Coordinator

How has the SCBWI membership been useful to you?

The SCBWI membership has been useful in preparing me to immerse myself in achieving my goal to be a children's book author. I read the blogs and gain insight into the craft of writing children's literature from both professional and emerging authors. I have attended a webinar offered by SCBWI and will register for others that fit in my schedule. I recently discovered that SCBWI has a podcast. The podcast is saved in my phone for convenient access, especially when I am driving and can't find meaningful programming on the radio. Overall, the membership has inspired me to fulfill my life-long dream of writing for children.

We’d like to get to know you! Tell us about your past creative work in the area of children’s literature or related areas of interest or expertise.

During my sophomore year in college, I registered for a children's literature course. I was so fascinated with the content that I vowed to write a children's book by the time my yet to be conceived child was able to read. I kept a journal of story ideas and character profiles. A few years later my son was born and I maintained that vow. Unfortunately, the hardships of life derailed my plans to fulfill my vow. 

As a veteran educator, I have had the opportunity to write programs and skits for students to perform. In my nearly 30 years of working as a teacher and administrator, I have certainly acquired an abundance of story ideas that are timeless as well as relevant for youth today.

 

What in your childhood or youth piqued your interest in writing or illustrating? What were some of the major influences that led you to this road?

During my elementary years, my teachers always read a chapter book to the class after recess. I enjoyed stepping into the stories to experience what the characters experienced. My desire is to provide vicarious experiences for the children who read my stories. 

During my childhood we had a set of books entitled Lands and Peoples, which I frequently reviewed with great interest. As a child, I had a pen pal from Holland. I have always been interested in other cultures. I have book ideas relating to writing about other cultures to help children develop a fascination with learning about youth from around the world. My travel experiences as an adult have provided plenty of story ideas for a volume on international youth.

 Please share anything about your current projects or what’s ahead in your creative work? We’d love to hear about it!

My son is now 46 with a 12-year-old son. I am currently writing a middle grade series with a male protagonist who experiences the benefits of living in a multigenerational family, as well as the challenges of navigating the typical pre-adolescent social scene. This series is dedicated to my son. It is a testament to his ability to overcome the dysfunction of his childhood and become a hospital COO, but most importantly to become a phenomenal father.

I am an ACE Master Trainer. I have conducted workshops for organizations that have a mission to support children. I have also shared this information with students in teacher training programs at local universities. The knowledge I acquired while training to present Understanding Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) workshops has inspired me to write with the purpose of empowering youth. My stories will reveal the trauma children experience, as well as their journey to overcome those experiences.

I am interested in writing realistic fiction and non-fiction for children. Topics will include youth from other cultures, youth with disabilities, and career exploration for kids.

 

Email: Inspiring.Narratives@gmail.com.

Interview with Kristen Uroda, BIPOC Scholarship Awardee and Featured Illustrator

In a series of quarterly interviews, we’ll introduce you to the four new members who were awarded the 2021 BIPOC scholarships. We begin with Kristen Uroda, an illustrator who harkens from Detroit, MI. Welcome to SCBWI-MI, Kristen!

Kristen Uroda's Winter 2022 Mitten Banner

How will the SCBWI membership be useful to you?

 

Even in the short time since I received the SCBWI membership, it’s been an incredible resource to learn about the children's book industry, different ways to level up my skills, and discover other illustrators in my own backyard. There’s such a wealth of information and opportunities to connect with the larger community that is rare to find if you’re doing this all on your own. I’ve learned so much already from the digital workshops, I wish I could have joined sooner!

 

Southern Poverty Law Center
2022 Calendar

We’d like to get to know you! Tell us about your past creative work in the area of children’s literature or related areas of interest or expertise.

 

I am a Michigan native, born in Detroit. I like to say that I’m a creator, innovator, and storyteller passionate about art and design that makes a difference and makes the world a more beautiful place. I love turning problems, stories, and abstract concepts into illustrations that inspire reflection, action, and social and civic change.

 

The Skillman Foundation Annual Report:
Celebrating 60 Years of Service (cover)

For the last decade, my sweet spot has been in editorial illustration, mainly for news sites and publications, but I originally went to art school (Massachusetts College of Art and Design) with the intention of focusing on children’s books, comics, and narrative illustration. While I do love the editorial world because I come across a lot of unique stories that I have the honor of visualizing, I’ve been waiting for the right time and opportunity to jump into the children's book industry. I recently got my chance with my first picture book deal that should be completed this coming year. 

 

What in your childhood or youth piqued your interest in writing or illustrating? What were some of the major influences that led you to this road?

 

NPR: 
Short Wave Celebrates Black Excellence
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The first time I can remember really being in awe of what hands could create with a simple crayon and paper happened one day when I was practicing drawing stars. I was young, maybe 5, and at the time, the best I could do was drag the crayon across the page to make messy lines-criss-crossing stars. And I clearly remember at one point, asking my mom if she could draw stars with me, so she sits down, grabs a crayon and then draws this perfect, no crisscrossed lined star flawlessly and that absolutely blew my mind.

 

C&EN: 
Chemistry textbooks still lack gender and racial representation

At that point, I was forever hooked to the pursuit of understanding the connection between the mind, the mind's eye, and mark making. Every time I came across someone who could draw well, I thought, “I want to do this too.” I think that desire also helped open my eyes to the artists that were around me, mainly in my picture books, which I had a ton of. My favorites were Eric Carle, Don Freeman, Ezra Jack Keates, Dr. Seuss, Marcus Pfister, Ludwig Bemelmans, Tomie de Paola, Maurice Sendak, Shel Silverstein, E. H. Shepard, the incredible duo Leo and Diane Dillon, and many more. A lot of these illustrators inspired me to read, write, and draw stories.

 

NPR: 
If You Feel Thankful, Write It Down.
It's Good For Your Health

Even today, I’m still a pretty big nerd for picture books, comics, and animated films. I can’t go into a bookstore or library without stopping by the children’s section and being in awe at the number of amazing artists and storytellers out there. And it’s great seeing such a diversity of artists these days too. Throughout childhood and even college, it was rare to see female illustrators and illustrators of color in the spotlight. It’s only within the last decade that I’ve seen illustrators like myself becoming more visible.

 

Please share anything about your current projects or what’s ahead in your creative work? We’d love to hear about it!

 

NPR: 
Stop being so mean to yourself.
Here are 5 tips to help you break the cycle

I’m not sure how much I can share as the official press release hasn’t come out yet, but I am currently working on illustrating my first picture book that should be coming out in the next year or so. It’s based on a poem written by a Black artist and activist. It was a product of the grief she felt after Michael Brown was fatally shot by a police officer in 2014 but it’s a really joyful and playful vision of community-building and healing. 

 

As it’s my first picture book, there’s been a lot of learnings gained, but I’ve had so much fun and the team I’m working with have been great! I’m excited for it to enter into the world and excited for whatever stories I get to illustrate next. 

 

Thank you, Kristen, for sharing your story and illustrations with our SCBWI-MI community. We look forward to seeing more of your creative work!

 

 --Isabel Estrada O’Hagin, 

SCBWI-MI Outreach Coordinator